For the Friday, July 29, 2022 edition of The Oklahoman

By MATTHEW PRICE 

An Oklahoma-grown comic show hosted by a local comic book retailer returns for year 7 this weekend.  

New World Comic Con returns for its seventh year this Saturday (July 30) at the Oklahoma State Fair Park. The old-school, family-friendly convention offers opportunities to meet comic creators, actors and other creatives, and to dress in costume and take part in costume contests. 

Organizer Brian “Buck” Berlin, owner of Oklahoma City’s New World Comics, said this year’s event is set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Pavilion at State Fair Park. In the larger location, Berlin said fans can expect even more of the things they’ve enjoyed in the show’s previous years. 

“So, This year looks to be an even bigger year than last!” Berlin said. “We will have Ghostbusters, Pokémon, (“Star Wars” fan clubs)  Jedi OKC and the 501st, lots of local artisans with their local products, amazing comic artists, and more comics than ever!”Admission is $10; and children 5 and under are admitted free with adult admission.

Artist Kez Wilson is among the show’s headliners. 

The multitalented Wilson is sometimes credited as Keith or K.S. Wilson, and he’s made his mark on top comic books including “Star Trek,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Suicide Squad.” 

Wilson, was an art director and in publication design for DC from 1988 to 1991, was involved as a writer and creator on “Hammerlocke” and “Scarlett.” 

When on staff at DC, he redesigned several comic-book logos, incouding for the long-running “Detective Comics.”

Wilson’s inking credits include “Angel and the Ape,” “The Badger,” and many more. 

As an animator, his feature film credits include “Space Jam,” “Quest for Camelot” and “The King and I.” 

Other comic book creators appearing at the show include: 

Gabriel Mangum (“Hatchet”), Andrew Mangum (“Doom Patrol”) and Jeremy Clark (“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”). 

The show will also feature guest panels and a costume contest; for more information visit http://newworldcomiccon.org/.

Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman.