Huge comics and gaming show brings all kinds of characters to Mississauga

All things comics and gaming will take over the Living Arts Centre in the city’s downtown core this coming Sunday as the annual Mississauga Comic Expo hits town.

Organizers say the free admission, all-ages event “celebrates the diverse culture of comics, gaming, art and more.”

The expo runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Nov. 19. Activities are free of charge and all programs for the day are open to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hosted by Mississauga Library, the expo includes an artist alley, exhibitors, workshops, panels, cosplay shoots, tabletop board game demos, video game free-play sessions, presentations and featured guests.

Visitors who dress up in character costumes will have a chance to win prizes, organizers say.

Featured guests include comic artists Jey Pawlik, Ricky Lima, Zi Chen, Adam Gorham, Angela Poon and Joy San. They’ll be available for Sketch Challenge sessions scheduled for 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Visitors to the expo can also join a Character Design class with Mazie Lovie, an illustrator and cartoonist from London, Ontario. Her debut graphic novel memoir, The Lucky Poor, will be released next March.

Those in attendance can also play a game or two of Dungeons and Dragons and Mario Kart & Smash Bros. Pokemon Cards will also be part of the expo as kids will be shown how to play with the cards.

A children’s costume parade is also part of the day’s events, running from 11:30 a.m. until noon.