Bringing Kids to Comic Con? Tips for Family Fun, Savings

Wondering whether bringing kids to comic con is a good idea? Of course, it is!

I took my children to their first “comic con” event when they were 4 and 2. I knew they wouldn’t remember much, but I certainly wanted them to have fun. Here are some tips you will find helpful, especially if you have little children, that I learned about during that first one (and note: the same basic tips can be carried over to a baseball card show or any other fan conference you take kids to):

Research comic con in advance

Before bringing kids to comic con, look up the schedule and vendor list. Just a little bit of homework in advance or your trip will make it more fun and productive, regardless of why you’re going. Find out who is attending so that you know if there is anyone that you want to sign something. Had I known artist Neal Adams was signing I would’ve brought more Batman comics. There were also lots of cool companies including some folks from Action Lab Comics who let us into some great new kid’s releases coming out.

Pay attention

If you’re bringing kids to comic con, pay particular attention to the vendors and surroundings for two key reasons.

• The horror genre. Some of those masks, books or cosplayers might be too scary or sexy for children.  Just look a couple of booths ahead at all times and avoid the ones that might scare the kids. Also, be sure to talk to them before going that all of this is pretend. If you’re in doubt about how your child will perceive anyone in costume then you might want to wait a year to take your child.
• Some of those items are valuable. Be it a baseball card, comic book, figurine or toy: that item could be worth hundreds of dollars. Our kids reached toward a couple of expensive comics in their grasp and touched them. I stopped them, but just as the vendor politely said not to touch anything.   Push did not come to shove, but I suspect that those vendors have a you break it you bought it policy.

To cosplay or not to cosplay

Cosplay, of course! Having your children wear their favorite jersey or a superhero costume to a comic con event makes for awesome photos and lets the others know that they’re here to play and have fun.

Even if they don’t opt to wear a costume, the folks who are in costume are more than willing to stop for photos.

Bring your kids to comic con … and your wallet

I knew there would be thousands upon thousands of comics for sale. What was surprising: many graphic novels for sale at 25 percent off their retail. A big thick Hulk or Thor graphic novel was only $5. Figure that each one has four to six normal comic stories and that is one heck of a deal.

A version of ‘Bringing Kids to Comic Con’ first appeared on Daddy Mojo.