Building a growing community for something you’re passionate about is a great way to make new connections. Brian Grabinski has been able to see how people throughout the Region have grown to love what he has helped develop.
Grabinski originally grew up in Illinois before making his way to Northwest Indiana around 16 years ago. He graduated from the American Academy of Art College in Chicago.
Following his graduation, Grabinski worked for video game companies such as THQ, Midway and Rainbow Studios. He currently works full-time in marketing and graphic design.
He lives with his wife, two kids, and dog in Merrillville. Well before coming to the Region, the thing that Grabinski had an everlasting passion for was comic books. However, there was one obstacle that would sometimes get in the way of Grabinski and this desire.
“I’ve been attending comic book conventions for more than 30 years,” Grabinski said. “It has made a big impression on me and my kids. As I got older, I started to realize how much everything costs. It was really hard to bring a family to a comic book convention without spending more than $300.”
After this realization, Grabinski decided he wanted to start something of his own that could bypass this problem. In 2014, he became the founder of the Northwest Indiana Comic-Con.
“My goal was to bring a family-friend comic book convention that was affordable and filled with fun in Northwest Indiana,” Grabinski said. “I wasn’t sure how receptive it would be when I first started, but we had more than 1,000 people right away. The parking lot was crowded and the line went out the door. It made me think that people in the area were hungry for this.”
Over the years, Grabinski helped shift the Comic-Con event to different venues. The most recent event took place at the Lake County Fairgrounds on Saturday, February 10.
While running the shows, he’s also been blessed with meeting new faces who share his love for comic books.
“I’ve been able to build relationships with many comic book artists, publishers, and illustrators since I’ve attended the conventions,” Grabinski said. “When I approached some of them asking if they wanted to be a part of the Northwest Indiana Comic-Con, a lot of them said they were all in without even asking about the cost or when it was happening.”
Not only does he cherish making friends who have a long-lasting history in this industry, but Grabinski is also appreciative of the people who are newcomers at the conventions.
“Whenever you see the kids come into Comic-Con for the first time, that smile on their face makes it worth everything,” Grabinski said. “All the stress and gray hairs fade away when you know you've made that difference. Maybe that kid starts getting into reading comic books or watching movies. When I was a teenager, this stuff wasn't seen as cool like it is today, so it’s an awesome feeling.”
When he isn’t working or running the Comic-Con shows, Grabinski likes to attend other conventions and see what there is to offer at each venue with his family. They also enjoy seeing all the Marvel and DC movies as soon as they are released in theaters.
Grabinski is proud of the success the Northwest Indiana Comic-Con has blossomed into over the past decade. He’s looking forward to finding ways to keep elevating his show and bringing joy to the community.