The con is on! DefCom 8 is set for May 6, 2023, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Northtowne Mall, 1500 N. Clinton St., Defiance. We’re looking forward to welcoming back some familiar vendors, and meeting new ones as well! Scroll down the page to check out the amazing vendor lineup we have for you: northwest Ohio’s creativity will be on full display!

 

The Ohio Garrison 501st Star Wars costuming Club will join us again, plus Scott Conley is bringing back his real-life MYSTERY MACHINE, the Midwest R2 Builder’s Club will return with their beloved robots, K-Dog’s Arcade is bringing an assortment of games, and we’ve got plenty of kids activities in store too. See you at the con!

The event has quite a zero-to-hero origin story itself: the first Def-Com was planned as part of a grant application that was, unfortunately, unsuccessful.

“We thought, ‘Hey, why not throw a mini-con anyway?’” said Angela Powell, branch manager at Johnson Memorial Library and one of the event’s founding organizers. “We had one without a budget that year, using just our local artist friends and musicians, a few crafts, a cosplay contest, and the library’s side yard.

“Fast forward to 2020—unfortunately cancelled—when we had signed on the Farscape actress to join us. [In the past] we’ve even had famous cars from Supernatural, Jurassic Park, and a TARDIS.”

Steve Miller

Local artist Steve Miller will return to DefCom to showcase his new children’s book, “The Day Dogs Got Hands.” Original art & prints, plus a limited number of signed “How to Draw” books will be available.

Neko

Neko is a cosplayer with 13 years of experience. She specializes in handmade cat-related items, resin keychains & worry stones, D&D and Pride buttons, mystery D&D character boxes, & more!

Fresh Prints by William

This West Unity-based 3D print shop will bring collectibles & decorations like articulating dragons & fidget toys, plus accessories for Magic the Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and cosplay.

The Kawaii-est Little Stationery Store

A veteran con vendor with an eye for detail, ‘The Kawaii-est Little Stationery Store’ will bring bookmarks, sticker sheets, washi tape, notebooks, and more.

WTF Bugg

A self-taught artist bringing prints, original pieces, fan art, & stickers.

A photo of Hocus Pocus-themed sugar cookies on a blue plate.

Patsy Cakes & Confections

Patsy Cakes & Confections will vend their fun and fantastic pop culture-themed treats.

ReyneSong

ReyneSong is a digital & traditional artist bringing stickers and charms for sale.

Frank James Bailey

Bailey is a voice actor and writer bringing his Tercona book series for all ages to the Con.

The Losers Club

Dealers of horror & nostalgia, including pins, stickers, & toys from yesteryear!

SUPER-REFLEX

SUPER-REFLEX will offer prints, apparel, charms, stickers, & custom art commissions.

Two-Headed Glassworks

Two-Headed Glassworks works primarily in stained glass, but creates in other mediums too.

Grandma's Beauties

Offering assorted 3D-printed items, jewelry, wind chimes, & assorted wood pieces.

Alayna Young

Steam Punk & Ren Faire costume accessories, plus original art & fan art.

Linc Geissinger

A long-time collector of comics & trading cards, as well as music & movie memorabilia. Handmade magnets & collectors supplies (protective bags, boards, sleeves) available too.

Gardens of Gaia

A wire-wrapper & crochet artist selling unique crystals & one-of-a-kind wire-wrapped crystal jewelry and accessories, plus crocheted anime plushies, clothes, accessories, & decor.

Dated Games LLC

Wauseon-based Dated Games LLC will bring its trivia card game, Dated, to DefCom.

Deck Factory Logo: blue stack of cards with smokestacks.

Deck Factory Gaming Center

Check out a sampling from this Lima-based game store: Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Flesh & Blood cards, Warhammer products, D&D products, party games, game accessories, & more.

The Fated Thread

Stop by The Fated Thread and pick up a custom-made, nerdy pouch for your accessories!

Crosstime Collectibles

Marlin Muhe will return to offer a unique mix of items at DefCom 8.

Black box with white text inside that reads John Engler.

John Engler

Engler’s booth will have a focus on action figures, comics, and movie memorabilia.

Pack Rats

Def-Com welcomes back PackRats, which will have a selection of goods for sale including comics, collectibles, & gaming systems.

GemuBaka

GemuBaka offers classic video games and guides along with an assortment of plushes, toys, and other merchandise based on video games, anime, and comics.

Chloris the Fairy

A visual artist & cosplayer specializing in bright, colorful, & family-friendly, hand-painted pieces, prints, & posters, plus handmade necklaces, earrings, & pins.

Tame Fox Studio

This Holgate-based artist will bring prints, stickers, & original art as well as anime fan art to Def-Com.

TaylizArt

Original art & fanart prints, original comics, buttons/pinback badges, keychain charms, pins, & stickers.

Jarett

Jarett will return to DefCom with his original art, prints, comics, & stickers. High fives are free all day!

Midwest R2 Builders Club

Come meet R2-D2, and learn about various parts and tools used to build and maintain a ‘droid!

AAW Arts

This full-time artist is bringing digital stained glass art, handmade books & journals, & a wide variety of stickers.

orc_ink_art

Drew of orc_ink_art will join us at DefCom and bring a diverse batch of products geared to anime & manga fans alike.

Silo Draw

Returning vendor Silas of Silo Draw will be selling anime-style prints & decals.

Minji Fox

Specializing in anime & anime-inspired paper products & jewelry.

Atom Ball/Oxizero Design

Oxizero Design will offer enamel pins, prints, & stickers of original artwork. If you spot live-bear wrestling at this booth, please notify library staff ASAP.

Kicking Corgi Crafts

Bringing handmde perler keychains, 3D perler figures, earrings, & bracelets.

Ray & Shawn

Specializing in paintings, drawings, resin art, and custom T-shirts & bags.

Bean Bagel

Bean Bagel is a pair of artists creating paintings, stickers, earrings & more, such as crocheted items, bookmarks, and Pride items.

Vampyr Bites

Vampyr Bites will be on hand with mini-zines, stickers, & buttons featuring a mix of original & fan art.

Card & Board

Defiance’s Card & Board will bring a cross section of Magic, Pokemon, and DnD products.

Buzz Parcher

Parcher is an author writing & publishing his own horror books (for ages 18+).

Lesismore Cosplay

Lesismore Cosplay brings cosplay and crafting knowledge, prints, resin trinkets, and arts & crafts for youth.

MediocreMakes

Adam of MediocreMakes will bring us 3D printed toys/collectibles, action figures, and gaming accessories.

Crumbs & Bites Bakery

OG Nerd, baking since birth. Gourmet baked goods with a nerdy twist.

Jak

Jak is a freelance sculptor and illustrator with original sculpture work, figures, art dolls, and prints for sale.

Elaxn

Offering handmade chokers and decorative chain attachments with beads and other mini charms.