Alaska Robotic Mini-Con is back for the fourth year on Saturday, but events are planned for Thursday and Friday ahead of the convention, workshop and presentations. (Courtesy Photo | Pat Race)

Alaska Robotic Mini-Con is back for the fourth year on Saturday, but events are planned for Thursday and Friday ahead of the convention, workshop and presentations. (Courtesy Photo | Pat Race)

Biff! Bang! Pow! Comic convention returns to Juneau

Here’s what you need to know to not miss out

Mini-Con has a maxi schedule.

Alaska Robotics’ annual Mini-Con takes over the Juneau Arts & Culture Center from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 27, but there’s a lot more to the comic convention than one day and one building.

“It’s kind of spread out a little bit,” said Pat Race, Alaska Robotics co-owner. “I don’t think we’ve done this many Thursday things before.”

A Tusken Raider (Joshua Jarrett) makes an appearance at the Alaska Robotics Mini-Con on Saturday, April 28, 2018. (Lance Nesbitt | Juneau Empire File)

A Tusken Raider (Joshua Jarrett) makes an appearance at the Alaska Robotics Mini-Con on Saturday, April 28, 2018. (Lance Nesbitt | Juneau Empire File)

Convention-related events are planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 25-April 27, with readings, presentations, school visits, workshops and more.

Race said that sprawl has more to do with attendees being in town a bit earlier than usual than the convention growing in size or scope.

He said the fourth annual Mini-Con includes about the same number of exhibitors as past iterations — 56 are specifically named on the event’s website — and that’s a result of constraints created by Juneau venues and the vision for the convention.

Brittany Dresen volunteers at the Alaska Robotics Mini-Con at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center on Saturday, April 28, 2018. (Lance Nesbitt | Juneau Empire File)

Brittany Dresen volunteers at the Alaska Robotics Mini-Con at the Juneau Arts & Culture Center on Saturday, April 28, 2018. (Lance Nesbitt | Juneau Empire File)

“We’re kind of comfortable with it being the size that it is,” Race said. “If we do grow, we want it to remain accessible. We want it to stay a free community event and keep it in the spirit of something like Folk Fest.”

[The stories behind some of Folk Fest’s oddball band names]

However, at its present size, Mini-Con offers up multiple events during the back half of this week with both local and nationally known artists.

Here is a full schedule of events and locations by day culled from the event’s website.

Thursday, April 25

Story time with Michaela Goade, 11 a.m., Douglas Public Library. Children’s book author Michaela Goade, whose work includes “Encounter,” and “How Devil’s Club Came to Be,” will lead story time.

Zine Making Workshop, 5:30-7 p.m., Douglas Public Library. The Giant cartoonist and self-described zine-slapper-together, will lead this workshop.

How to Invent Everything, 6-7 p.m., Downtown Public Library. Ryan North will discuss his book, which serves as a guide for a stranded time traveler.

Jigsaw Puzzle Making Workshop, 6-9 p.m., Juneau Makerspace. Chris Yates will lead this work shop. Registration ahead of time at Alaska Robotics Gallery is encouraged. There is a $25 or pay-as-you-can materials fee.

Friday, April 26

School Visits- Visiting artists will appear in over 40 classrooms and in assemblies at schools all over Juneau.

Mini-Con kickoff, 5 p.m., Mendenhall Valley Public Library. There will be snacks at 5 p.m. and a variety show at 6 p.m. There will be short presentations, readings and music.

Saturday, April 27

Convention floor hours, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Juneau Arts & Culture Center.

Board games, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Juneau Arts & Culture Center Gallery. This is hosted by Platypus Gaming.

Book Signings, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Alaska Robotics booth at the JACC. There is a new signing every hour starting at 10 a.m. They are in order Jen Wang and Michaela Goade; Tillie Walden and Dylan Meconis; Kazu Kibuishi, Toni Cliff and Scott C.; Raina Telgemeier, Cale Galligan and Ryan North; Tillie Walden and Tony Cliff; Jen Wang, Raina Telgemeier., Dylan Meconis and Michaela Goade; Kazu Kibuishi, Gale Galligan, Scott C. and Ryan North.

Making Picture Books, noon-3 p.m. Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum. From noon-1 p.m., Inari Kylanen and Lee Post will cover self-publishing picture books, 1-2 p.m. will feature Hannah Lindoff discussing writing picture books, 2-3 p.m. Michaela Goade and Lucas Elliott will cover illustrating picture books.

Presentations, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., KTOO. There is an hour-long presentation every hour until 4 p.m. They are sponsored by Travel Juneau. From 11-noon, Lucy Bellwood will talk about Jeanne Baret, noon-1 p.m. is Baby-Sitters Club Super Secret Club Meeting featuring Raina Telgemeier and Gale Galligan, 1-2 p.m. award-winning graphic novelist Tillie Walden will present, 2-3 p.m. New York Times bestseller Jen Wang will present and 3-4 p.m. Kazu Kibuishi, illustrator for the “Amulet” graphic novel series and cover artist for the 15th anniversary Harry Potter paperbacks will speak.

Workshops, 11 a.m.-2 p.m, KTOO Conference Room. Scott C. will talk character design 11 a.m.-noon and noon-2 p.m. Dik Pose will help attendees make stop motion animation.

Activities and hangouts, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Zach Gordon Youth Center. From 11 a.m.-noon there will be a drawing hangout with Kazu Kibuishi and Tony Cliff. From noon-1 p.n. there is a writing hangout with Ryan North and Karla Pacheco. From 1-2 p.m. is making Sculpey monsters with Shing Yin Khor, and from 2-3 p.m. is a drawing hangout with Raina and Andy.

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ships in Port for t​​he Week of Sept. 23

Here’s what to expect this week.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Friday, Sept. 22, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Maria Norman, 80, guides her wheelchair/walker toward the front patio space of the senior living building at the St. Vincent de Paul of Juneau complex on Teal Street on Saturday. About 30 Juneau residents visited the complex during the morning as part of a Friends of the Poor Run/Walk to raise money for the facility and its programs. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
A step at a time toward housing stability

Annual fundraising run/walk for St. Vincent de Paul Juneau highlights improvements, ongoing needs.

A marijuana activist holds a flag during a march on Independence Day on July 4, 2021, in Washington, DC. Members of the group Fourth of July Hemp Coalition gathered outside the White House for its annual protest on marijuana prohibition which the group said it dated back to more than 50 years ago during Nixon Administration. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Alaska relaxes rules for marijuana ads, allows free samples

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom has signed new regulations that allow the… Continue reading

A rainbow appears over downtown as residents check out rows of electric vehicles at Juneau’s EV E-bike Roundup Saturday afternoon. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Capital city celebrates 10th annual Juneau EV and E-bike Roundup

Juneau’s electric vehicle growth among fastest in the country, organizers say.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, gives a live speech via video from Washington, D.C., to attendees at the annual Southeast Conference meeting in Sitka on Thursday. (Screenshot from video by Southeast Conference)
Murkowski, Sullivan warn of domestic, foreign threats to Southeast Alaska’s economy

Issues from Russian seafood imports to ferry funding cited by senators during Southeast Conference.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read