Cole "JediCole" Houston is something of a familiar sight on the ALL-CON show floor over the past twelve years.  Starting in 2005 he and Mrs. JediCole (as A Piece of the Action Collectibles) were the first vendors at ALL-CON.  In fact that year they were the only vendors.  The following year APOTAC was back and brought the first game show, Geek Match Game, to the show with them with daily rounds.  In the years that followed Cole's participation with the convention led many to believe he is actually one of the owners, but he gets to just enjoy the show and doing what he loves most at ALL-CON - Giving away prizes! 

"It's a Prize!" can often be heard resonating from game show rooms as over the years the co-founder of the Game Shows Track would continue to bring more and more game shows, as well as talk shows, panels, and other fun to ALL-CON.  Over the years he would become head of the growing Game Shows Department (which he dubbed Games and Theory and himself Group Captain) and continues to shepherd the track to this day.  With a record number of shows in 2017, there will be no shortage of "entertainment with benefits (prizes)" at ALL-CON XIII.

In addition to ALL-CON, Cole Houston has parlayed his near-lifetime as a convention fixture (having been everything from an attendee to a vendor to a producer to a vendor over more than a quarter century) into Convention Awareness Project - Texas.  This comprehensive convention site helps fans, vendors, artists, and more keep track of conventions of fan interest in the Lone Star State year after year.

But why stop there?  He is a podcaster with nearly a decade and over 1,000 hours of content behind him and his own network, The JediCole Universe.  From VaderCast to Amazing Comicast to The United States of Geekdom, Cole would eventually found the JCU, producing and co-hosting its two flagship podcasts, Hey Kids, Comics! (with perennial ALL-CON favorite Andrew Farmer) and The Rantcor Pit (with DFW-based artist Eddie Medina).  Just over two years ago he and Eddie took their show to a whole new level when they were invited to join Deep Ellum on Air (now Watch On Air Live), and thus The Rantcor Pit Live was launched with twice monthly episodes streaming live from Dallas, TX.

Ever one to have more irons than fire, Cole also contributes his flagship shows to the Cinelinx network, published two volumes of collected "You Are Here" comic strips (with co-creator and artist extraordinaire Bobby Blakey), has contributed articles to three volumes of The Star Wars Super-Collector's Wishbook, and been the "Voice of Strip - The Dallas Webcomic Expo" most of its existence.   

Finally, JediCole is an avid collector of Star Wars action figures past and present (no surprise there) as well as other toys and collectibles and had hosted panels on collecting as well as podcasting at various conventions.  He has hosted game shows and exhibitions at many other conventions over the years and made official appearances at many DFW are comic and collectibles shops representing The JediCole Universe.  Be sure to ask him for the limited edition trading cards he enjoys handing out if you catch him in a quiet moment over the ALL-CON weekend!