Hickory – Carolina Fan Expo, Hickory’s annual Pop Culture and Comic Convention, will be returning Saturday, October 13 from 10am until 6pm to the Select Sportsplex on 2018 Clement Rd, NW.
This year’s convention features Fox’s Gotham star Drew Powell (presented by Heroes for Hire) who has starred in the show since its origination in 2014 as both gangster Butch Gilzean and most recently the infamous and iconic Batman villain Solomon Grundy.
Drew made his television debut in a recurring role on “Malcolm in the Middle,” and then played the young “Hoss Cartwright” in the “Bonanza” prequel, “The Ponderosa.” Additionally, he has made guest starring appearances on; “Ray Donovan,” “Aquarius,” “Major Crimes,” “Castle,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “True Blood,” “Modern Family,” “NCIS,” “Bones” and “American Horror Story.”
On film, Powell, for his starring role in director Rod Lurie’s remake of “Straw Dogs,” won Best TV/Film Crossover Actor at the Beverly Hills Film, TV & Media Festival. Other feature film appearances include “Message from the King” with Chadwick Boseman; “Sex, Death and Bowling,” with Adrian Grenier; “Touchback,” directed by Don Handfield; “Starship Troopers 2”; “The Marine”; “Mexican Sunrise”; and “1408,” with John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson.
There will be raffles and donations to help raise funds and fulfill needs for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. SHFBM strives through education, advocacy, and partnerships to eliminate hunger by the solicitation and distribution of food. SHFBM has been in existence since 1981 serving a total of 19 counties in both North and South Carolina.
The event will host vendors, local artists and authors, in addition to Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart Video Game Tournaments and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 free play hosted by GameStop. Other attractions include; card, board, and RPG gaming tournaments hosted by The Dugout Card and Games, The Lake Hickory Haunts Morbid State Asylum 4D Experience, bounce houses by Sugar Peas Parties, a Cosplay Contest, Celebrity Autographs, Meet and Greets, and Photo Ops, and a LIVE concert by South Carolina’s own Antler Hill.
The event will be hosted by Self-Published Author and Writer, Director, and Producer of the Facebook LIVE Dramatic Web Series, The Dusk Series, Ronald J. Rossmann Jr. (www.facebook.com/duskseries).
Other VIPs include: WCW Wrestling Legend and Actor Rob Kellum (Aka Papa Maestro); Country Music Star and Dove Award 2017 First Ballot Nominee, KasCie Page; Marvel Comics, Zenescope Comics, and Upper Deck Artist and Illustrator, Gregbo Watson; Award-winning DC, Marvel, and Disney comics illustrator Al Bigley; NC Actor and Producer of No Child (2016), A Short Trip (2015), and Walk Through The Valley (2015), Will Williams; and The Carolinas Queen of Cosplay, Misty Yates.
Finally, CPW (Classic Pro Wrestling) and the Legends of Wrestling; Chuck Sloan, “Buckshot” Carter, Bret “The Crippler” Watson, and His Lovely Manager and Professional Model Micky May will be hosting a 3 card match Friday night, October 12 at the Select Sportsplex. Attendees of the event will be party to an exclusive screening of Rob Kellum’s Film Documentary “The Maestro” by Green Hero Films.
Adult Admission: $10 each (ages 17 and up). Youth Admission: $5 each (ages 6 to 16). Kids 5 and under are free with a paying adult.
Pre-purchased tickets are taken to the registration desk on the day of the event to exchange for a corresponding wristband. Online ticket and pass sales end Sunday, September 30 at 11pm EST. Tickets are non-refundable. There may be an additional transaction fee for all online tickets and passes.
