Phillipsburg High School will host their annual Comic Con on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Organized by the Phillipsburg High School Comic and Anime and Manga clubs, as well as Club Unify, Comic Con has been held since 2015.
As in previous years, there will be panels, activities for kids such as painting superhero masks, comic giveaways and a comic con exclusive print that guests can get with a canned good or monetary donation to the local food bank.
In the past, panels have included basic writing tips, industry stories, sequential storytelling, virtual Q & As and in-person discussions about writing and publishing.
The Phillipsburg High School cafeteria is transformed into a comic lover’s dream with creators displaying their work, engaging with Comic Con attendees and giving students an inside look at how they can continue to pursue their passion for art and writing.
Faith Roncoroni, the 2021-22 Warren County Teacher of the Year, and an English teacher at Phillipsburg High School, helped to create the Comic Con to expose her students to opportunities they might not have known about before.
Roncoroni teaches comic books and graphic novels in her English classes as a way to expand the canon and make reading more accessible for students. She is amazed at the hard work and dedication students have displayed over nearly a decade of holding the Comic Con.
“The students do so much of the work to bring the Comic Con to the community,” Roncoroni says. “They contact creators, send out monthly cards and work with local comic book shops and restaurants. This project really brings out their leadership skills and perseverance—as anyone who’s ever had to organize an event will tell you, it takes persistence!”
For more information about the Phillipsburg High School Comic Con, go to phillipsburgcomiccon.com.