There are certain events where the journalist in me steps aside for a minute and the fan takes over.
TerrifiCon is one of them.
I’ve been collecting comic books since I was three years old. Batman was my first obsession, and somewhere along the way spinner racks turned into long boxes, long boxes turned into bookshelves, and those bookshelves eventually filled with omnibuses and graphic novels. Comics weren’t just entertainment growing up. They were adventures I could revisit over and over again.
I didn’t make it to San Diego Comic-Con this year. Life had other plans. But after looking through this year’s TerrifiCon guest list, I realized something.
A little bit of comic book heaven is coming to Uncasville instead.
Jim Lee Alone Is Worth the Trip
If there’s one name that immediately jumped off the guest list, it’s Jim Lee.
To comic fans, Jim Lee isn’t simply an artist. He’s one of the defining creators of the modern era. His work on X-Men helped launch the best-selling comic book of all time, and his breathtaking runs on Batman, Superman, Justice League, and countless other titles influenced an entire generation of artists.
Today, Lee isn’t just drawing comics. He’s the President, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer of DC Comics, helping shape the future of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the entire DC Universe.
Five-year-old me would’ve never believed I’d have the chance to meet someone whose artwork I spent decades admiring.
A Hall of Fame Lineup
Jim Lee isn’t the only legend making the trip.
Comic fans will also find Chris Claremont, the writer responsible for transforming the X-Men into Marvel’s biggest franchise. Many of the stories that inspired today’s X-Men films trace back to Claremont’s remarkable run.
Then there’s Jeph Loeb, whose Batman stories The Long Halloween and Hush remain among the greatest Dark Knight stories ever written. If you’ve watched Christopher Nolan’s Batman films or Matt Reeves’ The Batman, you’ve already seen just how much influence those stories continue to have.
The list keeps going.
Walter Simonson. Jim Starlin. Dan Jurgens. Jerry Ordway. Mike Grell. Al Milgrom. Shawn McManus. Mike DeCarlo.
For longtime comic readers, that’s not just a guest list. It’s a history lesson.
More Than Celebrity Photos
One of my favorite things about conventions like TerrifiCon is that the creators matter just as much as the actors.
Sure, meeting stars from Sons of Anarchy, Peacemaker, Back to the Future, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Rick and Morty, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and dozens of other movies and television shows is exciting.
But behind every superhero movie, every animated series, and every blockbuster adaptation are the writers and artists who created these worlds in the first place.
Artist Alley has always felt like the heart of a comic convention to me. It’s where ideas begin. It’s where creators sketch between conversations, tell stories about deadlines, laugh with longtime fans, and sometimes introduce the next big character before anyone realizes history is being made.
The Hunt Is Half the Fun
Even after all these years, I still understand the thrill of walking into a convention hall.
You never know what you’ll find.
Maybe it’s the comic you’ve been searching for since childhood. Maybe it’s an original sketch from your favorite artist. Maybe it’s a booth full of vintage toys you forgot existed, or a new independent creator whose work becomes your next favorite series.
Every aisle holds another surprise.
Then There Are the Cosplayers
If you’ve never attended a comic convention, it’s difficult to explain the creativity on display.
Some costumes take months to build. Others look like they stepped directly out of a movie or comic book panel. You’ll see superheroes posing with villains, Jedi walking beside Ghostbusters, anime characters chatting with Star Wars fans, and children proudly dressed as their favorite heroes.
It’s impossible not to smile.
Still a Kid at Heart
I don’t collect the way I once did. Life changes. Collections grow, shrink, and sometimes disappear altogether.
But the feeling never really goes away.
There’s still something special about being surrounded by thousands of people who understand why a comic book can mean so much. They know the excitement of meeting a favorite creator, finding that missing issue, or simply spending an afternoon talking about stories that have stayed with them for years.
So while I won’t be wandering the halls of San Diego Comic-Con this summer, I’m perfectly happy knowing that for three days, a little piece of comic book fandom is coming to southeastern Connecticut.
And I have a feeling five-year-old me would think that’s pretty terrific.
Planning to attend? Check out our complete TerrifiCon 2026 Event Guide for show hours, ticket information, celebrity guests, comic creators, cosplay details, parking, and everything you need to know before heading to Mohegan Sun.
