• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

Cool and Collected

Collecting pop culture toys, comics, and collectibles collections

December 10, 2012 By Brian 8 Comments

Report from the Steel City Con

Mike Bartley, a friend of Cool & Collected, wrote up this awesome recap from his visit to last weekend’s Steel City Con. 

steel city con 2012 vintage toys for sale

This past weekend was the event that my family and I (my wife may not fully agree with this, but for the article, let’s say she’s on board) feel is the start of the holiday season. It’s the December edition of the STEEL CITY CON. This is a comics, toys, and collectibles convention that takes place just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. Brian has been cool enough to let me write up a few posts in the past describing all the goings on of past editions of this con, and so here is another one.

This time, my wife and two daughters made the 300 or so mile drive from Philly to Pittsburgh on the day before I attended the con, so I could enjoy some of the town with them. Usually, we leave early the day I attend, and she and the kids see the sights and sounds of Pittsburgh, while I get dropped off and enjoy the sights and smells of the STEEL CITY CON. So, we got to go to a chocolate factory, shop, and have dinner together as a family — a much better idea than trying to cram everything in an evening after walking around a concrete convention floor all day. But enough about my stuff, on to the con description:

steel city con 2012 GI Joe toys

steel city con 2012 vintage aurora model kits

In prior years I was able to listen in on some of the convention vendors complain about poor attendance and low sales, but I saw none of that this time around. This was the most crowded it has ever been since I started coming to the show 4 years ago.

steel city con 2012 vintage monster magazines

Every row and table space was sold and the artist area was full of people selling sketches, prints, and all other kinds of geek related masterpieces. I love checking out all the cool stuff people have to sell and this year being so well attended, I didn’t have to fear making eye contact with the sometimes lonely artists. Having them tell me all about their vision behind their demonic MY LITTLE PONY magnets and zombified Disney characters can really be a hindrance to checking out the tub of potential action figure fodder I see two tables down the line.

steel city con 2012 action figures

Vintage toy dealers shared the floor with customizers, comics vendors,  mask and costume makers, and even people selling rain gutter covers.

steel city con 2012 Sgt. Slaughter

The guests at this con were very popular with the autograph crowd. The biggest line was for Cassandra Peterson, otherwise know as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. She wasn’t wearing her trademark wig and boob dress, but she was still very attractive and her fans seemed to love her. Other guests included Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict from BATTLESTAR GALACTICA. Starbuck’s line was much bigger than Apollo’s every time I went by, which just proves that Richard Hatch should have agreed to having that action figure made all those years ago. Dwight Schultz, from THE A-TEAM and STTNG was supposed to attend with Face, but his flight along from Los Angeles was supposedly cancelled. Louis Gossett Jr., was also supposed to be in attendance, but his flight was cancelled too. WWF sometimes hero and sometimes heel, Seargent Slaughter was also a popular figure at the show. Peter Mayhew was in attendance, but sat in a wheelchair the whole time. Great to see Chewbacca in person again, as he has been a major con star since I was a kid. Sad to see his health seems to be declining though.

steel city con 2012 GI Joe cosplay

Cosplay was in full force at this edition of the con. Each year the costumers make an appearance, but this year the quality of the suits was much improved over prior cons.

steel city con 2012 Ghostbusters cosplay

The STEEL CITY GHOSTBUSTERS were in attendance again, as well as member of the local 501st legion. Families attended in costume this year too, as I saw a grand mother dressed as Catwoman, a mom dressed as a corpse bride, and her son in full Bane attire. Some groups got another day out of their bagged Halloween costumes and other went all out with tailored outfits that rival the bigger cons.

steel city con 2012 snake eyes and poison ivy cosplay

steel city con 2012 star wars cosplay

steel city con 2012 deadpool cospley

With the larger crowds can come the higher prices, as I saw a little bit of this time around. The price of admission to this show is still really cheap ($12 but will be raised to $15 for the next one in April), so I can blow my money on figures and not on the door. I found a ton of good figures and collectibles from some of the reliable dealers who come to each show. Most tables are actually selling items at reasonable prices without the convention gouge that feels like buying food at an airport. This show has a mix of larger dealers and small personal collection vendors, so flea market deals can be had. Every seller I dealt with was able to haggle prices with me — not something I have seen at the bigger shows in Philly and NY. This is one of the reasons I come back to this show each year. That and my wife says I can.

—

A huge thanks to Mike for sharing his photos and stories from the Steel City Con once again. Be sure to follow Mike on Twitter @kngfu71. 

Filed Under: Shows & Events Tagged With: Hake's, Steel City Con

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Newt says

    December 10, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    Man, that looks like a great convention. Big enough to be good, but small enough to not be too corporate or whatever the heck is happening to the bigger cons. Plus, the SARGE!

    Reply
  2. Rich says

    December 10, 2012 at 6:58 pm

    Great pics. Looks like an awesome show. That one table with all the action figures looks awesome. I just texted my nerd buddy to ask if he’s up for a little road trip in April!

    Nice job!

    Reply
    • Brian says

      December 11, 2012 at 10:03 am

      I think Pittsburgh is probably a 4-5 hour drive for me, but every time Mike sends me his photos, I start looking at the map again. One of these days I’m going to make it.

      Reply
  3. kngfu says

    December 11, 2012 at 11:04 am

    more pics here:

    http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200142309908930.199746.1486374070&type=1&l=3e8067e171

    Reply
    • Brian says

      December 11, 2012 at 11:11 am

      Awesome. Thanks Mike!

      Reply
  4. jboypacman says

    December 14, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    What cool place to spend the day and some money.

    Reply
  5. John (Batcave Toy Room) says

    December 16, 2012 at 4:43 pm

    I might need to move to your neck of the woods. You always find the coolest stuff on your side of the world. Looks like there was some tasty Mego toys there.

    Reply
    • Brian says

      December 16, 2012 at 4:47 pm

      I really need to get to Pittsburgh one of these days. Mike always finds the goods.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • “Did you say ‘Youts’?”
  • Marx Marvel Tricycles
  • Here there be dragons
  • Vintage Batman Toy Collection
  • Batman Pinbacks

About Cool & Collected

This site is devoted to us crazy few who go to great lengths to acquire items for our collection. Read more.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Support this site:

If you enjoy reading articles on Cool & Collected, I would greatly appreciate you clicking on this eBay link before you do your shopping. I will get a few pennies from any purchase you make, but those pennies can add up. Thank you for your support!

Footer

Submit a Product for Review

Want to have your product(s) featured on Cool & Collected? This is how you can submit something for review.

Recent Posts

  • “Did you say ‘Youts’?”
  • Marx Marvel Tricycles
  • Here there be dragons
  • Vintage Batman Toy Collection
  • Batman Pinbacks
  • Monkeying Around
  • Current View
  • A drawer filled with Joes
  • It’s all good, man.
  • Feeling Green

Topics

  • Art and Photography
  • Books
  • Collections
  • Comic Books
  • Games
  • Other
  • Pop Culture League
  • Shows & Events
  • Toys
  • TV & Movies

Pages

  • About Cool & Collected
  • Blog
  • Contact Cool & Collected
  • Privacy Policy
  • Submit a Product for Review
  • Tips for starting (and enjoying) a collection

Copyright © 2023 Big Fish Design. All rights reserved.