Matt Fraction, Kelly Sue DeConnick Headline In-Store Convention Kick-Off

Retailer Sign-up Underway, Exclusive Products Announced

Coliseum of Comics, Diamond Comic Distributors, PREVIEWSworld.com, and leading suppliers have joined together for Convention Kick-Off 2016, a live streaming event that takes place at participating local comic book stores on Saturday, March 5th from Noon to 8:00 p.m. ET.

Dark Horse Comics, DC Entertainment, IDW Publishing, Marvel Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Top Cow Studios and Diamond Select Toys have signed on as key sponsors and will have presentations during the live event.

Featured guests included Matt Fraction and Kelly Sue DeConnick, with writer Matt Hawkins and artist Stjepan Sejic hosting the Top Cow panel, and writer Marguerite Bennett hosting the Dynamite Entertainment panel. More guests are scheduled to be announced in the near future by the event organizers.

Geeks of Comedy’s Kevin White will serve as master of ceremonies for the entire event.

Note: Cover Art Not Final

In addition, four exclusive, limited edition products will be available for fans to purchase during the event’s broadcast:
• BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT – BATGIRL AND HARLEY QUINN #1 KICKOFF CON 2016 VARIANT from DC Comics
• POWER MAN AND IRON FIST #1 KICKOFF CON 2016 VARIANT from Marvel Comics
• JONESY #1 CON KICKOFF 2016 VARIANT from Boom Studios
• STAR WARS R4-G9 FIGURE BANK CON KICKOFF 2016 from Diamond Select Toys

“Tens of thousands of fans have poured into comic-cons and conventions around the country in increasing numbers and this is a great way to encourage those fans to visit their local comic shops and kick off the 2016 convention season,” said event organizer, Phil Boyle. “It’s a great way to showcase spring and summer projects from publishers, all the while promoting comic shops as a great place to shop.”

Retailer signup is currently underway and retailers have until Monday, January 25, 2015 to sign up online with Diamond Comic Distributors. Participating stores will receive an exclusive login code to receive the live feed in their stores, promo posters and bookmarks, and can purchase the exclusive limited edition items available for the event. Any brick and mortar Diamond retailer with an account in good standing is welcome to participate in the event.

Interested fans looking for updates and information about publishers, guests, and participating stores in their area, can go online to conventionkickoff.com, and follow on Twitter at @InStoreKickOff or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/conventionkickoff.