Latest News & Announcements
July 9, 2025
Be sure to check out these highlights at the show!
- Empire Comic Fest 2025 is almost here! Two big days of special guests and 100% comic vendors! And that's not all...
- Free Admission
- Free parking
- ECF bucks - we give you money at the door. Make sure to ask about them!
- Roger Stern, Arvell Jones, Will Perkins, Jeff Brennan, Denny Fincke and Dan Fogel!
- JJL Collectibles will be in artist alley accepting CGC submissions & witnessing artist signatures
- Drop off books for Shortboxed auctions at the RoboPicto booth in the main vendor hall
- Saturday panels in the auditorium located in artist alley. We kick panels off at noon with a special Jack Kirby celebration
July 4, 2025
Attention all marvel silver Age Collectors!
You will want to save up for this one! Empire Comic Fest is glad to announce our newest comic vendor, Darren & Janet Ford aka Ditkoclub!
Darren is a seasoned veteran of the comic convention circuit and you may recognize him and his wife from shows like New York Comic Con, Heroes Con and C2E2. Darren will be bringing an impressive array of Silver and Bronze age Marvel books as well as a selection of Golden Age books. Stop by his booth, ask about his flexible lay-away plan and guess who his favorite artist/title is!
Darren is a seasoned veteran of the comic convention circuit and you may recognize him and his wife from shows like New York Comic Con, Heroes Con and C2E2. Darren will be bringing an impressive array of Silver and Bronze age Marvel books as well as a selection of Golden Age books. Stop by his booth, ask about his flexible lay-away plan and guess who his favorite artist/title is!
July 4, 2025
The early bird gets the early admission...
Early bird VIP passes are now on sale for Empire Comic Fest 2025! Do you want to beat the crowds and get in one hour before everyone else? Then check out our ticket page and pre-purchase your early bird passes now. You can purchase passes for one day for $20 each or both days for $30 each. Note that children 12 and under are admitted for free with each early bird pass.
Early bird VIP passes may also be purchased at the time of entry. General admission hours are 1:00 PM Friday July 11th and 10:00 AM Saturday July 12th, arrive at least one hour early on either day and grab your early bird passes!
Early bird VIP passes may also be purchased at the time of entry. General admission hours are 1:00 PM Friday July 11th and 10:00 AM Saturday July 12th, arrive at least one hour early on either day and grab your early bird passes!
June 25, 2025
JJL Collectibles will be Our official CGC Signature Series Facilitator & Will Be accepting CGC Submissions
Empire Comic Fest would like to welcome Jason & Jaquelyn Lopez aka JJL Collectibles (@JJLCollectibles) as our official CGC Signature Series facilitators. Jason and Jaquelyn will be providing signature witnessing services for CGC and will also be accepting books to be submitted to CGC for grading.
And it doesn't stop there! They also have a vast selection of books for sale ranging from ungraded key books, signed CGC books and exclusive variants. Start saving up that money, you will need it when you stop by their booth in artist alley.
And it doesn't stop there! They also have a vast selection of books for sale ranging from ungraded key books, signed CGC books and exclusive variants. Start saving up that money, you will need it when you stop by their booth in artist alley.
June 25, 2025
Animation Invasion at ECF featuring Denny Fincke & Jeff Brennan
Time for a TWO for TUESDAY announcement! It'll be an ANIMATION INVASION at Empire Comic Fest, as we welcome two of Rochester's native sons, Denny Fincke and Jeff Brennan, back to visit their hometown!!!
Denny is an animation artist and background designer who's worked on Star Trek:Lower Decks, Daria, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003, TMNT Fast Forward, Venture Bros., and many more!
Jeff's numerous credits include storyboards and design for Courage the Cowardly Dog, Dragon Tales, Extreme Ghostbusters, and Beavis and Butthead Do America!
We're pleased to have these gentlemen joining us...so stop by their tables for some ANIMATED conversation!
Denny is an animation artist and background designer who's worked on Star Trek:Lower Decks, Daria, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003, TMNT Fast Forward, Venture Bros., and many more!
Jeff's numerous credits include storyboards and design for Courage the Cowardly Dog, Dragon Tales, Extreme Ghostbusters, and Beavis and Butthead Do America!
We're pleased to have these gentlemen joining us...so stop by their tables for some ANIMATED conversation!
June 25, 2025
Comic Legend Arvell Jones is coming to ECF!
Empire Comic Fest would like to welcome long-time Marvel & DC Comics artist, Arvell Jones!
Arvell got started working for Marvel Comics along side Keith Pollard and Rick Buckler on Thor #228. He went on to work on a number of Marvel titles including Avengers, Captain America, Daredevil, GI Joe and Iron Man. Along the way, he co-created Misty Knight with writer Tony Isabella.
Arvell also worked for DC comics and had a long run in All-Star Squadron as well as penciling some of the Superman family characters in Superboy, Superman Family and Super-Team Family.
Stop on by at the Empire Comic Fest, chat with Arvell and check out some of the great art he has worked on!
Arvell got started working for Marvel Comics along side Keith Pollard and Rick Buckler on Thor #228. He went on to work on a number of Marvel titles including Avengers, Captain America, Daredevil, GI Joe and Iron Man. Along the way, he co-created Misty Knight with writer Tony Isabella.
Arvell also worked for DC comics and had a long run in All-Star Squadron as well as penciling some of the Superman family characters in Superboy, Superman Family and Super-Team Family.
Stop on by at the Empire Comic Fest, chat with Arvell and check out some of the great art he has worked on!
June 15, 2025
ECF Bucks Are Back! Tell me More...
Is "Free" admission still too much? Well, we are giving you some FREE money when you come to Empire Comic Fest. That's right, we will pay you in ECF Bucks! There are 2 ways to take advantage of this deal:
1) When you enter the show, ask the staff at the front desk for an ECF Buck.
2) If you bring one of the Empire Comic Fest advertising flyers with you that can be found at one of the dozen comics shops around central New York *AND* ask for an ECF Buck, we will give you Two ECF Bucks! ECF Bucks are faux-money vouchers that can be redeemed for face value with any artist or vendor for face value during the show. Denominations are $1, $2 and $5 and will be randomly distributed, while supplies last. More details can be found on the ECF Bucks page!
2) If you bring one of the Empire Comic Fest advertising flyers with you that can be found at one of the dozen comics shops around central New York *AND* ask for an ECF Buck, we will give you Two ECF Bucks! ECF Bucks are faux-money vouchers that can be redeemed for face value with any artist or vendor for face value during the show. Denominations are $1, $2 and $5 and will be randomly distributed, while supplies last. More details can be found on the ECF Bucks page!
May 21, 2025
ECF 2025 Welcomes Back Dan Fogel
Going for the trifecta, Empire Comic Fest is pleased to welcome back writer, editor, and publisher Dan Fogel!
Beginning in the late '80s with creator Larry Welz's best-selling line of Adult comics starring CHERRY, Dan’s stories published by Last Gasp, Kitchen Sink Press, Tundra, and Slave Labor Graphics had multiple printings and foreign translations. As a publisher Dan’s produced dozens of books with scores of creators spanning Robert Crumb to Neil Gaiman.
A leading authority and historian of Underground, Alternative, and Independent comic books, Dan’s currently working on V.5 of FOGEL'S UNDERGROUND COMIX PRICE GUIDE, since 2006 the industry standard for retailers, collectors, and investors.
May 21, 2025
Come See Local Artist Will Perkins!
Come see Will Perkins, local artist and illustrator for the Goblin comic series published by Dark Horse comics along with several other projects he will be showcasing. Will is appearing both days, July 11th & 12th, and will be sharing details for his Goblin comic series as well as a few other surprises!
Get a preview of Will's latest work, Goblin, by checking out the trailer here: Goblin Trailer
May 21, 2025
Returning Once again - The Jack Kirby Museum
The Jack Kirby Museum is once again returning to the Empire Comic Fest this year! Hosted by the museum's CEO, Tom Kraft, you will get to see a number of unique and rarely seen original Kirby art pieces. Stop by the Kirby Museum Booth in artist alley to also get a chance to purchase a few special Jack Kirby items with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Kirby Museum.
Something you won't want to miss out on this year at the Louis S Wolk JCC of Greater Rochester!
May 20, 2025
Roger Stern Will be at Empire Comic Fest 2025!
The rumors are true! The first guest announcement for the upcoming Empire Comic Fest 2025 is the extraordinary Roger Stern!
With over 40 years as a writer for Marvel and DC, Roger has created many classic story arcs for many of the top-tier characters such as Spider-Man and Superman.
Come see Roger along with several other soon to be announced guests at the Empire Comic Fest located at the Louis S Wolk JCC of Greater Rochester. Show dates are Friday July 11th and Saturday July 12th.
February 17, 2025
Announcing Empire Comic Fest 2025 - July 11th & 12th
We are full steam ahead for Empire Comic Fest 2025! We will be returning to the JCC once again with a packed 2 day show and we will be posting details regarding guests, vendors and special events not only here but also on our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram and also Reddit). We are accepting vendor applications at this time so check out our vendor application page for details regarding on how to become a vendor.
Stay tuned as more details are posted!