Setup underway for inaugural Con-Quest Comic Convention at Waterloo Convention Center
Wed, July 15, 2026 at 5:22 PM
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Modeled after major fan conventions such as Comic-Con and GalaxyCon in Des Moines, Con-Quest Comic Convention is intended to spotlight fandom across the region and introduce attendees to a larger community they may not have known existed.
WATERLOO, IOWA —Final preparations are underway in Waterloo for a new event aimed at bringing pop culture fans and costumers together under one roof
The inaugural Con-Quest Comic Convention is set to take place this weekend, inviting pop culture and comic fans from across the region. Organizers are working to transform the Waterloo Convention Center into a realm of fantasy for the local costuming community
Modeled after major fan conventions such as Comic-Con and GalaxyCon in Des Moines, Con-Quest Comic Convention is intended to spotlight fandom across the region and introduce attendees to a larger community they may not have known existed
It is the first event of its kind to be held in the greater Waterloo area, and organizers said they hope it will not be the last
“The number one thing that people can find commonality in with people, whether it’s different political beliefs, religious beliefs, ethnic groups. We can all find commonality in different fandoms,” said Christopher D. Schmitz, owner of Con-Quest Comic Convention. “Everybody loves Spider-Man and then of course we have Miles Morales. We have all of these different groups that are tying the fandom together and whether you like Miles Morales or whether you like Peter Parker as Spiderman it doesn’t matter you’re all a fan of the same thing and you can find that common ground and come together.”
While this is the convention’s first year, organizers and fans say the costuming community throughout eastern Iowa has been active for years, with many waiting for an event like this to come to the area
“As a kid I just did a lot of cardboard, plastics, and duct tape; and now that I’m older I’m doing foam, EVA foam, Sintra, you can get war blood,” said Asmodeus Itto, a costuming fanatic. “The materials cost a lot more. You can get sheets for like hundreds of dollars to fifty bucks a piece, and that’s what cost the most. I’m a guy who likes to go to conventions to party and have a good time, but there’s a sense of professionality that comes with the daytime audience. Seeing people have a good smile, have a good joke. At the end of the day you just want tools for people to have a good time.”
The 2026 Con-Quest Comic Convention will kick off Friday, July 16, and continue throughout the weekend
