‘Star Trek’ Actors Will Beam into Mahoning Valley Comicon

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Mahoning Valley Comicon will take place this weekend, July 6-7, in a new location and with some familiar faces.

The event is moving to Calvin Center, 755 Mahoning Ave. (near downtown), this year. Celebrity guests will include several actors, including two who appeared in the original “Star Trek” series. The convention previously was at the Holiday Inn in Boardman.

Actors Sean Kenney, who played Capt. Pike in the 1966 “Star Trek” episode “The Menagerie,” and Beverly Washburn, who played Lt. Galway in the 1967 episode “The Deadly Years,” will give presentations both days in the Calvin Center chapel.

Kenney also appeared in “The Corpse Grinders” (1971), “Slumber Party ’57” (1976) and other films. Washburn had roles in the films “Old Yeller” (1957) and “Spider Baby” (1967), and many television series in the 1950s.

Marvel Comics artist Sean Geiger will also attend the event and give a presentation. Geiger is best known for his work with “The Incredible Hulk” and “Punisher” comics titles.

Other actors on the schedule include Jeremy Ambler (a zombie in “The Walking Dead”), Jennie Malone (“Wrong Turn”) and Tara Buckman (“Cannonball Run”). Comic book creator Vesenia Lindsey (“Celestial Pulse”) will also be present.

For a complete list of guests and vendors, click HERE.

The main room of the convention will be the Calvin Center gymnasium, where vendors will offer back issues and rare comics, toys and collectibles. One new vendor will sell rubber duck collectibles, which event organizer Carlos Rivera says has become a trend. “One looks like Elvis, another like Marilyn Monroe,” he said, citing two examples.

There will also be cosplay contests with cash prizes for adults on Saturday and children on Sunday.

Because the larger Youngstown Comicon is on hiatus this year, the Mahoning Valley Comicon will be the only event of its type in the area this summer.

“That’s a reason why we decided to do it again this year,” Rivera said.

The first Mahoning Valley Comicon drew 700 people over its two days, and the second one attracted 350 but was a one-day affair. Rivera is expecting 1,000 visitors this year.

Admission is $10 each day (free for children under 10 with a paying adult).

Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Here is the schedule:

Saturday

• 11:30 a.m.: “Star Trek” fan club the USS Renegade.
• Noon: Jeremy Ambler and Jennie Malone talk about “Walking Dead” and “Wrong Turn.”
• 1 p.m.: Steve Geiger talks about Marvel Comics.
• 2 p.m.: Tara Buckman talks about “Cannonball Run,” “Buck Rogers” and more.
• 3 p.m.: Cosplay contest for adults.
• 4 p.m.: Sean Kenney and Beverly Washburn talk “Star Trek” and more.
• 5 p.m.: “The Midnight Movie” (Cleveland television hosts).

Sunday

• Noon: “Star Trek” fan club the USS Renegade.
• 1 p.m.: Sean Kenney and Beverly Washburn talk “Star Trek” and more.
• 2 p.m.: Steve Geiger talks about Marvel Comics.
• 3 p.m.: Cosplay contest for children.
• 4 p.m.: Tara Buckman, Jeremy Ambler and Jennie Malone talk about their movie careers.
• 5 p.m.: “The Midnight Movie” hosts.

Pictured at top: Beverly Washburn, center, in a scene from “Star Trek.”

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