Kennywood to host Comicon, offer reduced admission for 'superheroes'

Kennywood is hopping on the superhero bandwagon with a June 18 Comicon, featuring comic book and toy vendors, artists selling prints and sketches, costumed characters and other pop culture attractions.

“Comicon used to be a very niche, nerdy thing to do, but it's grown in scope and become widely popular,” says event promoter Todd McDevitt, owner of six New Dimension Comics stores in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas.

Visitors to the West Mifflin park on June 18 who wear superhero or comic book-themed shirts will pay $25, instead of the regular $47.99 admission, says Nick Paradise, Kennywood director of public relations and social media.

Full-body costumes, masks and face painting are not allowed due to safety constraints, he adds.

Visitors will be offered a special custom edition comic book, “Betty & Veronica #1,” featuring an exclusive cover by artist Robert Hack showing the Archie gang enjoying a day at Kennywood.

“We have 15,000 of the comics. So it is highly unlikely we will run out, but possible,” Paradise says.

Hack, a Pennsylvania native whose work includes covers for other Archie titles, Dr. Who, the X-Files, the Powerpuff Girls, Judge Dredd, Red Sonja and others, will be available to autograph the cover.

“The collectible value online of the Betty and Veronica cover is already $10 or $15,” McDevitt says.

The homegrown hero, Pittsburgh Steelman, will be on hand, along with a Disney artist.

Vendors and attractions will be set up around the lagoon area, while artists will be found in the pavilions.

Comicon features will run from park opening at 10:30 a.m. until at least 6 p.m.

Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-836-5750, smcmarlin@tribweb.com or via Twitter @shirley_trib.