Northeast Comic Con is almost here!!!

Media Contact: Julie Dennehy, Dennehy PR 508-479-9848, Julie@dennehypr.com

Producer Contact: Gary Sohmers, Image Meet and Greet, 508-788-5474, garysohmers@gmail.com

Image Meet and Greet presents fun for all ages at

NORTHEAST COMIC CON AND COLLECTIBLES EXTRAVAGANZA

June 18 & 19, 2016 at Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington Mass.

WILMINGTON, Mass. (April 13, 2016) – Summer is almost here, and fans of pop culture will form an assemblage much like the Justice League at one of the largest celebrations of popular culture in New England, the Northeast Comic Con and Collectibles Extravaganza. This summer event takes place June 18th and 19th, 2016 at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, Mass. (99 Fordham Road, 01887). Show hours are 10a-6p on Saturday and 10a-5p on Sunday, and parking is free.

Different from other giant comic con events, Northeast Comic Con offers free parking, lower ticket prices, and access to accomplished celebrities, artists, actors, collectors and cosplayers.

This year’s event highlights include easy and “guaranteed not boring” Father’s Day family fun - a unique shopping experience for nerds and the people who love them. Guests can enjoy free-play video game arcade and tournaments, children’s activities, celebrity autograph signings, plus 150 vendors of vintage and modern toys, comic books, collectibles, art, jewelry, fashion and popular cultural artifacts. In between shopping, guests of all ages will enjoy live music and entertainment in the Fez Room – a great place to relax and showcase your pop culture knowledge.

This year’s celebrity guests include Barry Bostwick (“Rocky Horry Picture Show” and “Spin City”); Mickey Dolenz, celebrating 50th anniversary of “The Monkees”; James Tolkan (“Back To The Future” trilogy, “Top Gun,” “Masters of the Universe”); Chase Masterson (“General Hospital,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” Doctor Who’s audio adventures, and CW’s “The Flash”), Jon Walmsley, best known for his nine seasons on “The Waltons” and as the voice of lovable Christopher Robin on Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh” TV series. Guests will also be able to meet actress Kathy Garver, fondly remembered for her starring role as teenage niece Catherine “Cissy” Davis to series character Uncle Bill Davis in “Family Affair” on CBS in the 1960s.

In addition to the inimitable pop culture expert Gary Sohmers, the show’s producer, other celebrity guests include Jeff Kline ("Transformers - Robots In Disguise," Darby Pop Publisher), Mike Lopez (Kids Comic Con), Rob Bruce ("AMC's Comic Book Men"), Reb Brown ("Captain America"), maskmaker Eric Bornstein and special FX artisan Tyler Green (Syfy "Face Off") along with puppeteers Bill Diamond ("Fraggle Rock,” “Little Shop of Horrors”) and Noel MacNeal (“The Muppets,” “Bear in the Big Blue House”).

According to seasoned show producer Gary Sohmers, “Northeast Comic Con offers the largest selection of vintage pop culture collectibles in a personal, intimate setting. Whether you attend to purchase art, play games, cosplay with friends, meet celebrities, or just stroll and shop, Northeast Comic Con has something for everyone: the collector, video gamer, cosplayer, illustrator, anime fan, or sci-fi geek.” Sohmers is CEO of Image Meet and Greet, a seasoned pop culture expert and producer of fan events and conventions is also known for his 13-season role as an appraiser of pop culture, collectibles and toys on the PBS TV program “Antiques Roadshow” and appearances on WBZ radio and his “Calling All Collectors” radio programs.

Emerging and seasoned artists will find Northeast Comic Con more than a family event – it’s a gathering of creative and friendly artistic talent selling limited edition products, ready to be customized and autographed, and accessible to young artists for career advice and questions.

Nationally recognized comic and animation artists at NECC include surrealist album cover design legend Cal Schenklel (Frank Zappa’s “Tinseltown Rebellion,” among many others); Disney artist Philo Barnhart (“Little Mermaid”, “Beauty and the Beast”); Joe St. Pierre (“Spiderman”, “Zodiax”); Alex Simmons (“Archie” “Blackjack”); Rusty Gilligan (“Heavy Metal” “Mac and Trouble”); toy designer Lawrence Elig; “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” artist Steve LaVign; and Charles Moisant (“Whispers from the Void”), along with local artists Rob Taylor, Bettina Kurkoski, David Le Blanc, Karen Gosselin, Gary Eckerson, Richard Salvucci, and Sijo Art Lapham. just to name a few.

Comic book collectors will want to arrive early to get a limited edition Marvel “Star Wars The Force Awakens” comic book with a unique-to-NECC variant cover art autographed by the cover artist Siya Oum at our last show.

NECC’s mission is to show the next generation the careers in the creative arts, and the event offers tracks in numerous categories. There is the dedicated safe and family-friendly NECC K!DZ area with creative events, education and attractions just for young fans. Enjoy free video game play and tournaments on vintage and modern video game systems in the Game Underground Video Game Arena, and go beyond the stars in the Starship Horizons Bridge Simulator, a chance to act as crew on an interplanetary spaceship with all game play included in admission.

Time travelers will delight in having their photos taken with vehicles from their favorite movies and TV shows, including a full-size TARDIS replica for Doctor Who fans and the DeLorean Time Machine from “Back To The Future,” along with the 1967 Impala “Baby” from the hit TV show “Supernatural” and the Chariot space vehicle from “Lost In Space”.

It isn’t a Comic Con without cosplay, and Northeast Comic Con invites costumed guests to the Cosplay Stage to show off their imaginative attire in a variety of fun contests and games. NECC’s signature cosplay events are focused on creativity, with prizes and bragging rights in three categories: Create-A-Hero, Create-A-Villain and Create-A-Character contests each day for creative cosplay with a back story. A complete list of safety guidelines for cosplay and prop weapons is online: NEComicCon.net.

The Shriner’s Auditorium Fez Room restaurant/bar will feature food and beverages, live entertainment, and pop culture trivia contests.

With free parking and hotel packages, Northeast Comic Con ticket prices are among the lowest in the industry. Saturday adult advance online tickets are $18 and Sunday adult advance tickets are only $10. Adult weekend passes are $25 in advance online; children’s weekend passes (ages 7-13) are $12 and children six and under are always free with a paid adult. Visit the website (necomiccon.net) for advance VIP Experience tickets, and NECC Exclusive Star Wars Comic Signed by Siya Oum and Joe Caramagna. On June 18th and 19th, the box office opens at 8:30 a.m. each day and VIPs/Early Bird tickets will be allowed in at 9:30 a.m. Free parking is included.

For sponsorship or media inquiries, contact Julie Dennehy at Julie@dennehypr.com.