University Newsletter
EIU Comic Fest Returns to Booth Library
EIU Comic Fest will return to Booth Library on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The event is free and open to the public. Come for the comics, escape rooms, games, artists alley, costume show/cosplay contest, trivia games, hands-on activities, exhibit displays, and more!
Get an early start with exciting pre-fest events Friday evening, September 25 in downtown Mattoon, hosted by K.C. Summers, Studio 21, Cosmic Games, and more! Details will be posted at https://www.eiu.edu/comicfest.
This year, EIU alumnus Kofi Bazzell-Smith, the first professor of manga practice in the United States, will deliver a keynote presentation, workshops and a gallery show of his art.
Returning keynote presenter, Comic Fest committee member and EIU alumnus Craig Titley, a feature film and television writer/producer, will also be in the house with his team to discuss the entertainment industry at large and how their work connects them to Coles County.
EIU's Booth Library will be full of great events and activities all day Saturday, from our expanded Artists' Alley to TWO Escape Room challenges, to the hands-on activities, trivia challenges, games and tournaments. Be one of the FIRST 350 attendees and get a special Swag Bag! Grab some popcorn and check out a film in our Anime Theatre Lounge, or paint your own RPG miniature!
Cosmic Games, a Comic Fest sponsor and contributor, is hosting an exclusive Individual Sealed PRERELEASE of a brand new set, Magic: the Gathering: REALITY FRACTURE. Pre-registration and entry fee are required for this event, and seating is limited. Each player will receive a Reality Fracture Prerelease Kit, build a 40-card deck from the cards they open, and battle against other players throughout the event.
Bring your main character energy to our Costume Show/Cosplay Contest! Everyone is invited to wear their costumes to Comic Fest (details here) and can choose to participate in the Costume Show or compete in the Cosplay Contest. Register for the show by 2:30 p.m. Brief pre-judging appointments for the Cosplay Contest will be take place between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., for those who wish to compete for awards. The Costume Show will begin at 3 p.m..
