UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Friday, April 22,1994
5
Lawrence convention features comics, role-playing games
By Dwayne Wilder Special to the Kansan
As he took the card from the deck, he was confident, but he couldn't show it. Mitch Megaw cast a spell, destroyed his enemy and won the game.
Megaw, a former KU student, has played the card game, "Magic: The Gathering," with its creatures, artifacts and spells since its debut last year.
"It's a fun role-playing game, but I'm more into comic books than gaming," he said.
The convention, KULCON II, is a comic books and role-playing get-together at the Holiday Inn Holidome, 200 McDonald Drive, which runs today through Sunday. This is the second year of the convention, which is held by KU-Lawrence Conventions, Inc.
"We will have 20 comic dealer tables, 30 role-playing events and a charity auction,'said John Whitmer, KULCON president.
In addition to the auction, which will benefit the United Ways Children's Services, another highlight will be a CD-Interactive horror event, Whitmer said.
"Bruce Nesmith, a TSR company designer, will unveil his 'Ravenloft' game for the first time in the U.S.," he said.
Megaw, an employee at Comic Corner, 1000 Massachusetts st.,esti
mates that 5 to 10 percent of the Lawrence population is involved with role-playing — a game that involves playing the role of a character in a fantasy setting.
"Most are KU students," he said.
With the advent of new computer technology, role-playing has taken on a new dimension, said Stuart Shuttz, a role-player and owner of Comic Corner.
"There are games with 3-D graphics. They are very life-like," he said. "They really get intricate."
But comic books are still a big part of these conventions. Whitmer said.
Comic books used to be read and immediately thrown away — but not any longer, Shuts said.
"Comic collecting is more of a science or hobby now than just a pastime," he said.
Comic book collectibles is a fastgrowing hobby, according to industry observers.
"It is third, behind stamps and coins, in the collectibles market," said Jeff Overstreet, senior research editor for Overstreet Comic Book Monthly, an industry guidebook.
The largest interest generated at these conventions is by the creators, writers and artist celebrities, Whitmer said.
"We will have Timothy Bradstreet, a comic book artist and "The Wizards of the Coast' and creators of the card game, 'Magic: The Gathering' at this year's convention," he said. "The Wizards' will be conducting three specially sanctioned events of their 'Magic' game, Shutts said.
Held all day, today through Sunday at the Holiday Inn
Timesandprices
$3 per day or $5 for both days (Saturday and Sunday), dealer room only
$10 single day pass, role-playing and dealer's room
$22, all three days, all events.
KANSAN
Whitmer, who expects 500-700 people at the convention, said KULCON, Inc. is happy with the response from the University of Kansas.
"We're a non-profit organization, and we appreciate the support from the Student Senate and the use of the Jayhawk logo," he said.
Whitmer said he expected a lot of college students to attend the convention.
"College age will be about 60 percent of the adults," he said.
Attorney general candidate speaks
By Stephen Martino Kansan staff writer
When Marvin Barkis lost his seat in the Kansas House of Representatives two years ago, many proclaimed his political career finished.
He is trying to prove it wrong. Barkis was at the Kansas Union yesterday talking with students and faculty to support his bid for the Democratic nomination for attorney general.
Butt, Barkis said, the attorney general's race was an opportunity to address his concerns about the state.
He is trying to prove them wrong.
He joined the attorney general's race about five weeks ago after he already had spent a year campaigning for governor. His change was precipitated by the death of Tom Sullivan, the front-runner in the attorney general's race.
"I believe that government shapes the future," he said. "I am concerned about the future of my kids and the future of other children in Kansas."
This year's discussion about crime, Barkis said, detracted from other important issues that the attorney general's office deals with, such as consumer law, environment protection, safe guarding the elderly and working against public corruption.
However, Barkis said, crime would be his office's primary focus.
A two-pronged approach would work towards this, he said.
"We have to get the monsters off the street," he said. "And we have to work to stop creating monsters."
First, he said he would focus on keeping the most violent people in society in prison for their crimes. Special units to prosecute violent crimes, including cases where the death penalty might be involved, would be something he would start.
Second,he said,would be initiatives to help prevent violence in the home from destroying the lives of children.
"I'm going to be the best friend an abused child ever had," he said.
Ted Miller, Bonner Springs junior and president of the KU Young Democrats, said that Barkis represented what was best among candidates.
"His knowledge of government will allow him to broaden the scope of the attorney general's office," Miller said.
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