CHIMACUM –– From comics to toys to card games, an all-day celebration of the “nerdy” side of pop culture is slated for Saturday.
“The idea is for this to be like a little Olympic Peninsula nerd convention,” said Steve Strout, a local stand-up comedian.
Strout has organized a comic book swap meet that will be in the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The swap meet will feature vendors and artists who will display their favorite comic books, toys, costumes and any other pop culture oddities that appeal to them.
“We’re trying to make it like a mini-comicon kind of thing,” Strout said. “But really, it will be just whatever cool pop culture stuff people want to celebrate.
“I never outgrew toys and comics, and I know there’s a lot of other people around that are still kids, too.”
Admission is $5, $2 if attendees bring nonperishable food items for the Jefferson County Food Bank.
Featured artists include Scott Adams of Bremerton, who created the “Sukotto” series of indie comics; Clallam Bay comic artist Donna Barr; and comic artist Christopher Poe.
Headlining will be Seattle comic artist Matthew Southworth.
“He’s really a great artist,” Strout said. “We’re really excited to have him come.”
Southworth has drawn for Spider-Man, X-Men and The Punisher comics but is perhaps most acclaimed for his work drawing the “Stumptown” series of noir comics set in Portland, Ore.
The swap meet will also feature a Magic the Gathering card tournament sponsored by Anime Kat of Port Angeles.
Strout hopes the participation from across the Peninsula will allow for the blossoming of a comics scene here.
“As it is now, I have to go to Silverdale if I want to buy a comic,” he said.
Kitsap County game-developing company Graviti Entertainment will be on hand, as will indie comic publisher Creators Edge Press.
Attendees are encouraged to dress as their favorite comic or science-fiction characters to lend to the comicon vibe, Strout said.
Fans of the “Doctor Who” series can take their picture with a Tardis made by local resident Jenny Ellison.
Other “Doctor Who” items will be raffled during the convention, with proceeds going to benefit the Chimacum High School Band, which is seeking to play at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii next year.
For more information, contact Strout at 360-643-0009, www.thestevestrout.com, www.twitter.com/thestevestrout or www.facebook.com/comicbookswapmeet.
