A love for superheroes is in Ringgold resident Dylan Bailey's blood.
"We travel hours to go to conventions," the 16-year-old aspiring artist and Heritage High School student said referencing his parents, who brought him to his first comic convention, Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, when he was 10. "I was automatically hooked."
One of Ringgold artist Dylan Bailey's drawings is shown.Around the same time, Dylan started drawing. He had a rare childhood condition, Perthes disease, that caused the bone in the ball part of his hip to begin to die, requiring a major surgery that prevented him from playing football and running around as he'd always done in the past.
When he came across a book that taught how to draw robots, creatures and clowns, Dylan knew immediately that he'd found a new hobby.
Family friend Rocky Spurlock recognized Dylan's talent when he saw a birthday card the boy had made for his daughter, featuring a mashup of her two favorite comic book characters, Deadpool and Gruel. Spurlock is also promoter of FarleyCon, an annual comic and toy expo held in East Ridge - which was the first convention Dylan attended as a vendor selling his drawings.
"I think everyone should come, because if you're into this stuff it's a great way to bond with each other," Dylan said of the event, which is returning to the East Ridge Community Center Saturday, Aug. 11.
Most of his drawings are of superheroes, though he dabbles in Disney characters as well, he said. Dylan's favorite comic book is "The Amazing Spider-Man," and he hopes to one day work as an artist for Marvel comics.
Dylan is among 45 vendors who will be at FarleyCon, to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The entry fee is $5, and kids 12 and younger are free.
This year's event features an all-day cosplay contest, for which the vendors will serve as judges. Points will be tallied at 3 p.m., when at least three top winners will be announced. Contestants must be present to win, and prizes include free passes for conventions in Kingsport, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama, and $25-$50 to spend at vendor booths, said Spurlock.
East Ridge Community Center is at 1517 Tombras Ave. For more information, visit farleycon.com.
Email Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com.