Planet Comicon to celebrate 20 years with comic book legends Claremont, Starlin, Steranko, and more

In less than four weeks pop culture convention Planet Comicon Kansas City returns, this time to celebrate its 20th year. Even more than before the event is hosting a pantheon of nationally recognized comic book writers and artists for its seventh year in the downtown Kansas City, Missouri, venue at the giant Bartle Hall facility at the Kansas City Convention Center. The show runs Friday, March 29 through Sunday, March 31. Bring your stacks of comics for autographs from your favorite creators–we’ve included here only a few important and familiar books by creators scheduled to be at the event. Attendees will see some of the biggest names and most popular character creators spanning fives decades of comics, including:

Chris Claremont, writer and creator of dozens of characters including Rogue, Mystique, Phoenix, Emma Frost, Legion, Gambit, and Captain Britain. His classic books include a long run on Uncanny X-Men, including the popular story arcs The Dark Phoenix Saga and Days of Future Past, adapted into X-Men: Days of Future Past, multiple X-Men movies, and this summer’s coming film Dark Phoenix.

Jim Starlin, writer/artist and creator of Thanos, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, the Master of Kung Fu, and the first graphic novel published by Marvel Comics, The Death of Captain Marvel. His classic books include Batman: The Cult, Batman: A Death in the Family, and Cosmic Odyssey.

Jim Steranko, writer/artist known for his unique 1960s style, his work on Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., plus memorable runs on Captain America and X-Men. He was also a creator of concept art designs for Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Fabian Nicieza, writer known for creating Deadpool in the pages of The New Mutants, and working on dozens of key superhero titles. His classic books include New Warriors and Psi-Force.

Keith Giffen, artist and creator of Rocket the Raccoon and Lobo. His classic books include several issues of Legion of Super-Heroes.

Kevin Eastman, writer and creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Steve McNiven, artist and creator of Marvel Comics’ Civil War. McNiven is known for his cover art on dozens of Marvel titles.

Bob McLeod, artist and creator of The New Mutants. (A concept that is the subject of 20th Century Fox’s last slated Marvel project, the coming late summer big-screen release The New Mutants).

And that’s not all…

Returning to Planet Comicon Kansas City are nationally-known and local favorite comic book writers and artists Freddie Williams II, Jason Aaron, Ande Parks, Phil Hester, Jai Nitz, Ant Lucia, Megan Levens, Skottie Young, Rick Burchett, Bryan Timmins, Darren Neely, CW Cooke, Damont Jordan, Darryl Woods, Chris Grine, plus Steve McNiven, Don Rosa, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez, Jaime Mendoza, Denys Cowan, Gary Gianni, Nick Spencer, Mark Bagley, Mark Texeira, Mark Tieri, Cullen Bunn, Afua Richardson, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, and many more.

Make sure you visit the Elite Comics flight crew at the “Party on the Pillar” and pick up some great deals on what the Con is all about–comics–including the Planet Comicon Kansas City exclusive cover for the landmark Detective Comics, Issue #1000, available only at the show and the only variant cover for the issue featuring Arkham Knight. Artist Doug Mahnke will be at the show to sign this issue.

Check out the full lists of hundreds of creators at this year’s convention here and here.

And don’t forget to look out for all the celebrities from film and television at the show (more to come here at borg). Check out more information about the event, cancellations, and writers/artists only appearing on certain days of the event here.