Yugioh Collectors Convention By Kevin Garcia October 01, 2002

Collectors convention held at McAllen store

BY KEVIN GARCIA
THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD

Seven-year-old Eddie Martinez, of Weslaco, spent much of Sunday looking at baseball cards, toys and comic books with his dad, Jose, as they attended the Sport Card, Comic Book and Toy Show presented by the McAllen collectibles store, At the Ballpark, at the Four Point Sheraton in McAllen.

Eddie said his 40-year-old father loves events like this.

"He always comes here," Eddie said, explaining that the pair attended the last such event on Feb. 10.

While Jose prefers baseball cards, Eddie has his own collection.

"I like Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokémon (card games) because they have a lot of action and cool stuff," Eddie said.

It was for people like Eddie that Adan Salazar and his family, owners of At the Ballpark, put on the event.

"It used to be that everyone thought collectibles were just for kids but it became something for older (collectors)," Salazar said, explaining that the show was held to encourage more people of all ages to become collectors.

"We want the to help the market grow," Salazar said. "The collectibles (market) has shrunk some, but comics are coming back thanks to the movies that are being made."

Part of encouraging collecting involves providing a venue for collects to trade their goods, and inviting professionals in collectable fields to attend local events.

Jeffery Moreno, a 9-year-old from McAllen, spent over an hour watching visiting artist Carlo Barberi draw a commissioned piece of art.

"I think it’s great," Jeffery said of Barberi’s work. "I like to draw but I can’t draw that good."

Barberi said he liked the attention provided by the people at the show.

"They know that if I can do it, they can do it," Barberi said. "For me this was I dream, and I just went for it."

A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Barberi has been drawing comics professionally for seven years, although he has only been drawing U.S.-made comics for about four years. After he won a contest held by Wizard Magazine, a publication for comic book collectors, he was hired by DC Comics to draw comics about young super-heroes.

Salazar said that along with inviting comic book creators, he also gives away free comic books and holds contests at the shows, which he hopes there will be more of.

"We’d like to have at least three (shows) a year," he said. "Collectibles make for a good hobby, and shows hopefully give collectors a place to trade."