Berkeley's Central-Con Unites Comic Lovers And Artists

BERKELEY, NJ — What started as an idea grew into a reality when the first annual Central-Con kicked off Saturday.

John Ciccone and Alfonso Trematerra, custodians at Central Regional High School, conceptualized the idea to have a local comic convention to express their personal love for comics. They proposed the idea to Superintendent Dr. Triantafillos Parlapanides and the Central Regional School Board. Parlapanides thought it was a great idea, according to Ciccone.

Central-Con was devised to promote the arts, get kids to read more, bring the community together and hope to one day be able to create a scholarship program for kids, according to Ciccone and Trematerra.

"For two months of advertising, we had a good turnout today with great vendors, awesome artists and guests," Ciccone said.

Headlining the event was actor Corey Sosner, creator of Action Actors, and New Jersey native Tony DiGerolamo, a writer for "The Simpsons" comic book series. DiGerolamo was promoting his latest work called "Wokeistan."

"Central-Con was an absolute blast," DiGerolamo said. "It's one of the best first-time shows I have been to."

There were multiple vendors at the event hailing from as far north as Long Island to as local as Toms River. A&S Comics, Comic Curators, Comic Collision, Pennyworth's Fortune, AJ's House of Comics and Kyle's Comics were on hand to sell comics, Funko Pop figures, Magic the Gathering products and Pokémon cards.

"I enjoy the smaller shows focused on just comics," customer Dave Deveau of Long Island said. "It's a more intimate show and it's nice."

Will Torres, a local artist from North Plainfield, attended the event for drawings and promoting his latest comic "Mister Venture." According to Torres, the late Stan Lee helped him create the comic's character.

"I grew up in a bad part of Plainfield, and it was comics that kept me off the streets," Torres said. "It really changed my life. My art is eye candy to people."

The event provided food and drinks to customers. There were door raffles throughout and live music. According to Ciccone, Central-Con will make a return next year bigger and better.

Children under 12 years of age received a free comic book. Mayor Carmen F. Amato also attended the event.

"Local artists supporting local artists," Sosner said, "that's what it's all about."

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