Imperial Valley Comic Con Celebrates Fandom and Creativity in Seventh Year

-Editorial  

Comic book creators, artists, voice actors, former professional wrestlers, and entertainment fans gathered for the seventh Imperial Valley Comic Con, turning the Cambria Hotel Imperial into a meeting place for pop culture, creativity, and community.

The Sept. 26 convention brought together local and visiting creators and entertainment personalities for an afternoon and evening of meet-and-greets, autographs, artwork, collectibles, and opportunities for fans to connect with people working across the entertainment industry.

For founder Ruben Najera, the convention gives Imperial Valley residents an entertainment event of their own while attracting creators and visitors from outside the region.

“I’ve always gone to conventions, big and small, all sizes, and I always felt like Imperial Valley was good enough to have a show,” Najera said. “Everyone passes through here, but we want them to stop here.”

Najera said attracting visitors also allows the convention to contribute to the local economy.

This year’s event marked the convention’s seventh edition. Najera said it would be approaching its ninth or 10th year had the COVID-19 pandemic not interrupted the event.

The convention has also evolved since its beginning. It was initially held at Ricochet before moving to the Martin Luther King Jr. Sports Pavilion in El Centro. This year, organizers brought the event to the Cambria Hotel Imperial, a venue Najera said he had been interested in using since before it opened.

“This is our fandom,” he said. “This is our day of fandom.”

Najera has longstanding connections to the comic book industry. He previously operated Metahumans, a comic book store in the Imperial Valley, for nearly a decade and has since worked as a comic book writer and creator.

His original comic series, “Calaguerra”, draws heavily from the Imperial and Mexicali valleys and the binational experiences that shaped his childhood. Najera was born in El Centro to a Mexicali mother and a Calexico father.

“I was a border kid,” Najera said. “I was always going on both sides of the border.”

The series centers on characters who develop powers after encountering the polluted New River while crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Najera said the concept combines his experiences growing up near the border with influences from comics and entertainment he enjoyed as a child.

“Calaguerra” has received an International Latino Book Award. Najera has also worked on projects involving Archie Comics and has written a comic biography about the rock band Linkin Park. His work has also connected him with publishers including DC Comics, Marvel, and Dark Horse.

Those industry connections have helped Najera bring special guests to the Imperial Valley convention.

“A lot of the special guests that come here, a lot of the celebrities and stuff, through shows that I’ve been at as a special guest, I’ve gotten to have booths next to them,” Najera said. “I networked, made friends with them, and that’s how I can bring a lot of them down here.”

Among the artists appearing at the convention was Imperial Valley native Gilbert David “Dave” Garcia, whose career in comics stretches back decades.

Born in Brawley and raised in Holtville, Garcia said his interest in becoming a professional comic book artist developed as Marvel Comics began giving greater recognition to its writers and artists during his youth.

After serving three years in the U.S. Army, Garcia attended San Diego Comic-Con, where meeting other young comic creators convinced him that working professionally in comics was possible.

Garcia and his wife eventually created and self-published “Panda Khan.” His professional career later included work connected to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” for Archie Comics.

Garcia said his connection with “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” co-creator Peter Laird helped lead to his involvement with the franchise as it expanded into comics based on its animated television adaptation.

He later worked on the character “The Tick,” initially as an inker before contributing pencils, covers and other artwork. He also worked on the spinoff “Paul the Samurai.”

Garcia estimated that his involvement with “The Tick” in various forms lasted about 20 years.

Now retired, Garcia continues creating through “Shadow West,” a project blending his interest in classic black-and-white Westerns with supernatural stories.

His first six-issue miniseries, “Range War of the Confederate Werewolves,” places supernatural creatures in a post-Civil War Western setting. Garcia said he is now developing another story, “The Big Roundup,” involving dinosaurs appearing in the Old West.

The convention also provided independent creators from outside Imperial County an opportunity to introduce their work to local audiences.

James Deschamps traveled from Tucson, Arizona, representing Outlander Publishing. Deschamps writes and self-publishes “Kron the Savage One” and “Olahara,” collaborating with local and international artists to illustrate his stories.

Deschamps said he returned to comics about five years ago after spending considerable time around music and other forms of art.

“I really wanted to start doing my own, and not being an artist, I found that hard,” Deschamps said. “So I focused on writing stories versus doing the art, too, and finding artists to contribute to the stories.”

The event marked Deschamps’ first visit to the Imperial Valley.

“I know a few people here already, but I’m excited to meet more as well,” he said.

The convention also attracted longtime professional wrestling fans, with former WWE personalities among the scheduled attractions.

Carlos Garcia of Heber said he came to see wrestling personalities including Chavo Guerrero, The Honky Tonk Man and Rikishi, while also supporting the artists, vendors and other participants at the convention.

“I’m a fan of all wrestling and stuff like that ever since I was a kid,” Garcia said. “It’s a good chance for them to come to our town and support our town as well. So I’m here to support them.”

Najera said one of the convention’s lasting effects has been creating an annual tradition for Imperial Valley families. He recalled recently receiving a photograph showing children who attended the convention during its early years and have continued returning as they grow older.

“It’s crazy to see that they’re growing up at this convention,” Najera said. “It’s like a family-friendly tradition and something beloved here.”

With seven editions completed, Najera said his next milestone is reaching the convention’s 10th year and continuing to establish the gathering as a regular part of the Imperial Valley entertainment community.