Penn College Hosts Third 'Wildcat Comic Con'

– Photos by Tom Wilson, writer/editor-PCToday and Dalaney T. Vartenisian, student photographer

Roberta Schwenk, a circulation services assistant in Madigan Library, distributes "swag bags" to a a pair of Comic Con registrants.

... and demonstrated a 32-square-foot version of his award-winning board game, "Freedom: The Underground Railroad."

Williamsport attorney Austin White, a specialist in intellectual-property and technology law, counsels an audience of budding artists on protecting their work.

Joseph E. LeBlanc, assistant professor of physics at Penn College, offers a lively primer on the common pictorial sounds in Japanese manga.

John Shableski, director of library sales for iVerse Media – affiliated with the Wildcat Comic Con from its start – provides helpful tips on getting published. Among the pointers? A writer's best friend or family member makes a lousy editor!

Brian Mayer engages his audience in a discussion of nondigital game design ...

Joseph A. Rudy IV, who claimed top prize in last year's adult cosplay competition, shares his winning ways.

Presenters say the Penn College event gives them something they don't get just anywhere: the opportunity to swap knowledge with one another. Williamsport Area High School teacher and perennial WCC booster John Weaver (left) talks with Jerry Craft about "Text Complexity and Comics" – measuring graphic novels' length of sentences and depth of language to help educators choose appropriate titles for their classrooms.

Paging through the day's giveaway comic books, a young girl makes an empowering find.

Armed with his Wildcat Comic Con tote bag, a Titan Pilot strides confidently toward the Field House.

The mascot for whom the event is named (portrayed Saturday by Dakotah J. Hewston, a renewable energy technologies major from Dingman's Ferry) is escorted through the Hall of Merchants by superhero Caleb J. Maenza, of Sayre, a pre-occupational therapy assistant student.

Making his third campus appearance is veteran comic-book inker Mark McKenna, whose body of work over 29 years (and counting) maintains its drawing power.

Repeat presenter John Gallogly, who introduces his audience to career opportunities in the voice-over field, talks with a "Con" attendee.

Carl Gropper (left), CEO of the Will Eisner Estate and nephew of the industry legend, greeted visitors to the Brodart display.

Joann L. Eichenlaub, assistant director of library services at Penn College and member of the Wildcat Comic Con steering committee, introduces keynoter Barbara Slate ...

... who took the audience on an anecdotal adventure through her "life in comics."

Barbara Slate, who knocked down doors and tackled relevant topics once inside.

... and times when the jangling phone brought welcome employment.

The lows and highs of Barbara Slate's historic career are marked by a collection of rejection letters ...

Dorothy J. Gerring, associate professor of architectural technology – AKA Agatha from "Girl Genius" – models her cosplay attire during a lunch break in the Keystone Dining Room.

Pamela Ptak's husband, Scott Hanna, leads a start-to-finish tutorial on "Drawing Superheroes," as an overhead projection vividly brings to life one familiar face ...

Greg Wilson talks about the game-changing way that Kickstarter and other crowdfunding resources can turn an artist's vision into reality.

Just as she inspires Penn College's gaming and simulation majors, Anita R. Wood, assistant professor of computer information technology, challenges her audience: create a simple video game in an hour within the Microsoft Windows environment.

Eric Stuart's body language accents his storied voice.

Thomas E. Ask, professor of industrial and human factors design (assisted by daughter Elayna), popularly presented on low-cost "Model Making, From Cosplay to Props" ...

... that included literal hands-on instruction as participants made casts of their fingers.

Fashion designer and "Project Runway" alumna Pamela Ptak, who would later judge the adult cosplay contest, helps her audience embody fictional characters with real-life proportions.

Involving the audience for a third year, Alex Simmons talks about personification of objects – even a soda cup – in pursuit of storytelling.

Renowned game-design consultant Ernest Adams conducts a mini-workshop in College Avenue Labs.

Commercial illustrator Chris Ring opens his toolbox and his portfolio in a two-decade overview of his work ...

The Pennsylvania National Guard, an event co-sponsor, once again brought along its gaming trailer for attendees' enjoyment.

Local artist/author/actor Beau Schemery, of Hed-Bon Studios, gets down to work in Artist Alley.

Veteran Wildcat Comic Con presenters welcome their keynoter colleague; from left are Jerry Craft, Barbara Slate and Jamar Nicholas.

Cassidy Patrick Lutz, as Lloyd Garmadon from Lego Ninjago, took second prize in the children's cosplay event.

A rebel with a costume, young Princess Leia defends the alliance.

Children's cosplay participants

Wearing a costume born of her background in corset-making – and of the Frankenstein boots in her spouse's closet – Pamela Ptak thanks cosplayers for bravely exhibiting their creations. The top three winners' prizes included free sessions at the Arts and Fashion Institute owned by Ptak and husband Scott Hanna.

Mario, portrayed by 2013 plastics and polymer engineering technology graduate Joshua Rice, acknowledges the crowd's reception ...

Devon Parker captured top children's cosplay honors as The Weeping Angel from "Doctor Who."

With an intensity mirroring the work that went into cosplayers' creations, the tabulations are checked by (from left) John Shableski; Nicole S. Staron, Madigan Library operations public services coordinator; and Tracey Amey, library director.

Third-place cosplay honors went to Cody Emery, dressed as The Oracle from "Atomic Highway."

Zac Lehr, whose Awoken Titan from the "Destiny" video game, wins second prize in his first cosplay attempt.

Daniel Delgado, as Ezio Auditore from "Assassin's Creed," was the cosplay judges' overall favorite.

With the contest judges on either side, the adult cosplay winners prepare to take another bow.

... and his fiancee, 2014 graphic design alumna Crystal J. Broscious wins a prize package that includes Frito-Lay snacks and a HON chair.

Montoursville Area High School student Sarah Peterson won a Batman-themed cooler filled with Pepsi products (Caped Crusader included).

After a full day as multiple presenter and cosplay judge, Eric Stuart – who has toured with Ringo Starr and Peter Frampton – performs an acoustic set in Klump Academic Center.

What's a Comic Con without an instantly recognizable representative of the "Star Wars" universe?

Wildcat Comic Con allows participants to paradoxically be themselves while channeling a pop-culture character.

The Tardis from "Doctor Who," among the day's many reminders of the series' enduring popularity.

Monitors reflect the work of webcomic creators Thom and Kambrea Pratt, sharing their digital world at Comic Con for the third year.

The Wildcat congratulates Drake Probst, whose "Slender Man" folklore costume won third place during the children's competition in Penn's Inn.

More "Doctor Who" fans at the family-friendly event

The fun (and fashion) of Wildcat Comic Con

As the site of registration, the Hall of Merchants/Artist Alley and other attractions, the Field House is a popular and accessible base of operations.

Voice-over artist/musician Eric Stuart, whose presentations took listeners into the auditory "theater of the mind," unwinds in the vendor area.

... and meets fans in the Field House.

Event co-sponsor GameStop is among the vendors.

Jamar Nicholas discusses "How to Populate Your Comic Book and Stay Sane" during his return to Penn College.

A well-attended session by the Minecraft YouTubers details the creation of online videos – and the Internet communities formed around them.

A caricaturist captures a cosplayer in Artist Alley.

There's more than comics to the Wildcat Comic Con, but their influence can't be ignored.

... after another.

To the crowd's delight, scores of adult cosplayers fill the ACC Auditorium stage.