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Your narrator, the Leader
The Leader attended the Fayetteville Comic Con at the Crown Complex in North Carolina 14-16 October 2022. He had last attended this show in April 2022 since this show is twice a year. He is grateful to the show promoter Keith Gibbs for giving him a press pass. The Leader was pleased to see his dealer friends who had been at the April show: Banks Robinson with Mac Barnes, Jimmy Shirah, Bob Cunningham, Steve Smith, Gerald Hogan, Bryan Barros and his favorite comic book dealer Gene Carpenter. The Leader was also pleased to see Robert Griffin, Donald Gehl and Andy Paker who had not been at the April show. On dealer setup day 14 October all of the dealers the Leader likes to have dinner with were still setting up so the Leader enjoyed a pleasant dinner with just Banks Robinson at the Mash House restaurant with a follow up session in Banks's hotel room where all manner of topics pertaining to popular culture were discussed. After the show on Saturday night the Leader and his friends had dinner at the Mash House as is customary for this show.

You are on Page 1 of the Leader's Report on The Fayetteville Comic Con 14-16 October 2022
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Click here for the Main Introduction Page to see the Leader's Report on the Williamsburg Film Festival and the Virginia Comic Con 2022
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Dealer Setup Day Friday 14 October 2022
Crown Complex Loading Door
On Friday the giant yawning maw of the Crown Complex's cavernous exhibition room was open to allow the dozens of dealers to bring in and setup their wonderful merchandise. Let's take a look inside the belly of the beast before the general public arrives tomorrow.
Keith Gibbs
Show promoter Keith Gibbs with his brother Jeff talking to one of their early arriving dealers.
Keith Gibbs
Troubleshooting Keith giving instructions to one of his associates on how to attend to some important detail.
Chad Gray, Gerald Hogan
Early Friday afternoon Gerald Hogan was the first dealer I knew to arrive. Gerald is the long time owner of Trilogy Comics in my town of Virginia Beach, VA. I last saw him and his assistant Chad Gray at the the Tidewater Comic Con in Virginia Beach last May. He always displays at the shows a huge assortment of toys, figurines and has some interesting Silver Age comic books also.
Bryan Barros
Bryan Barros (orange shoes) looking over Keith Gibbs's display monitor showing the floor plan for the dealer booths. I last saw Bryan at this show last April and was glad to see him return for this October show.
Mahrya Barros, Bryan Barros
Bryan Barros with his daughter Mahrya setting up their booth.
Jimmy Shirah
The only shows I see poster dealer Jimmy Shirah is this show and the Savannah Mega Con. Tomorrow we'll get to see some of the many popular culture posters Jimmy has packed up here.
Jimmy Shirah
Jimmy taking a lunch break.
Andy Parker
This dealer looked familiar to me but I couldn't place him. Andy reminded me he had seen me last at the Captain Comics Expo in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina in February 2022. This time I made sure to take his picture. We'll see tomorrow what type of Silver Age comics Andy brought to this show.
Jen Bullard, Bob Cunningham, Judy Siudara
Bob Cunningham aka "the old man of comics" is a dealer I used to see on the show circuit 22 years ago when I was setting up as a dealer at the comic book shows. I'm glad to see Bob still doing the shows. When something is in your blood it's hard to quit.
Bob Cunningham
Wes Flanary
Artist Wes Flanary is a dealer I had never seen before. His collection of oil paintings of Universal Studios's 1930s and 1940s movie monsters and Star Trek actors caught my eye. We'll take a closer look at them tomorrow.
Banks Robinson, Mac Barnes
Veteran comic book dealer Banks Robinson frequently travels to shows with his friend Rick Fortenberry but Banks told me Rick had a conflicting show this time and couldn't make it to this show. I'll see Banks and Rick however at the Virginia Comic Con in Richmond this coming November.
I first met Banks's protege Mac Barnes at this show last April. Mac is an affable young man who intends to become a serious comic book dealer. He has already setup at a few smaller shows and used to own a comic book store. So, I'll be watching with interest his future career in the comics business.
Gene Carpenter, Joe Martinez
Jovial Gene Carpenter talking with his partner at this show Joe Martinez. Gene arrived late in the afternoon and spent the rest of the night with Joe setting up Gene's huge display of comics. So dinner with Gene at the Mash House will have to wait until tomorrow night.
Gene Carpenter, Joe Martinez
Gene switching from his usual jovial self to a more pensive mood. Gene and Joe must be discussing something pretty important.
Robert Griffin, Donald Gehl, Kitty Cowan
Donald Gehl (blue shirt) was another dealer who arrived late in the afternoon. I used to see Donald at the Virginia Comic Con and other shows but since he moved to Florida I don't see him as often. The last show I saw him at was the Fayetteville Comic Con in October 2019. His assistant Kitty Cowan is at right. Dealer Robert Griffin didn't waste anytime searching through Donald's comic boxes. Robert told me he had sold a lot of comics recently at a show in the Jacob Javits Center in New York city and needed to replenish his inventory. That's enough photography for today. Time now to head out to the Mash House for dinner with Banks Robinson. For more photos of the dealers setting up click here.
Click here for Page 2 of the Leader's Report on the Fayetteville Comic Con 14-16 October 2022
Click here for Page 3 of the Leader's Report on Fayetteville Comic Con 14-16 October 2022
Click here for the Main Introduction Page to see the Leader's Report on the Williamsburg Nostalgia Fest and the Virginia Comic Con 2022