Saturday, August 9. You’re an out-of-towner just passing through quaint, leafy Wellsboro, and you think you’re hallucinating. The streets are full of…elves! And warlocks, knights of the Jedi, superheroes…and—yikes—superbaddies. Was that…Sonic the Hedgehog? Tagging along with Beetlejuice? By Odin’s beard—what can this madness be?

Relax, Muggle—you have not entered another dimension. You just have happened onto the fourth annual Wellsboro Comic Con, a celebration of art and imagination. Or, if you will, “classic comic creativity wrapped in retro rural charm.” Sums it up nicely, don’t you think?

Star billing at this year’s Con goes to Horseheads artist and illustrator Christopher Bell, who is presenting an exclusive cover for issue #78 of Archie’s Pal Jughead. The insides are the same as the regular-edition comic; the twist is the limited-edition variant cover, a special marketing technique common in the world of comics. It’s a career boost for Chris and a marketing coup for the Con.

“Creating this variant cover art for an Archie comic was both a nostalgic journey and a creative challenge for me—honoring the legacy of these beloved characters while bringing my own artistic voice to the page,” says Chris.

Chris, forty-seven, is an established artist who is branching out in many different forms and styles. He grew up in Breesport, near Horseheads, and, like many kids, got turned onto art by Marvel Comics. After studying art and illustration at Elmira College, he worked in the graphics department for newspapers in Elmira and Pittsburgh. These were unglamorous jobs, but they taught him real-world skills in speed, adaptability, teamwork, and meeting deadlines. Perhaps due to this hard-knocks training, he is the exact opposite of a diva. After print media began its steep decline at the hands of the all-conquering internet, he got a masters in education, and, since 2008, has been teaching art in the Horseheads school system. He also maintains a separate, thriving graphic design business, creating logos, books, brand identities, several murals, and even custom shoe designs for football star Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings. He does work for several charities as well.

Chris is also forging another career path in fine art, in both old-school realism and in digitally-enhanced mixed media, and had a solo exhibition at 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning in 2023. This summer, he’s even working on a mural of football hero Ernie Davis in downtown Elmira.

His versatility is intentional.

“I always wanted it to look like multiple artists created my work,” says Chris. “So, I have never worked in just one style or medium.”

Chris published his first “official” comic book in 2009 and hasn’t stopped since. All share wry humor with first-rate graphics. A partial listing: Champtown (an eerie village revolving around pro wrestling), Evan Apocalypse (a skateboarder copes with zombies amid the ordinary tribulations of middle-school life), and Ashes (the misadventures of the Grim Reaper after medical technology has rendered him obsolete). Chris has also just published an autobiography in comics form, Here. I Tried., which is by turns poignant and belly-laugh funny. Check out examples of his work at bellgfx.com.

The Con is organized and sponsored by Pop’s Culture Shoppe, a toy and game mecca in the center of town. Pop’s provides a family-friendly environment and quality products for social interaction, imagination, and hands-on learning and play for all ages, with first-rate customer service. They provide old-school (non-electronic) games and activities and a free community space to put down our phones, make eye to eye contact, and play and laugh together.

Owners and operators Anja and Julian Stam met playing the classic card game UNO in a college dorm. They both grew up in families full of creativity, and they cultivated a love of imaginative play and life’s simple pleasures when raising their own daughters. Once the girls were off to college, Julian’s childhood comic book collection, love of games, and career as a preservation librarian along with Anja’s background in languages, the sciences, teaching, and art, coalesced around the idea of opening a shop that not only sold games and creative fun for all interests, but also offered a place where people could gather to play and tell stories.

“We chose Wellsboro for its beauty and small-town charm, and opened our doors in the spring of 2012,” says Julian. “The first Con we organized was in 2022. It was a way to celebrate our tenth anniversary and say ‘thank you’ to our wonderful customers. It was so well received that we’re still doing it.” It has quickly grown into a must-see event, drawing fans from across the northeast.

Comic Con venues are both indoors and outdoors. Visitors will find them throughout the Deane Center for the Performing Arts, the Warehouse Theatre, and on Central Avenue from Main Street to Water Street (just look for the signs). It’s exceptionally well-organized, and there’s even a “Plan Your Trip” page for further things to do around town, as well as a full list of participating local businesses. Visit wellsborocomiccon.com for all the details.

“Wellsboro Comic Con has the coolest vibe of any con I’ve been to. The city is so beautiful, and everyone’s so welcoming. It’s just like a slice of Americana,” says Spiderman expert Bruce Wechtenheiser, a 2024 attendee. Professional cosplayer Michelle Pastore agrees, saying, “This is a very community-based convention. I’ve seen all ages and all backgrounds here, and everyone’s having fun. There’s a lot of different things spread out in different places, and I’m loving seeing all the costumes here.”

The Wellsboro Comic Con will be held on Saturday, August 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Chris will be signing copies of his work all day in the Deane Center. There are over 100 vendors, creators, panels, presentations, cosplay, and all-age family activities. And general  admission is free.

‘Nuff said!