See box below for Costume Contest details and programs for all age groups (Look under attachments. Paper programs are available at both libraries)

Los Alamos, New Mexico— Mesa Public Library proudly presents the second annual Atomicon: a Comic-Con-inspired event for all ages to be held on Saturday, August 5 from 10am to 5pm.

The first annual Atomicon was held at the Mesa Public Library in July of last year. The inaugural event was attended by an estimated 1,500 fans – proof that Los Alamos is a small town with a mighty love of comic books, superheroes, gaming, anime, movies, and fandoms. This year, to better accommodate large crowds, the event has been expanded to include two additional locations. The Fuller Lodge Throne Room will host vendors, an outdoor movie will be screeened at Ashley Pond across from the Library, and the Betty Ehart senior center community room will provide the space for a costume contest and several educational programs on topics such as zines, how to get into the ComiCon scene as an artist, and a workshop titles “What Are Comics?”.

At the Mesa Public Library location, Atomicon will take over the upper floor including the Step Up Gallery, the youth services floor including the Zone, and the outdoor space behind the library.

The upper floor will host Albuquerque-based independent comic creators 7000 BC for the second year in a row. The 7000 BC folks will present morning and afternoon sessions of themed talks and workshops about comics, content creation, character development and more. They will also lead an all-day activity where participants are invited to help create a comic by adding panels to a collaborative comic jam panel. Finally, 7000 BC staff will host an informational booth, do a live caricature drawing session, and have a presence at the Fuller lodge vendor floor. Also on the upper floor, the Step Up Gallery will feature comic inspired art created by local and regional artists. The show will be open during and in the month leading up to Atomicon.  Atomicon goers will also be able to enjoy game room activities in the gallery space. 

The youth floor including the Zone and adjacent outdoor spaces will be buzzing with activities all day. Creatives of all ages will be able to attend two different drawing sessions in the rotunda.  The youth floor will also host many activities for younger audiences and play host to educators and artists doing demonstrations.  Among the planned activities are a scavenger hunt and superhero science with Los Alamos STEAM Lab. Additionally, con visitors will have space and materials to make their own buttons with their original art or with preprinted images. Tandy Leather Co from Santa Fe will help children and interested adults learn to stamp onto leather. Face painting artists and a balloon artist will be in the mix of tables and booths. Fans of the Avengers can make a bookmark from craft sticks. Superheros in training should take advantage of the superhero obstacle course with stations located at all three Atomicon venues. 

Comics and graphic novels aren’t just about superheroes. They span all genres and interests, from cookbooks to memoirs and adaptations of the classics—even Margaret Atwood produced a graphic novel. “Graphic novels have exploded in popularity for all ages in the last decade.” said Youth Librarian Melissa Mackey, “With Atomicon, we're creating an event that entices fans of board games, anime, manga, various fandoms, comics and comic art, cosplay, science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, video games, and anything related. The library staff wants to draw from our talented, creative local and regional community to make this annual event exciting and uniquely Los Alamos.” The community is already abuzz with interest in the event, and the library’s coordinating staff hopes to see it grow year to year to include more collaborations, partnerships, and audience engagement.

So - mark the calendar for Saturday, August 5 and plan to don your favorite capes and costumes—or come as you are—and step into a world of action, adventure, and fantasy that has been curated to spark a sense of joy and wonder in even the most embittered of supervillains. Activities and booths for all age groups and varied interests abound at this day-long event.

Costume contest:

One of last year’s favorite Atomicon events was the costume contest. Con attendees of all ages were eager to have a moment in the spotlight and family and friends were eager to cheer them on. This year’s contest, Saturday, August 5 at 1:15, moves to the Great Room on the lower level of the Betty Ehart Senior Center. The entrance is below the front parking lot on the library side. The contest and judging are at 1:15 and winners are requested to wait afterwards for a group photo. Costume weaponry must be plastic or cardboard, no realistic, weighted weaponry or accessories are allowed in the event or Atomicon areas.   

A panel of three people will judge all the categories based on creativity, effort, quality, originality and hair/makeup/accessories. The winners will be announced in each category as the contest goes along to allow folks who didn’t win an early category to enter another category they might fit in. Entrants may only win in one category. 

The contest for 2023 includes multiple categories. Best costume worn by a vendor or educator will be judged before 1 pm and announced at the contest. The winner of this award does not need to be at the contest at 1:15 to win. Here are the other categories: 

• Categories 

• Best group costume (3 or more people) 

• Best duo (2 people) 

• Ages 12+ 

• Most Flamboyant 

• Most Villainous 

• Most Heroic 

• Best Remix 

• Most Original 

• Most Los Alamos 

• Ages 0-11 

• Recognize 5 excellent costumes in this category in no particular order. 

• Best costume worn by a vendor or educator will be judged before 1 pm and announced at the contest.