New Mexico Comic Expo returns to Albuquerque with a bang and a pow

By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. – After a five-year break, the New Mexico Comic Expo is returning to Albuquerque with an emphasis on the people whose artwork, stories and merchandise help build comic book culture.

The New Mexico Comic Expo will take place Sept. 26 and 27, bringing comic creators, local vendors and celebrity guests together for a weekend celebrating comics and pop culture. This year, producer Matthew Trujillo explains that he wanted to put particular attention on the comic book and vendor sides of the convention.

“If I want to do a show, I want to do one that’s a little bit more focused on the comic book side of things, because that’s what created this genre,” says Trujillo. “The comic dimensions were comic books where the creators were the artists, the writers.” 

That focus is reflected in the Expo’s Artist Alley and vendor spaces. Trujillo emphasizes that those spaces sold out in about 10 days, with a waitlist forming as the event approached. Vendors will offer items including comic books, trading cards, anime and manga merchandise, retro toys and gaming systems. 

For Albuquerque artist Jon Sanchez, who works under the name “Jonito,” events like the Expo provide more than an opportunity to sell artwork. “It’s a great community. Everybody’s really supportive,” says Sanchez. “And you get to meet comic book artists that you admire.” 

Sanchez and fellow artist Jeremy Montoya have been involved with the Expo since its early years, selling their hand-illustrated and hand-screen-printed posters. The two exhibit together as Serigrafia and have been making art together since 2008. 

Their involvement has also extended to creating artwork for Expo badges. This year, Sanchez and Montoya created a design featuring Boba Fett and actor Daniel Logan, who portrayed the character in “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” and is scheduled to appear at the Expo.

“It’s a real honor to do that as well,” says Sanchez. “Like I’m a big Star Wars fan, so for us to create a badge for Daniel Logan was a dream.” 

Beyond artists and vendors, attendees will have opportunities to hear from celebrity guests through panels throughout the weekend. Scheduled guests include RJ Mitte of “Breaking Bad,” Laurie Holden of “The Walking Dead” and “The Boys,” Nadji Jeter of the “Spider-Man” video games, Mindy Sterling of “Austin Powers” and others. 

For Sanchez, however, part of the excitement is simply seeing Albuquerque’s comic community gathered together again.

“Honestly, just to see the community out and about. It’s just really cool to see the support and people’s love of comic books,” says Sanchez. 

The New Mexico Comic Expo will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Marriott Albuquerque (2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE). Tickets can be purchased online or at participating Albuquerque retailers, including Age of Comics, Grayskull Toys, Anime Jutsu, Comic Warehouse, Astro Zombies and Duke City Games locations.