Introduction and Editing by Jen Bateman

An amazing MNCBA SpringCon 2025 is in the books! Attendance and energy were both hoppin’ for our return to the MN State Fairgrounds Education Building last month. Panel videos should be up on our YouTube channel soon, and we can’t get enough of the great feedback we’ve been hearing from all of you.

MNCBA SpringCon 2025 Volunteers (Left to right: Sehee, Melanie, CJ, and AJ!)

We especially appreciate all the wonderful comments about our new volunteer vests from attendees and exhibitors alike — how helpful they were, and easy to find. A hearty THANK YOU to all the volunteers who make MNCBA events possible!

Visit this page if you’re interested in becoming an MNCBA volunteer.

MNCBA SpringCon 2025 also had a surprise visit from the 2025 Saint Paul Vulcan Krewe! (They’ll be a little quieter if they visit us again, we promise!) Vulcanus Rex LXXXVII knighted legendary comic creators Dan Jurgens and Gordon Purcell, as well as two of our volunteers, “Old Steve” Borer and Jen Bateman.

Saint Paul Vulcans Krewe at MNCBA SpringCon 2025

The Cosplay Contest has returned to MNCBA shows, and as always, we are continually looking for ways to improve and grow MNCBA events while keeping them focused on comic books and the diverse, authentic people who create comics. More than ever, we believe in the importance of sharing human stories, and facilitating a connection between the real-life human beings reading and creating them.

We’ll be back at the Grandstand soon for MNCBA FallCon 2025!

WHAT’S NEWS

The MNCBA Archive underwent upgrades and updates recently to make it more mobile-device-friendly. Watch for us to continue adding current photos, along with archival materials and memories from the past, as time allows.

We continue to add more information to our website; you can now learn more details about our food drive, panel programming, and kids’ crafts activities.

MNCBA FallCon 2025 planning is already in progress. Creator, vendor, and community applications are all open. Spaces are going fast, so don’t delay! Jen is working seven days a week to create and post exhibitor promos, so that everyone has as much time as possible to publicize their appearance at the event.

MNCBA FallCon 2025 Flyer Featuring Artwork by Mark Stegbauer

MNCBA FallCon 2025 T-shirts featuring “Shortbox the Squirrel” artwork by longtime MNCBA exhibitor Mark Stegbauer are available exclusively online in our TeePublic shop. We now have a merch table at our events (located at the entrance next to the Information Table) where you can purchase our tie-dye MNCBA logo T-shirts as well as colouring books, posters, buttons, and stickers.

WHAT’S GOIN’ ON IN THE TWIN CITIES

Most Wanted Comics has moved to a new location at 3701 West Old Shakopee Road Suite 600, Bloomington, MN 55431. You’ll find all the best local comic book shops in Minnesota on our freshly-updated MN Comic Shops Directory.

CONvergence 2025: That’s How We Roll is happening this weekend, 3-6 July, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Minneapolis, MN. Say “Hi!” to Chris Jones!

Insert Name Zine Fest is coming on 23-24 August 2025 in Minneapolis, MN.

2D Con is coming on 22-24 August 2025 in Bloomington, MN.

Use this link to submit your news or event to us.

“MORE THAN JUST CONVENTIONS” by Mister J aka Trevor Olson

Over a decade ago, I went to a thrift shop and pieced together a Joker costume for a Halloween party. I had always enjoyed comics, and I don’t think there has been a Halloween where I haven’t dressed up as something; usually on the scary side.

I had no idea Minnesota had any comic conventions until someone at The Source told me about MNCBA SpringCon. I was pretty excited, and really wanted to go in costume — so I pulled the Joker out of my closet and started working on my performance. I entered the costume contest and won “Best Male Costume,” which was a giant boost for me in confidence and motivation to improve.

I had so much fun! Many of the other costumers I met have remained lifelong friends. After all these years, I’m still having fun and still striving to be better.

MNCBA SpringCon 2025 Cosplay Contest winners. Videography by AJ Larson.

When the MNCBA decided to restart the costume contest, I was thrilled to be involved and help. It feels special to me to be a part of an organization and contest that has been such a big part of my life. It’s a pretty intimidating undertaking, and I’m glad Nick Kaufman is there to Captain the ship.

With four categories in addition to it being the first year back, it was fantastically fun. I was amazed — especially at our novice category! From handmade, to thrifted, to store-bought costumes, many people gave them their own special touch and were justifiably proud of their work. A handmade Magneto costume from X-Men ’97 won one category, and you could see how much the recognition was appreciated.

I’m glad costuming is back at MCBA. SpringCon and FallCon are more than just conventions; they are communities where people become friends and grow together. I know that this will get bigger and better, more polished, and even more fun. I’m already looking forward to what costumes people will wear at FallCon this year.

I hope you are, too!

“WHAT THE HECK ARE ZINES?” by Sehee Snead

Back when I did the February issue on Odd Mart, I made sure to stop by and browse around — enamored by the quirky fun things they held there. While there, I discovered something “new” for myself, and that was zines.

“What the heck are zines?” I pondered.

Admittedly, I had assumed zines were created by amateur comic book artists. Many of them I flipped through had a handmade feel, with sketches and handwritten dialogue covering the pages. In a way, zines felt more intimate than a regular comic book, and I quickly became intrigued.

Zine Club at Hosmer Library

That is how I found myself, a few months later, attending my local library’s monthly Zine Club event. I had zero clue as to what I was walking into, but what better way to learn more about something you’re unfamiliar with than to fully immerse yourself in it? The club stated that this was open to all adults, with no experience required. Materials would be provided to make your own zine.

“Make your own zine, a do-it-yourself publication that knows no bounds.”

And what a wonderful experience!

I had the opportunity to meet three club members who had varying experiences and styles with zines. The first was host of the Zine Club, which is part of the many activities offered through Hennepin County Libraries. They utilize the typewriter to help create more informational guide-type zines.

“Hair” by Yolow Zines

The second was a long-time zine creator and artist who had her start in the zine community due to a pickling business she had. She grew up admiring and reading zines, but never thought she could be someone who could create one until she gave it a shot and realized she was capable. She generously gave everyone a copy of her most recent work, “Hair,” which is available at the Hosmer Library.

The third was also a long-time zine creator. His style revolved around piecing images together. I got to see a glimpse of the process, but he was so focused on his craft that I didn’t want to disturb him. I hope the next time I join, that I get the chance to learn more about his style of art and the lore behind why he got into zines.

Overall, my experience with the Zine Club went great! I made my first-ever zine (pictured below) and the club members were more than enthusiastic for me.

Jared by Sehee Snead

As someone who did not grow up around comic books and zines, I find myself appreciative and in awe of how supportive and friendly the community is. I like the creative outlet and freedom zines allow — and how they are mainly independently published. I also learned that zines covering topics such as ethics, personal stories, and informational guides can be checked out and viewed at many libraries.

The Zine Club will definitely see me again as I attempt to create more. If you’re reading this, then this is a sign for you to get into zines as well! Whether it is to read one or to create one, I hope you can join me on this newfound endeavor.

“THE UPC HACK” by Matt Walkosz

Need a quick trick to help you identify whether the comic book you’re about to pay big money for is indeed a first print? Give a glance at the UPC box on the cover and that will tell you more than you’d think. Fair warning — this will only work with issues printed from about 1993 up to current books.

Before then, comic book UPC codes were simpler with fewer digits.

Modern comic book UPC codes have seventeen digits, but we are interested in the last five. These will normally be separated from the first twelve digits, and sitting above a secondary bar code. Go ahead and grab any nearby modern comic book and follow along. Of those last five, the first three digits are the issue number.

Comic Book UPC, Example One: Issue Number

Have a number one book? It will read “001.” See “250” and that is issue #250. There are a few books now that have crossed the one-thousand issue mark; mainly Action Comics and Detective Comics. Because there are only three digits, those books have restarted at “001” in the code.

So issue #1097 of Detective would read “097” in the UPC.

To know what printing you have, look to the fifth digit. “1” is a first printing. Congratulations, you have a genuine potentially valuable collector’s item on your hands! “2” is second printing, and so on. To go beyond two printings is rare, but it can happen with extremely popular issues.

Comic Book UPC, Example Two: Printing Number

Reprints might be marked as such elsewhere on the cover, or use differently colored artwork, but reading the UPC is the surest way to know.

The fourth digit tells us whether that book has the regular cover or a variant cover. “1” will be the regular cover, any other number and it is a variant. Many big publisher books have two or three variants. This does pose a complicating factor if the book has more than ten variants, as that number can override the fifth digit normally reserved for printing edition.

Comic Book UPC, Example Three: Cover Number

Star Wars #1 released by Marvel Comics in 2015 had over sixty variant covers. However, the reprints all used color variations of the regular cover. For issues such as these, doing some additional research will be best practice. Good luck!

Remember, this is not investment advice. Not all first printings are valuable. Always do your research before purchasing a comic book for more than cover price!

EDITOR’S NOTES AND KUDOS

Please keep creator Mark Stegbauer and his family in your thoughts and prayers; Mark recently lost his mother after her long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

MNCBA SpringCon 2025 hosted “Pat’s Final Sale” (an ongoing joke for those who knew Pat) selling comics and collectibles donated by the estate of Pat Gruber to benefit the MNCBA. Pat’s estate has requested that the final amount raised remains private, but we are happy to share that this week a $1000 donation was made to Harvest from the Heart in Pat’s memory. Thanks to all who participated.

The MNCBA SpringCon 2025 Charity Auction brought in $1680, which will be split evenly between the MNCBA and the Hero Initiative. Thank you to everyone who donated items and/or bid in the spring auction for making that possible.

MNCBA President Jen Bateman has been nominated for a 2024 NCS Divisional Reuben Award for their autobiographical webcomic, Behind the 8-Ball.

Animal Pound by Tom King and MNCBA SpringCon 2025 creator Peter Gross has been nominated for an Eisner Award in the category Best Limited Series.

How Comics Are Made: A Visual History from the Drawing Board to the Printed Page, published last month by Andrews McMeel, features an interview with frequent MNCBA creator (Flash Gordon, Sally Forth) and panelist Jim Keefe.

Until next time, see you in the funny pages!