HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — The Voice of the Squid will be heard in the Hot Springs Convention Center when the rescheduled Spa-Con V, the multi-genre comics and pop culture convention, is held September 24 – 26.
Spa-Con V originally was to have been held in September 2020 but was postponed because of the pandemic.
Rodger Bumpass, the Emmy-nominated voice of Squidward on Spongebob Squarepants, will visit with fans in the Expo Hall and will take part in a question-and-answer session during the convention, according to Bill Solleder, marketing director of Visit Hot Springs and one of the founders of Spa-Con.
Previously announced as a celebrity guest at Spa-Con V was Lori Petty, known to comics fans for her portrayal of Tank Girl in the movie of the same name and for her starring role more recently in the hit TV show, “Orange Is The New Black.”
Also on hand will be 12 internationally known comics artists who will give talks and greet fans during the convention.
Bumpass says he “has been in acting for 45 years. And he’s going to keep on ‘til he gets it right.”
In addition to Squidward, he was the voice of Professor Membrane in “Invader Zim,” Dr. Light in “Teen Titans” and Hanover Fyst in the cult favorite “Heavy Metal.” He has provided various voices in many of Disney and Pixar feature animation movies such as “A Bug’s Life,” “Monsters Inc.,” “Cars,” “Finding Nemo,” “Treasure Planet,” “Emperor’s New Groove” and, more recently, “Monsters University.”
Bumpass began his career with the National Lampoon Magazine touring the country “and falling down on stage a lot” (on purpose). He says he likes kitty cats and long walks on the beach, where falling doesn’t hurt as much. If you pass him in the hallway, just say, “do the voice, please” and he will gladly comply “for the nominal price of $2.37 cash only. He does take IOUs if they involve a kiss from a pretty girl.”
Solleder said VIP passes, at $100, and weekend passes, at $35, are available on Spa-Con’s website: www.spa-con.org.
“Our celebration of pop culture and comics brings together a diverse audience that loves everything from Batman to ‘Stranger Things,’ Pac-Man to Mario Smash Bros, Dungeons and Dragons to Pokemon and everything in between,” he said, adding, “Spa-Con provides possibly the best people-watching fun in the state. It has hosted celebrities from ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Twin Peaks,’ ‘Battlestar Galactica,’ and ‘Stranger Things,’ not to mention, NASA scientists and 12-foot-tall robots.”
For more information call Bill Solleder at 501-321-2027.