Strangely, UMASS is no longer part of 5CON. Perhaps 4CON just didn’t have the same ring to it . . .
Conventions
April 3-5, 1998
5-CON
Northampton, MA--The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s home-town of Northampton Massachusetts was the host of this year’s 5-CON. Held in the beautiful Seeleye Hall on the stately grounds of Smith College, the show takes its name from the five colleges in the Northampton area: Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, Amherst College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Strangely, UMASS is no longer part of 5CON. Perhaps 4CON just didn’t have the same ring to it . . .
It was with delight that the CBLDF accepted 5-CON’s donation of free booth space. "It’s vital for the Fund to be present on the campuses of the nation’s colleges,” said CBLDF Executive Director Chris Oarr. "That's where the core of today’s comic audience is. And when the invitation comes from our own back-yard, how could we resist?”
In addition to donating space, the convention also featured a special panel discussion on the CBLDF and its efforts to preserve First Amendment rights for everyone in comics. Experts on the matter were, of course, close at hand; the panel included CBLDF President Denis Kitchen, our former Director-turned-Treasurer Susan Alston, and new guy Chris Oarr.
Artist John Mueller (Oink, Swamp Thing) dropped by the CBLDF booth after his panel to meet the fans and do some sketches. A few newly painted pages from John’s upcoming series, Oink: Blood and Circus, decorated the booth and drew in more than one fan. John also brought along Eli Stone, artist and writer for The Tick: Big Blue Destiny. Unfamiliar with the Fund, Eli was a quick convert and ended up donating and signing his own comics! Altogether, the Fund raised nearly $300 over the weekend.
The con also featured a varitey of comics, sci-fi, and fantasy programming. Costumers and leather workers were on hand to help fans suit up for the evening’s Live Action Role Playing games. There were also panels, and non-stop horror films and anime. There was even a fencing demonstration on the lawn in the midst of Sunday morning’s light snow. No fans were harmed in the course of this event.
The CBLDF wishes to thank Kara Savoia and Katherine Buffington, convention co-chairs, for donating space, time, and advertising to make the CBLDF panel possible. Thanks also go to Michelle Aguilar of The Daily Hampshire Gazette for covering the panel, and to Denis Kitchen, John Mueller, and especially Jack Purcell and Dan Berger for taking part in a panel discussion on working in comics. Jack and Dan came in at the last minute, and were really great about it.
We'd also like to thank all the convention staffers for helping to run the 5Con Art Show and and all the artists who exhibited work there, especially Rafael Rivera, who is always willing to do free art on commission for the Fund. All 5Con proceeds from the art show will be donated to the CBLDF.
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community. Donations and inquiries should be directed to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.
For additional information, call 413-268-7776 or e-mail the CBLDF staff.
271 Madison Avenue, Suite 1400
New York, NY 10016
800-99-CBLDF
info@cbldf.org
Web design and site maintained by Eric Griffith / Squished Frog Productions.