After sitting 2020 out, Spa-Con is roaring back to life this September, and the event's official poster captures that mood.
Created by northwest Arkansas-based artist Chad Maupin, the poster features a large Kaiju monster standing with one foot on top of the Hot Springs Convention Center.
Maupin said his idea for the artwork is for the event to reclaim the building after it sat closed last year.
"Back, bigger than ever," he said.
As far as his choice of a "Godzilla-esque character," Maupin said, "I wanted something larger than life."
He said he wanted to create something that could become a recurring character for the convention, noting if the artwork proves to be a success with attendees, the Kaiju could be used in promotional material for future Spa-Cons.
Maupin said when he was little, his dream was to work on comic books. "All I wanted to do is make comics. Most of my career, I've done screen printing," he said.
For this project, Maupin drew the poster in the style of vintage comic book art to "live out a childhood dream."
This is not the first time Maupin has been associated with Spa-Con. About three years ago, Bill Solleder, Spa-Con founder and Visit Hot Springs marketing director, invited Maupin and several other northwest Arkansas artists to the event, he said.
Calling Spa-Con a "really fun experience," Maupin said he was disappointed when it was canceled last year.
"I shamelessly asked if we would be invited back," Maupin said, and Solleder pitched him the idea of creating the event's poster.
Maupin said the artwork will also be used for the convention's official T-shirt and he is looking forward to seeing the shirts in person. While Maupin does a lot of work for websites, he said he likes getting to see his artwork in a physical form.
He said his artwork doesn't "feel real unless it's an artifact," noting, "I like technology, not against it."
Maupin will be in attendance at Spa-Con and will have a booth where he will sell prints and T-shirts of his work. He said he started attending conventions seven years ago and enjoys them, noting, "I try to go all the time."
Selling artwork at conventions is fun and helpful, he said, noting, "Seeing someone in person is really impactful" and he will get "honest feedback" at the events while purchasing items online is a passive experience.
"It's like you see something, but don't really understand the process behind it," he said.
The artwork also "looks totally different than it looks online," Maupin said, and when the buyers get to talk to the artist and discuss the piece they are buying, it adds "deeper understanding."
Spa-Con will be held Sept. 24-26 and will feature guests such as Michael Golden, creator of "X-Men's" Rogue, and actress Lori Petty, star of "Tank Girl" and "A League of Their Own.