杏吧原创

University Newsletter

EIU鈥檚 pop-culture convention, Comic Fest, was incredibly well-attended with over 1,300 visitors.

EIU’s pop-culture convention, Comic Fest, was incredibly well-attended with over 1,300 visitors.

Comic Fest was hosted by Booth Library on September 27, 2025, and was the first of its kind to be held at EIU. Complimentary tote bags with freebies provided by event sponsors were given to the first 200 attendees—all the bags were given out within the opening hour!

EIU student Connor Mellot, member of EIU’s Japanese Culture Club, shared his enjoyment of the large crowd and activities: “I was excited to see that so many students showed up and that many came wearing cool costumes. There were tons of cool things to see and experience across the whole library which was really fun.”

The number of participants for Comic Fest’s activities went beyond expectation. The escape room was a stand-out event; reservations filled every time slot for the whole six hours! The cosplay contest was open to individuals and groups of all ages and skill levels. There were 21 participants in the cosplay contest and eight winners, with a notably large and enthusiastic crowd. Two EIU alums led discussions and breakout sessions during the event: Marvel screenwriter/producer Craig Titley and Mortal Kombat artist Paul Niemeyer. Titley had high praise of the event as a long-time attendee of conventions such as Comic Fest: “I’ve been attending the real Comic-Con in San Diego for over 25 years both as a fan and a speaker, and I can tell you with complete certainty that the Booth Library had 100% captured the true Comic-Con vibe. I was blown away.”

In preparation for Comic Fest, Booth Library was completely decked out in decorations and exhibits. Elaborate exhibits featuring iconic comic books, informational posters, and cardboard standups of famous characters are displayed throughout the library. These exhibits will be up through early November. The public is invited to explore numerous pop culture exhibits at Booth Library!