Preparing for Saturday’s Atomicon, from left, Adult Programs Specialist Aimee Doiron, Youth Librarian Melissa Mackey and Senior Librarian Eva Jacobson at Mesa Public Library. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
It is almost as if the nerds have gotten their revenge. The comic book, the epitome of geek culture, is now celebrated in the mainstream as a piece of storytelling. Comic books get adapted into blockbuster movies, are listed on bestselling book lists and inspire massive fandoms. Entire events even get organized solely to celebrate comic books. These events, comic-cons, pop up everywhere including Los Alamos.
Atomicon, the local comic-con event, has reached its third year. The event is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Mesa Public Library and Fuller Lodge.
Senior Librarian Eva Jacobson said that every year, Atomicon evolves.
“We’re bigger and better every year.”
This year’s event will be divided into tracks: world building, costume art and maker.
Jacobson said in the world building track, there will be two panels of professional comic writers, cartoonists and storytellers. They will discuss how to create a fantasy world. The keynote speaker will be Jeff Benham who will give a talk titled, “Truth, Justice and the American: How Comics Animate Culture.”
The next track, Maker, will feature two workshops geared toward how to make a comic or a “mini”.
The third track is the art track including a costume contest. Youth Libarian Melissa Mackey said the contest will be done in several ways. There will be stealth judging, where judges will silently, and under the radar, evaluate people’s costumes, or participants can take a photo of themselves at the library or Fuller Lodge and text it to 505.709.5489. Everyone is welcome to the costume parade at 4:30 p.m. in the library’s lower-level rotunda. Mackey said prizes will be awarded although they will be more fun than for profit.
Also included in the costume art track is an art modeling workshop taught by a professional art model at 11 a.m. and an afternoon life drawing session with live costumed models hosted by the Los Alamos Art drawing group at 1 p.m. Both events take place in the library’s rotunda.
There are other activities planned as well. Mackey said arts and crafts will be held for all ages. Collaborators including 7000 BC will be in attendance along with local organizations including Los Alamos Little Theatre, Los Alamos STEAM Lab, Los Alamos High School Olions, JJAB, Atomic City Quilts and American Gamers Academy. Los Alamos Arts Council also is taking part by hosting a Vendor Hall 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fuller Lodge. Plus, Samizdat Bookstore and Teashouse is sponsoring Weckiai Rannila, a gamemaster and Jeopardy champ, for an immersive playthrough of the tabletop role-playing game Coyote&Crow 10 a.m. and then again at 2 p.m. at Fuller Lodge. For this particular event, registration is needed. Go to LosAlamosLibrary.org to register.
In short there is something for everyone and something for all ages, Jacobson said.
“This is truly an event for all ages.”
Mackey added that Atomicon has grown since its inception, but it has grown to accommodate not only Los Alamos but its neighbors.
“We’re growing this in a way that makes sense for Los Alamos and neighboring communities,” she said.
She pointed out that those participating in the comic-con are familiar faces.
“This group is local. They’re friends and neighbors.”
Mackey said Atomicon was born from a discussion amongst library staff members three years ago.
“Several of us at the library simultaneously suggested a return to comic and fantasy programming and our adult program specialist at the time looked at it and said, ‘They’re all connected’ and I said, ‘Yeah; let’s all connect them.”
The community responded, Mackey reported in its first year Atomicon brought in 1,500 people.
Since the first one was held in 2021, after the COVID lockdown was lifted, she said, “I felt like our community was back.”
Part of the attraction is that it allows everyone to have fun and celebrate their creativity.
As Adult Programs Specialist Aimee Doiron said, “You can celebrate your inner nerd.”
Mackey agreed, saying people in this town really enjoy dressing up whether it is for Trick or Treat Mainstreet or a holiday parade.
The appeal for comic books and comic cons is the same.
“There’s so much depth,” Doiron said regarding comic books. Adding that comic-cons are places where “You can really dig into that, and you can show off your costume and share it with others.”
Jacobson agreed, saying, “You can express yourself through the storytelling and the visual art. It is really an invigorating and vibrant and powerful way of telling a story.”
“It is so deeply accessible,” Mackey said, confessing she “cannot buy enough graphic novels.”
Atomicon is free to everyone; for a full schedule of events, visit LosAlamosLibrary.org.