NANAIMO — Cosplay and comic book-lovers from all around are getting ready to descend on the Harbour City for the largest free comic con this side of the Rocky Mountains.
The 2025 edition of Curious ComiCon takes place on Saturday, May 3, inside Country Club Centre from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., complete with vendors, artists, and cosplay contests.
Curious Comics manager Rob McKee told NanaimoNewsNOW they approach their ninth event in a row, they’re always thinking of ways to expand and diversify the artists, exhibits, and of course, the comics they have on display.
“This year we’re going to have a lot of different vendors, a lot of comic vendors, a lot of card vendors, exhibitions, artists, cosplayers, obviously. A lot of the same old are going to be here but we’re going to have a lot of new talent, new people.”
Money raised by donations and raffles will once again support Nanaimo Child Development Centre (NCDC), with around $45,000 raised since the event first started.
McKee said Curious ComiCon was the dream of their former president of their non-profit Mike Drummond, who passed away last year, and it’s being kept alive by McKee, Drummond’s wife, and a few other dedicated volunteers.
“Everybody is super passionate about it, it’s going to be a good time…previous years Mike did all the work basically, pretty much all by himself. I know he always wanted it to be this way, so it’s good we got a team of people that are so dedicated.”
May 3 is always Free Comic Book Day, with plenty of comics for readers of all ages to snag for free, according to McKee.
Special guests this year include the Mid-Island LEGO Users Group, the Comox Valley Geek Society, and Vancouver Island Pro Wrestling.
“We want anybody to be able to come in, it doesn’t matter how much money you have in your pocket, you can come in, get some free comics, we have other free things to do. You can get pictures with the cosplayers and stuff. We just want everybody to be able to come and make it accessible to everybody and have a good time,” said McKee.
Also included are over a dozen special guest artists and over 30 vendor tables.
More information can be found here at curiouscomicon.com.
An animated rendering of Mike Drummond, the former president of the Curious ComiCon non-profit society who passed away in January, 2024. (Submitted/Curious ComiCon)Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening.
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