In this overview of RICC 2022, I’ll give you guys a heads up on this year’s 10th anniversary event.
Every year, RI holds their own unique ComicCon and presents us New Englanders (and some visitors from fah, fah away) with awesome celebrity guest appearances, artists, and creators. Booths are set up all over the convention center for attendees to interact with / meet their favorite artists and creators, which makes it a particularly special experience. I have such fond memories of going to ComicCon with my dad, where we’d jump from booth to booth meeting different artists, buying really cool art, picking out some sick new comic books (new to me, but vintage to him), and meeting some pretty cool people who also enjoy Con-ning around. Over the course of the weekend – this year, Nov 4 – 6 – organizers of RICC will put on a nerdtacular event that anyone can enjoy.
Notable Celebrity Guests
RICC never fails to bring in some pretty rad guests, and opportunities to meet these guests are mostly surprisingly accessible, which is super rare. For example, when my dad and I went to RICC a few years ago, we got to meet Danny Glover in the stairwell of the Omni — for free! In all seriousness though, celebrity guests at RICC offer tickets that can be purchased for fans to receive an autograph, or to enjoy a pro photo op. If you don’t purchase tickets for either or these two things, that doesn’t mean you can’t see these celebrities. On their designated day, the celebrities are posted up at booths throughout the Convention Center where you can still see them from afar. Most will also have a panel or seminar you can attend, and perhaps even pose a question during. Even if you don’t get a picture with them or their name written on some cardstock to take home with you, you can still brag to your friends that you breathed the same air as someone like Rachel MacFarlane or Jared Padalecki.
Here are some of the notable guests coming to RICC this year:
Alicia Silverstone (Clueless, Batman & Robin), professional wrestler Amy Dumas, Bill Diamond (Little Shop of Horrors), Brent Spiner (Star Trek, Star Wars: Rebels), Danny Trejo (Machete, The Book of Boba Fett, Sons of Anarchy), Diane Guerrero (Orange is the New Black), Edward James Olmos (Blade Runner, Battlestar Galactica), Erik Estrada (CHiPs), Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3), John Carrol Lynch (American Horror Story), John Cleese (Monty Python’s Flying Circus), Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid, Cobra Kai), Tara Strong (virtually every cartoon ever, but notably Harley Quinn & the Powerpuff Girls), Zachary Levi (Shazam!) and so so many more.
Also, keep an eye out for group reunions that will include cast members from “Cobra Kai” (keeya!), “Supernatural,” “Doom Patrol,” Cool Runnings and the they-never-run-out-of-steam “Walking Dead.”
If you’re looking to meet any of these celebrities in person and see who else will be there, cruise on over to the RICC website for tickets and more information.
Artists & Cosplayers
Another key component to RICC is their inclusion of tons of artists, writers, creators, tattoo artists, and cosplayers. As I mentioned,many of these artists and creators get their own booths that people can visit all weekend to purchase art, chat about their craft, or just discuss life in general.
Tattoo artists can also be met at RICC, which I think is a super cool component of the convention. The Ink Fusion Tattoo Empire organizes artists for events like RICC, and fans can book appointments for ComicCon weekend. Though artists are yet to be announced as of the writing of this article, you can head to the RICC website to check and schedule ink time..
Organizers of the event spare no expense in featuring the best of the best artists & cosplayers, too: Here are some great ones that you can visit at their designated booths over the course of the weekend:
Artists, Writers, and Creators
Rick Leonardi (Spider-Man 2099, Cloak & Dagger), Bob Hall & David Finch (Moon Knight), Derek Riggs (the artist and creator of Iron Maiden’s ‘Eddie’), Jae Lee (The Inhumans, The Dark Tower, Batman/Superman), Jason Keith (The Avengers, Star Wars, Wolverine), and Mike Lilly (Nightwing, Detective Comics), among others.
Cosplayers are also yet to be announced as of the writing of this article, but there’s no doubt in my mind they’ll pull out some great ones this year. Especially considering RICC’s annual cosplay contest, which brings out some of the best cosplay that RI has to offer. Part of the fun is also just passing the many, many intricate costumes you’ll see in the aisles, shopping and posing away. Usually, they’re happy to take pictures with anyone up for it, as long as you ask first (It’s only polite, and it’s what Spidey would do.)
Cosplay Contest
Like any ComicCon nowadays, RICC has a cosplay contest that folks can enter. Sign-ups begin Saturday morning, and are accepted until Sunday at noon — Sunday afternoon is when the contest is officially held. Such a large window for entry to the contest creates a fun environment where you’re always seeing people in cosplay all weekend. You can usually see a lot of these awesome cosplays walking through the Providence Place Mall too, if you don’t get the chance to go to the Con this year.
With both adult and kids divisions, cosplayers of all ages can partake in the contest, as long as they adhere to the specific rules listed on the RICC website. This year’s prizes are provided by Cardi’s Furniture and Mattresses, including a new gaming table and chair for best in show. The cosplay contests are such a fun part of Comic Con, and RICC has a super welcoming vibe for their cosplaying crowd. Show up in your best cosplay and give it a shot!
10th Anniversary After Party
To celebrate the 10th year of RICC, they’re holding an after party on Saturday, Nov 5 in the Omni Hotel’s Narragansett Ballroom from 10pm to 1am for guests 21 and up. Tickets can be purchased on the RICC website for $20, but guests also must be holders of Saturday, weekend, or VIP convention badges to attend the after party. Who wouldn’t want to live it up with the organizers of RICC to celebrate their 10th year?
RICC truly is the biggest show in the smallest state. With such a huge roster of artists, it’s established a history of attracting the biggest audience of any indoor event in our state – over 120,000 attendees, pre-COVID. Tickets can be purchased as either adult / child weekend admission ($95 / $33) or as individual day passes. This year, Friday day passes are $35, Saturday day passes are $50, and Sunday passes are $40. See y’all there (although, if I do my cosplay right, you won’t recognize me)!
For further info on RICC, check out ricomiccon.com!
