Baltimore Comic-ConMedia Release -- The 2009 Baltimore Comic-Con would like to take a moment to thank all of our exhibitors, guests, and staff for contributing to what was a spectacular celebration of our 10th anniversary. As anyone attending can attest, our 10th annual show had both record size and record attendance, and we've been gratified to see all of the positive write-ups from press, pros, and the public at large.

"When we set out to plan the biggest Baltimore Comic-Con ever, I knew it would take the help of all of our partners - and they delivered," said show promoter Marc Nathan. "For our guests, publishers, retailers, exhibitors, volunteers, and especially to our great fans who continue to come out for our comic book show each year - I want to say 'Thank you!' Also, I owe a special thanks to Neal Adams, Roger Ash, Joe Keatinge, Joe Kubert, and George Perez for their contributions to the show. We could not have done it without all of them. I look forward to planning on our 11th show in 2010."

Our guest charities, the Hero Initiative, Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), and Humane Society all raised a great deal of money for their worthy causes.

"We feel as if we cannot say 'thank you' enough...to the person who very generously donated the comic books to be sold on our behalf," said Tracy Santos, Community Relations Manager for the Baltimore Humane Society. "Our thanks also go out to the many artists who came to our booth to draw for donations...Mike Wieringo is the reason Baltimore Humane Society walked away from Comic-Con with $3,300. The love and admiration you all have for him is something that shows each time you speak of him."

The Hero Initiative, which announced at this year's Harvey Award Ceremony and Banquet that it had raised over $100,000 through the Baltimore Comic-Con's 10 year history, had another great year. "Through the incredible efforts of fan favorite George Perez and Tim Sale, the charity was able to once again raise nearly $10,000," said Kevin Brogan, East Coast Hero Initiative Representative. "Baltimore Comic-Con has always been a rewarding experience both monetarily and through the in-kind efforts and good grace of Baltimore's remarkable guest artists."

"The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is grateful to Marc Nathan and his outstanding team who put on the Baltimore Comic-Con. We were glad to meet hundreds of enthusiastic supporters over the weekend, who were all having a great time celebrating comic books and their creators at the show. The Baltimore Comic-Con, year after year, is one of the most vibrant and vital celebrations of the comic book medium in the United States and we're glad to be a part of it," said Charles Brownstein, Executive Director of CBLDF, who raised over $2,600 during the weekend.

This year's show highlights included Scott Kurtz hosting a very successful (and very funny) Harvey Awards Banquet and Ceremony, featuring a jam-packed grab-bag for dinner attendees and Neal Adams being awarded the HERO Initiative Humanitarian Award; our first annual Baltimore Comic-Con Art Auction which sold pieces by artists such as David Petersen, Sean Chen, Joe Kubert, and Frank Cho; and our first annual Baltimore Comic-Con Costume Contest, which brought out great numbers of costumed attendees of all ages, and awarded the $1,000 grand prize for Best Overall, Top Winner to Paul Day of Bel Air, MD who sported a fantastic Iron Man costume!

In addition to Paul, here are the attendees that won category awards and their character costumes:

Best Existing Super Hero, Adult, Male - Paul Day, Iron Man
Best Original Super Hero, Adult, Male - James Hennigan, Hate Priest
Best (Potpourri), Adult, Male - Charles Singer, Predator
Best Original Super Hero, Adult, Female - Teal (and John) Slayden, Delta & Corvis
Best (Potpourri), Adult, Female - Camille Trejo, Princess Nuala Silverlance (Hellboy 2)
Best Existing Super Hero, Adult, Female - Hannah Pagan, Harley Quinn

Best Existing Super Hero, Under 13, Male - Joey Lister, Snake Eyes
Best (Potpourri), Under 13, Male - Jeffrey Stanley, Kingdom Hearts
Best Original Super Hero, Under 13, Female - Harlie Heiserman, Bug Kid
Best Existing Super Hero, Under 13, Female- Parker Day, Wonder Woman (from Kingdom Come)
Best (Potpourri), Under 13, Female - Rachel Stanley, Kairi, Kingdom Hearts II

Next Year
Please mark your calendars now to join us in 2010 on August 28th and 29th for the Baltimore Comic-Con's 11th year. Confirmed guests include Michael and Laura Allred, Howard Chaykin, Frank Cho, Amanda Conner, Dan DiDio, Al Feldstein, Ron Garney, Michael Golden, Geoff Johns, Michael Lark, Phil Noto, Jimmy Palmiotti, Eric Powell, James Robinson, Jim Starlin, Mark Texeira, and Marv Wolfman.

Details on guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming leading up to the show can always be found at our website, Facebook, TwitterMySpace, and ComicSpace pages.