June event in Raleigh features shows, games, panels, and comic-book legend Roy Thomas
RALEIGH — The Carolinas chapter of the Burroughs Bibliophiles will host the annual Edgar Rice Burroughs Convention on June 25-28, 2026 at the Courtyard by Marriott-Brier Creek.
A pioneering author of the pulp-fiction era, Burroughs created such enduring characters as Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars and inspired the likes of George Lucas (Star Wars), Frank Herbert (Dune) James Cameron (Avatar), and Ray Bradbury (The Martian Chronicles).
“Although Burroughs died more than 75 years ago, his continuing influence on pop culture is astounding,” said John Hood, co-founder of the Carolina Calots and co-host of ERBCon 2026. “From Superman to Dungeons & Dragons, Indiana Jones to Jurassic Park, many of today’s most-popular media franchises bear the unmistakable mark of Edgar Rice Burroughs.”
ERBCon 2026 will begin with an evening showing of Burroughs-themed television and film on June 25, followed by full days of programming on June 26 and June 27 as well as optional activities on June 28. Scheduled events include multimedia presentations, panels, model displays, board gaming, a “Burroughs Bowl” trivia contest, and live performances of classic Tarzan radio shows.
Roy Thomas, former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics and author of Tarzan and John Carter stories for Marvel and Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc., will also speak at the convention and receive the Golden Lion Award for his contributions to Burroughs lore and fandom.
During his storied career at Marvel, DC, and other publishers, Thomas penned such books as X-Men, The Avengers, Wonder Woman, and Justice Society of America and co-created such now-familiar characters as Wolverine, Ghost Rider, Vision, Luke Cage, Ultron, Morbius, Red Guardian, and Valkyrie.
Thomas also helped introduce pulp-era characters such as Tarzan, Doc Savage, and Conan the Barbarian into comics and graphic novels. His screenwriting credits include The New Fantastic Four (1978), Plastic Man (1979-80), Thundarr the Barbarian (1980-81), Conan the Destroyer (1984), G.I. Joe (1985), Conan the Adventurer (1992-93), and Xena: Warrior Princess (1996).
In addition to Thomas, a longtime resident of South Carolina, the convention will explore the careers of other Carolinians with connections to the life and works of Edgar Rice Burroughs — including Greensboro native Murphy Anderson, who illustrated a John Carter series for DC Comics.
“Whether you’re a diehard fan of Burroughs or simply enjoy learning more about fantasy, science fiction, and adventure fiction, ERBCon 2026 will have plenty to offer,” said Aaron Oliver, co-founder of the Carolina Calots.
A full program guide is available at CarolinaCalots.com, where fans can also register for ERBCon 2026 and reserve rooms at the convention hotel for $129 a night. The registration fee is $125, which covers special gifts, full access to convention events, and the awards banquet on the evening of June 27. Banquet-only tickets ($55) and day passes for Friday ($20), Saturday ($30), and Sunday ($20) are also available.
The Burroughs Bibliophiles, founded in 1960, is a nonprofit literary society dedicated to stimulating interest in and preserving the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Its regional chapter, the Carolina Calots, is named after Woola the Calot, the loyal Martian pet of John Carter.
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