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Category: News

Youmacon, Steam Punk expo coming to Dearborn

Morgan Kollin is a busy guy.

Not only is he running next weekend's Youmacon, he's launching a Steampunk con in 2010.

Youmacon will be entering its fifth year this year. It opens Thursday at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn at Fairlane Town Center.

As usual, it's welcoming several voice actors, including Caitlin Glass ("Fullmetal Alchemist" and "School Rumble"), Laura Bailey ("Shin-Chan"), Wayne Grayson ("Yu-Gi-Oh" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"), Brad Swaile ("Death Note") and Travis Willingham ("Fullmetal Alchemist"). The band Spoony Bards will be returning, as well as many popular events, such as the Maid Cafe, charity costume ball and the Halloween pajama party. (If you like to dress up, this is your convention.)

There also will be a vendor area for all your anime, manga and Japanese snack needs. And the Artists Alley will have several goodies available.

I've been to three of the four previous Youmacons, and I can attest to their high fun quotient.

Visit the con's Web site for the full details.

What really interested me in Kollin's latest e-mail is the announcement of his next big thing: the World Steam Expo at the Dearborn Hyatt on Memorial Day weekend 2010.

Steampunk is a cool mashup of the Victorian era (late 1800s) and sci-fi. It's always good for cool designs, and co-splayers usually go all out with amazing get-ups. And what could really give this event a national profile is that the convention will be teaming with the nearby Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum (collectively known as The Henry Ford).

So not only can you see all the cool costumes and props people come up with, you can seem them in their natual habitat at the The Henry Ford's historical exhibits.

The con's Web site is still growing, but it's got Facebook, Myspace and other links as it builds the brand.

And Kollin is planning on announcing two more themed conventions for 2010 by the end of the year.

I can't wait to hear about them.