Hannibal Comic Con Goes on Despite Celebrity Guest’s Death

This weekend, thousands of comic book and sci-fi fans are expected to descend on Hannibal for the Big River Comic Convention. They won’t be able to meet the celebrity guest Felix Silla as planned. Instead, they will memorialize Silla, who died last week at the age of 84.

Silla will best be remembered for his role as Cousin Itt on “The Addams Family.” In his place, his one-time co-star Lisa Loring is one of the celebrity guests for the event. She is the original actress who played Wednesday Addams on “The Addams Family.”

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Big River Comic Con is coming up this weekend, April 23-24 at the Tabernacle of Praise Rec Center in Hannibal. The event debuted in 2019 and was billed the first comic convention in northeast Missouri. Organizers estimate the crowds at 4,000. The pandemic caused it to come to a screeching halt, but the coordinators hope to top their first year for 2021. The event features the best in comic books, fantasy, sci-fi and superhero television and film.

The event is Friday, April 23rd from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $15 for Friday, $20 for Saturday. A portion of every ticket sold goes to the Avenues domestic violence shelter in Hannibal.

Here's the full schedule of events:

TICKET PRICES (available only at door at Tabernacle of Praise Recreation Complex in Hannibal)

Friday - $15.00

Saturday - $20.00

WEEKEND PASS: $30.00

Kids 12 and under are FREE

A portion of ALL ticket sales will be donated to AVENUES.

Friday April 23rd 2021

3:00 PM – Doors Open

3:00PM -Celebrity Guests Arrive

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Guest Panel 1 (CM) Hosted by Language of Bromance

4:30 PM – 5:00 PM Panel Guest 2 (MC) Hosted by Language of Bromance

5:00 PM Game Arena “MTG Commander” Lower Level

5:00 PM Game Arena “MTG Modern” Lower Level

5:00PM-5:30PM- GUEST PANEL 3 (TC) Hosted by Language of Bromance

6:00 PM – 8:30 PM – Sketch Battle (Main Stage)

9:00PM Doors Close

Saturday April 24th 2021

9:00AM Doors Open

10:00AM CELEBRITY GUESTS ARRIVE

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Baby to 5 Years Old Cosplay (Main Stage)

11:30AM – 12:00PM 3-5 year old Umbrella Corp Nerf Range – TENT

12:00 PM Game Arena “DragonBall Super” Lower Level

11:30AM – 12:30PM – 6 years to 9 years Cosplay (Main Stage)

11:45AM - "STORMING" THE CON BEGINS

12:30PM – 1:00PM 6-9 years old Umbrella Corp Nerf Range - Tent

12:30 – 1:30 Judges Lunch Break

12:30 - 1:15 GUEST PANEL MARK DODSON AND SPECIAL GUEST (TBA)

1:30 - "STORMING' THE CON ENDS

2:00PM – 3:00PM 10 years to 12 years Cosplay (Main Stage)

3:30PM-4:00PM 10 - 12 year old Umbrella Corp Nerf Range – Tent

4:15PM – 4:30PM Mayors Choice Kids Cosplay and Best Vendor Award

5:00PM – 5:45PM 13 & UP Adult Novice Cosplay

5:00 PM Game Arena “MTG Commander” Lower Level

5:00 PM Game Arena “MTG Draft” Lower Level

6:00PM – 6:45PM Team/Group Cosplay

7:00PM–7:45PM Awards for Adult Cosplay and GROUP PHOTO

8:00PM- 8:30 EVERYONE SQUEEZE IN FOR THE 2021 GROUP COSPLAY PHOTO!

9:00PM – Doors Close