IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

The 43rd Anniversary Charlotte Mini-Con starts TOMORROW, Friday, February 7th with the CGC SIGNATURE SERIES SIGNING VIP EVENT from 7pm-10pm!

Here’s some information you should know in advance, so that you can have the BEST #CLTMiniCon possible!!

HOURS:
Friday, February 7th – CGC Signature Series: 7pm-10pm
Saturday, February 8th – Charlotte Mini-Con: 11am-5pm (10:30am-5pm for VIP)

APPEARING:
Artists at the 2020 Charlotte Mini-Con are as follows:
Chuck Brown
Chris Brunner
Vic Carrabotta
Bridgit Connell
Sanford Greene
John Hairston Jr.
Dustin Harbin
Adam Hughes (see Adam’s #CLT Mini-Con Schedule and Rates here)
Jason Latour
Rico Renzi
Budd Root
Hoyt Silva
Andy Smith
Brian Stelfreeze
Rich Tommaso
Craig Yoe

Exhibitors at the 2020 Charlotte Mini-Con are as follows:
(Featuring some of the BEST Vintage Comic Dealers in the Business!)
Basement Comics (Albert Stoltz)
Brett Carreras
Brewer Parker
Burke Street Comics
CBCS Comics
CGC
Chris Foss
ComicsWanted.com
Craig Yoe Books
David Burns
David Hinson
Dustin Lineback
Earl Shaw
Fine Print Shoppe
Gene Carpenter
GoCollect
Groundbreaking Comics
Hey Kids, Comics
Issues With…
Jason Hamlin
Moving Pictures Comics
Nerdy Girl Comics
New Force Comics
Nikelspot Comics
Painted Visions Comics, Cards and Games
Park Circle Comics
Rebel Base Comics & Toys
Rick Fortenberry
Ssalefish Comics
Steve Smith
Stormcrow Comics
Supah! (Joe Todd)
The Tangled Web
TNT Comics
Updog Comics
WCCB-CW

TICKETS:
Tickets for the Friday evening CGC Signature Series Event from 7pm-10pm are $15.00 in advance and are available here.
Anyone who purchases a CGC Signature Series Ticket will also receive EARLY ADMISSION to the Charlotte Mini-Con at 10:30am on Saturday, February 8th.

Tickets for the Charlotte Mini-Con, Saturday, February 8th are $5.00 and are available here.
Attendees 18 years of age and under get in FREE on Saturday.

LOCATION:
THE WESTIN CHARLOTTE
601 S College St, Charlotte NC 28202

Charlotte Mini-Con will be held in the Providence Ballroom of the Westin.
The Providence Ballroom is located on the ground floor of the Westin, and is where we hold the annual “HeroesCon Drink and Draw”, if you have been to that event during the Heroes Convention in June.

The Providence Ballroom can be accessed directly from the courtyard area of the Westin (where the fountain is) located off of College Street, or via the parking deck and its corresponding elevators. There are two entrances to the parking deck, one off of Stonewall Street next to Whole Foods and one off of College Street, just before you get to the courtyard entrance of the Westin. (Photos Below)

If you will be parking in the parking deck, you will need to exit the elevators at the Lobby Level. The elevators from the parking deck open pretty much directly at the Providence Ballroom.

PARKING:
THE WESTIN PARKING DECK IS A PAID PARKING DECK – $25.00
There is no comped parking for anyone, not even members of the Heroes staff, during the Charlotte Mini-Con. If you are staying at the hotel, parking may be included as part of your reservation.
(The Westin does NOT own the parking deck…and therefore has no control over the parking fees.)

The WESTIN CHARLOTTE COURTYARD off of COLLEGE STREET. The double doors at the right are the entrances outside of the Providence Ballroom. There is access to the parking deck is to the right as well. The Main Lobby of the Westin, where guests check in, is located to the left at the Valet Parking kiosk.

The COLLEGE STREET entrance to the Westin Parking deck is located just BEFORE the Westin Courtyard, at the REGIONS building.

The STONEWALL STREET entrance to the Westin Parking Deck is located just next to Whole Foods, and underneath the pedestrian air-bridge.

There is on-street parking, as well as other paid lots in uptown Charlotte. If you take a Lyft or an Uber, you can have them drop you off in the Courtyard Entrance off of College Street.
We also HIGHLY recommend making use of the Charlotte CATS Blue Line Light Rail which has a Stonewall Station stop that will drop you off AT THE WESTIN.

LIGHT RAIL:
The Westin Charlotte is located at the Stonewall Station stop on the Charlotte LYNX Blue Line.
https://charlottenc.gov/cats/rail/lynx-blue-line/Pages/Stations-Park-and-Rides.aspx

Utilizing the LYNX Light Rail would be an EXCELLENT solution for travel to and from the Charlotte Mini-Con!!
We encourage the use of the LYNX Light Rail, which runs from I-485/South Blvd in South Charlotte to UNC Charlotte Main in the University Area.
Parking at most of the stations outside of Uptown Charlotte is free, with LYNX fares ranging from $2.20 (K-12/62+) for a round-trip ticket, to $6.60 for one-day unlimited rides for all age groups.
https://charlottenc.gov/cats/fares/fares-passes/Pages/lynx-fares.aspx

We sent THOUSANDS of these #CLTMiniCon postcards out to customers over the past week! If you’re local, and we have your mailing address, you should have received one!!
If you received your postcard, bring it with you to the Charlotte Mini-Con this weekend and Heroes will incentivize it!! “With what”, you ask?? BRING YOUR POSTCARD and FIND OUT!
Didn’t get a #CLTMiniCon postcard, but would like to receive future postcards from us?? Email your name and current mailing address to: heroesarenthardtofind@gmail.com to get added to our mailing list!!

HEROES AREN’T HARD TO FIND CELEBRATE 40 YEARS!

Are you two or three t-shirts away from being happy? Never fear!! You can get yourself a snazzy new Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find “40th Anniversary” T-Shirt printed on-demand by our friends at The Fine Print Shoppe during the #CLTMiniCon on Saturday, February 8!!

Pick your size and color, or BRING YOUR OWN 100% cotton t-shirt to the show and let them do their magic!! They’ll have lots of other awesome designs to choose from, but we’re planning to get this new design printed on every color shirt available!!

#HAHTF40THANNIVERSARY #UnderTheWaterTower #Heroes40thAnniversary #40YearsInBusiness #ComicBooks #ComicBookShop #VintageComicBookShow #ComicsButMakeItFashion #ElizabethNeighborhood #SmallBusiness 

We hope this answers most of your questions and we hope to see you all this weekend at the 43rd Anniversary of Charlotte’s First COMIC-BOOK Convention!!!

SAVE THE DATE FOR VINTAGE COMICS!!

The 43rd Anniversary Charlotte Mini-Con is almost here!! 
Along with an impressive list of comic artists, we are SUPER EXCITED to host some of the BEST Vintage Comic Book Dealers in the Country!! Bring those want-list, and don’t forget that our friends at CGC and CBCS will be on hand taking in-person submissions for items that you would like to have graded and slabbed! 

For those of you who are as excited about the #CLTMiniCon as WE ARE, be sure to put Friday night’s VIP CGC Signature Series Event on your TO-DO list!!

ADULT ADMISSION: $5
18 & UNDER: FREE
(Student or State ID required for anyone 15-18 years old)

Get Your Tickets Here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/charlotte-mini-con-2020-tickets-86077968521
____

LOCATION/HOTEL:
The Westin Charlotte
601 S College St, Charlotte NC 28202

Charlotte Mini-Con Hotel Rate Available HERE:
https://www.marriott.com/events/start.mi?id=1571861131416&key=GRP
____

CLT MINI CON 2020 PARKING:
There is a paid parking deck attached to the Westin Charlotte with elevator access to the Charlotte Mini-Con on the Ground Floor of the Westin Charlotte.
Parking in the deck is currently $10.00, but rates may increase.
____

LIGHT RAIL:
The Westin Charlotte is located at the Stonewall Station stop on the Charlotte LYNX Blue Line.
https://charlottenc.gov/cats/rail/lynx-blue-line/Pages/Stations-Park-and-Rides.aspx

Utilizing the LYNX Light Rail would be an EXCELLENT solution for travel to and from the Charlotte Mini-Con!!

We encourage the use of the LYNX Light Rail, which runs from I-485/South Blvd in South Charlotte to UNC Charlotte Main in the University Area.

Parking at most of the stations outside of Uptown Charlotte is free, with LYNX fares ranging from $2.20 (K-12/62+) for a round-trip ticket, to $6.60 for one-day unlimited rides for all age groups. https://charlottenc.gov/cats/fares/fares-passes/Pages/lynx-fares.aspx

The HEROES CREW is hitting the road this Sunday for the RALEIGH COMIC BOOK SHOW!

Stop in at the Hilton Garden Inn Crabtree Valley this Sunday, December 8 from 10am-4pm where Shelton and Winslow will be set up with a great assortment of Gold, Silver and Modern-Age Comics for your holiday gift-buying pleasure!! Admission is FREE!

NEXT WEEKEND!!

The HEROES CREW is hitting the road for TWO SHOWS!

For those in and around the NYC area on Saturday, December 14th, be sure to put the BIG APPLE COMIC CON on your calendar!! Shelton will be setting up with some key members of the Heroes Family and will have all the Gold, Silver and Modern-Age Comics to complete your Christmas Wish-List!! 

CONVENTION HOURS:
Saturday, December 14: 10am-7pm
For Tickets: https://www.bigapplecc.com/tickets-and-pricing/

The Wyndham New Yorker Hotel
481  8th Avenue @ 34th St.
New York NY 10001

For those looking for a great show a little closer to home, don’t miss the CHARLOTTE COMICON on Sunday, December 15th! Seth, Winslow and Karla will be manning the Heroes booth with a great assortment of comics to delight the comic fan on your “good-list”. We hope to see you all there!!

CONVENTION HOURS:
Sunday, December 15: 10am-5pm
Tickets: $5 at the Door / 9 & Under FREE

Embassy Suites Concord 
5400 John Q. Hammons Drive NW, 
Concord, North Carolina, 28027

The fun doesn’t end after our Spider-Gwen #1 Release Party. Join us for more fun and live music at Snug Harbor with special guests Married With Sea Monsters and Junior Astronomers! Don’t miss your chance to see these bands in this intimate setting. Married With Sea Monsters has been working on some new “Mary Janes” songs and this will be your first opportunity to hear them!

Doors at 9PM / $10 Advance Tickets

Married With Sea Monsters became a sensation with their cover of The Mary Janes song “Face It Tiger” featured in Edge of Spider-Verse #2 from Marvel Comics and featuring the debut of the Gwen Stacy Spider-Woman!

Local post-punk heroes Junior Astronomers always bring the ruckus!

Along with the opening week of the Football season and the beginning of the new school term, each year September also brings us Banned Book Week. It is an annual reminder of our freedom to read.

Banned Book Week is officially scheduled Sept. 21 – 27 but there are a variety of events that will occur throughout the month. BBW is sponsored by local libraries, independent retailers along with a supportive legion of readers all over the world From the Banned Books Website: “BBW was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. More than 11,300 books have been challenged since 1982 according to the American Library Association. There were 307 challenges reported to the Office of Intellectual Freedom in 2013, and many more go unreported.”

Each year, the American Library Association (ALA) publishes a Top Ten list of Frequently Challenged Books. This year’s list (published in April) includes the # 1 Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants series for offensive language, unsuited for age group, violence. The list is rounded off with Jeff Smith’s Bone series at #10 for political viewpoint, racism, and violence

“This year we spotlight graphic novels because, despite their serious literary merit and popularity as a genre, they are often subject to censorship,” said Judith Platt, chair of the Banned Books Week National Committee.

At this past summer’s HeroesCon, Prof. Craig Fischer created a panel that focused on the history of the Comic Book Defense League Fund as well as a roundtable about the local issues an NC school had with Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home. This will be posted at the Dollar Bin site later this month. www.thedollarbin.net

Locally, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Libraries are offering dozens of Banned Book Week events—everything from Art contests to Reading groups. To see all of the events in your area go to: www.cmlibrary.org/programs/

This year, Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find is doing their part to support this noble and important movement.  Warehouse Manager Seth Peagler and Heroes Discussion Group leader Andy Mansell will be appearing at a number of branches this month to discuss Banned Books:

Seth will join UNCC Professors Robert Campbell (Graphic Design) and Dr. Erik Waterkotte (Print Media) to discuss the importance of comics and graphic novels and how they are susceptible to censorship. Audience: Adults, Teens (12-18) 9/18/2014 at 6:00 PM: Morrison Regional near South Park.

Andy will lead discussions at the following branches on why comics are particularly vulnerable to challenges and focus on some of the more frequently challenged titles.

9/18/2014 at 6:00 PM: Scaleybark  Audience: Teens (12-18), Adults, Seniors

9/24/2014 at 2:30 PM: Independence Regional   Audience: Teens (12-18)

9/25/2014 at 5:00 PM: Mountain Island Audience: Teens (12-18), Adults, Seniors

We hope to see you there and remember, reading is one of our greatest gifts. Never take it for granted!

Our pal John Hairston Jr. is featured in the current issue of Charlotte Magazine! To celebrate that fact and to give all of our out-of-town guests a chance to see John’s art in person we have extended his solo show, 1962: The Age of Marvels! The paintings that are on display in the store are available for purchase in our web store along with other Heroes exclusive comic books, prints and t-shirts. Please stop by our store and feast your eyes on John’s gorgeous paintings!

Land sakes! Is it the weekend already?! How’d that happen?!
Well, regardless of whether or not I fell through a worm-hole sometime on Wednesday evening, I hope that everyone has been taking advantage of the lovely weather and the break in the heat we’ve had over the last few days. The weekend is already upon us, and if you haven’t already made plans to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather then maybe it’s time you did!

If you were looking for something that’s family friendly, fun and, best of all, FREE to do this weekend, then let me suggest you join us at the Common Ground Festival! The Common Ground Festival is an all day event that will take up the length of Thomas Avenue between Central Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue in Charlotte on Saturday, August 25th. The festival begins at noon and will last until 11pm Saturday night. There will be live music, food, drinks, local artists, craftsmen and local vendors, including everyone’s favorite comic-shop, Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find!

We’ll be setting up a couple of Heroes booths at the event, and we plan to bring an assortment of Heroes goodies to give away and sell! We’ve also invited some of our favorite artists to come hang out with us at our booths throughout the day, so be sure to stop by and say “Hello!” You never know who might be dropping in!

John Carpenter’s classic remake gets a back story this year. Set in the ice of the Antarctic, scientists find ‘the Thing ‘ which soon becomes….them. 

And we’ve got tickets to a pre-screening on Tuesday, October 11th! So be sure to get one while they last! Just drop into the store and mention this post.

HeroesCon staple and recent Charlotte MiniCon guest Sanford Greene always has many diverse projects in the works.  One of the most interesting is a Gallery exhibit of his art coming up later this month.  If you’re in or around the Columbia, SC area, make it a point to stop by and check out some of Sanford’s energetic originals.  The event takes place on Thursday, February 24 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Ponder Art Gallery at Benedict College in Columbia, SC.  In addition to seeing Sanford’s art, the event will also feature music from DayClean (www.daycleanduo.com) and soul singer Fayth Hope (www.faythhope.com).  The event is being hosted by Preach Jacobs (www.mobettasoul.com).  For more information about the event, check out Sanford’s website (www.sanfordgreene.com).  Don’t  miss this opportunity to support a  talented artist and longtime friend of Heroes.

We love to brag about our customers especially when they are as cool as Joe Keller! Keller is the writer and director of the new short film Artifacts which is premiering at the Neighborhood Theater Saturday, January 15 at 2 pm. Special guests Bat Regurgitator will be on hand to perform Soul, the theme song from the film.

Here is the synopsis for the film direct from Keller himself:

“Photographer Clayton Ardubon leads a life of indulgence comprised of women and success. But no amount of either can satisfy the hole at the center of his life. That is, until Marion, an ex-lover from his youth, shows up unexpectedly at a showing. Fueled by an insatiable curiosity and a longing for days gone by, Clayton tracks down Marion. But his search leads to Marion’s daughter, Paige; a rebellious youth who opens the door to an unexpected love affair as dangerous as it is sincere.”

Check out the trailer for Artifacts on YouTube to get you pumped to see the short film! For more information visit the Artifacts website. It is full of behind the scenes info, cast and crew listings and trailers! I highly recommend that you make it out to support this wonderful up-and-coming filmmaker!

Artifacts Short Film Premiere with live performance from Bat Regurgitator
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Doors open at 2 pm
Neighborhood Theater
511 E 36th St.
Charlotte, NC 28205