Comics, pop culture convention returns

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

dastolfo@vindy.com

NILES

Glenn Shadix, a voice actor who played the mayor in the 1993 Tim Burton film “Nightmare Before Christmas,” will be one of the special guests at the second Screaming Tiki comics, toys and pop culture convention this weekend at Eastwood Expo Center.

And, like the first Tiki con back in October of 2008, the batcopter will return and offer rides, said Peter Smith, the Austintown man who is behind the event. Smith also had a Tiki convention in Cleveland last July.

He said fans can expect many of the same features as the first gathering.

In addition to the Batcopter and a host of special guests from sci-fi and other movies, there will be video game and costume contests and a Star Wars kids luncheon.

Smith said the timing of this year’s convention should make it more accessible to kids and teens. School will be out for the summer and the weather will hopefully be warm — which will boost the Batcopter rides.

In addition to Shadix, the celebrity guest includes John Wesley Shipp (“The Flash”), Aaron Smolinski (“Young Superman”), Anthony Forest and Tom Kane (“Star Wars”), Michael Bell (“G.I. Joe” voice actor) and several comic illustrators and writers.

Tickets are $10 per day, with a full weekend pass available for $20. Adults who bring children 10 and under can get the first child in for free, and all others for $3.