Aspiring Artists Can Rub Elbows With Superstar Creators As Wizard World Ohio Comic Con Launches Amateur Art Contest

Area Artists Can Compete To Win Artist Alley Table At Greater Columbus Convention Center, Sept. 28-30

NEW YORK and COLUMBUS, Ohio, August 29, 2012 – Think you have what it takes to be the next Greg Horn, Tyler Kirkham or Alan Davis?  Now aspiring artists in Ohio and beyond will have the opportunity to show their best work and even win an Artist Alley table next month as the Wizard World Ohio Comic Con Art Contest officially begins today.  Submissions will be accepted through noon ET on Sept. 17, 2012, with the event set for the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Sept. 28-30.

That trio of superstar artists will judge entries on creativity and innovation, within the following themes, consistent with the Wizard World theme:  pop culture, science fiction, comics, movies, television, gaming, technology, toys, graphic novels.  The top entry will have use of an Artist Alley table for the full three days in Columbus, and an additional pass for a guest to work the table.

Each finalist will be provided passes for himself/herself and a guest to attend Wizard World Ohio Comic Con.  Selected works, including all finalists, will also be displayed on the WizardWorld.com Web site and other outlets.

Emerging artists who have not earned payment for submitted artwork by a studio, licensing company, comic or other professional entity are eligible. Students enrolled full time in high schools, colleges, community colleges, universities, trade schools, or professional schools (Design, Architecture, etc.) are also eligible to enter.

Full details and forms are available at the Wizard World Ohio Art Contest Web page at http://www.wizardworld.com/2012ohioartcontest.html.  All two- and three-dimensional art, regardless of media, will initially be submitted electronically via email at contests@WizardWorld.com (subject: Wizard World Ohio Comic Con Art Contest Entry) as .JPG images (max file size 2 MB).

Eligibility and prize evaluation is at the sole discretion of Wizard World, Inc., and all decisions of judges are final.

Comics legend Stan Lee, pop culture icon William Shatner, WWE® Superstar CM Punk® and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Eliza Dushku headline the celebrity roster at Wizard World Ohio Comic Con.  They will be joined by many of the world's greatest comics creators, exhibitors and thousands of fans in a celebration of all things pop culture in an expanded format, which now includes a preview on Friday evening and two full weekend days.

Horn (“X-Force,” “Blackest Night”), Kirkham (“Green Lantern Corps,” “Amazing Spider-Man”), Davis (“Captain America,” “Thor”), Neal Adams (“Batman,” “Green Lantern”), Humberto Ramos (“Amazing Spider-Man,” “Impulse”) and Paul Jenkins (“Spider-Man,” “Hulk”) are among the top creators scheduled to populate Artist Alley.

Wizard World Ohio Comic Con, produced by Wizard World, Inc. (WIZD.PK), will bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.  Show hours are Friday, Sept. 28, 5-9 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 29, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 30, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For more on the 2012 Wizard World Ohio Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-ohio.html.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.

The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.