The Virginia Vintage Comics and Collectibles show returns for its 19th year at the Salem Civic Center Saturday, August 20. The show is Virginia’s longest running comic book event.
The show was started by Roger and Nancy Mannon of Floyd in 1998. “There are a growing number of comic book shows in this area and across the country,” Roger Mannon said. “But we are the only show dedicated to old comic books.”
Because of the unique nature of the show, dealers and collectors from as far as Florida, New York, and midwestern states have attended the vintage show, a total of 14 states represented to date.
In addition to nostalgia and historical importance, another reason for renewed interest in comics is that some of them have become extremely valuable. A few comic books have been sold for a million dollars or more, “but you can still find thousands of old comics at our show for only a few dollars,” Mannon said.
Comic books, which were a staple of American popular culture during the 1940s through the 1960s, have enjoyed a renewed interest in recent years, as Hollywood has developed movie franchises using iconic comic book superheroes as source material. Superman, Batman and Spider-Man have inspired blockbuster action movies, and now, even some minor characters are becoming household names.
Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is a vintage-era $3, with 12-and under admitted free. The Salem Civic Center is located at 1001 Roanoke Blvd.
For additional information, call (540) 789-7056 or (540) 320-7056. The website is facebook.com/virginiavintagecomicsandcollectiblesshow.
