SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO--(Marketwired - May 11, 2016) - Tens of thousands of geeks from far and wide are expected to descend on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico to enjoy some pop culture fun-under-the-sun at Puerto Rico Comic Con (PRCC), the region's largest and most important entertainment event. The show, expected to draw well over 40,000 fans and to be held May 20 through 22 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center, features a slate of entertainment industry guests, covering the gamut from television and film, to videogames, collectibles, anime, cosplay and more.
"The entertainment value proposition of this year's Con is unlike anything we've done before," says Ricardo Carrion, executive producer of PRCC. "For nearly 15 years our fans, myriad exhibitors and industry professionals have given us the support and energy to keep on growing and put on a world-class show. As such, this year's event is chockfull of innovations, designed to give fans of all ages a Con experience like no other."
What's New? Among the new elements at the 2016 Puerto Rico Comic Con is the use of the Convention Center's Ballroom, located on the 3rd floor. The 1,500-seat venue will host guest artist Q&A panels as well as the daily Cosplay Contest. Also new for 2016 is the integration of the Video Game Conference, a proprietary offering of gaming industry forums, talks, professional knowledge and entertainment. Plus, the number of VIP MultiPass tickets, which gives fans privileged access to all three days of the show as well as goodies, was increased from 500 last year to 1,950. Over 1,500 MultiPasses have already been sold since they went on sale in October of last year.
Guests Galore. But it's the guest lineup for PRCC 2016 that has fans abuzz. Actress Lana Parrilla, who is of Puerto Rican descent and best known for her portrayal of Regina Mills/Evil Queen in the series "Once Upon a Time", will be there, as well as Lyndsy Fonseca, famous for her roles in both "Kick-Ass" movies and TV's "Marvel's Agent Carter" and "How I Met Your Mother," among other roles.
Rounding out the marquee guests is veteran comic book artist John Romita, Jr. who comes as PRCC's first Guest of Honor, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the comic book arts. Romita, Jr. is widely recognized as one of the most important figures in the comic book industry, known for his work with Marvel Comics, DC Comics and Image Comics. Over the course of his 30-year career, Romita, Jr. has worked on titles such as "The Amazing Spider-Man," "Iron Man," "Uncanny X-Men," "Daredevil," "Thor" and "Kick-Ass," among many others.
"To have Parrilla, Fonseca and Romita, Jr. in our show, as well as our other guests, is the result of our commitment to giving fans a world-class entertainment experience year after year, as well as the celebrities they want to meet. We are very proud to have them as our guests," said Carrion.
Other 2016 Puerto Rico Comic Con guests include: Jessica Nigri, international cosplayer and model; comic book artist and five-time Eisner Award winner Eric Powell, creator of "The Goon" series; voice actress Laura Bailey ("Silent Hill," "Final Fantasy XIII"); voice actor Travis Willingham ("Fullmetal Alchemist"); Deborah Philips and Kerrigan Mahan ("Mighty Morphin Power Rangers"); international cosplayer LeeAnna Vamp; videogame music composer Rika Muranaka ("Metal Gear Solid"), and official Star Wars novelist Claudia Gray.
A Con in Paradise. Each year people from all over the Americas come to Puerto Rico Comic Con, as the event stands out from other cons for its idyllic location. The island of Puerto Rico is a Caribbean paradise featuring a year-round tropical climate. As a U.S. territory, no passport is required for travel from the U.S. mainland. Couple that with entertainment geekdom over three days, and it's a win-win situation for fans. Convention goers often turn their stay into a mini vacation, given Puerto Rico's colorful culture, cuisine, history, natural wonders and yes, beaches.
Convention tickets are available at ticketpop.com and partner hotel rates can be found at www.prcomiccon.com. For more information: prcomiccon.com and PRComicCon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
Conceived in 2002, Puerto Rico Comic Con has grown exponentially over the years, with 30% year-over-year growth during the past six years. It is one of the top 20 cons in North America, based on information from a report in Publisher's Weekly.
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