GREENFIELD — If you can’t make it to Comic-Con in San Diego toward the end of July, there’s a smaller-scale event in Franklin County that might scratch your artistic itch.

The Western Massachusetts Comic Book Show is returning to Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center on Sunday, with at least 40 vendors at the venue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is the brainchild of comic book vendor and Turners Falls resident Kit Henry, who drove to shows across the Northeast and noticed a lack of them locally.

“There was pretty much a gap on [Interstate] 91 that I saw,” he said this week. “I look forward to it every year. It’s like a little family reunion.”

Henry said this is the sixth event in five years and it usually brings in 300 to 500 attendees. Entry is $5 but children ages 12 and under will be admitted for free with paid adult admission.

According to Henry, guests this year are slated to include comic book professionals Gary Hallgren, Will Murray, Rick Parker and Parker’s wife, Lisa Trusiani. Hallgren was infamously sued by The Walt Disney Co. about 50 years ago for comic books containing parody versions of Mickey Mouse. Murray is the creator of the superhero Squirrel Girl, while Parker illustrated every issue of the Beavis and Butt-Head comic book series and has worked for the Marvel and Barbie comic book franchises.

Henry also said other guests will be Jim Lawson, Michael Dooney and Rick Arthur, all of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fame.

“It’s really become a good community event, and people look forward to it and tell me throughout the year how much of a good time they have,” Henry said. “The group of artists that show up don’t really do a lot of other events in the area. So it’s a really good chance to meet with comic book creators who don’t do the show circuit.”

Henry mentioned Hawks & Reed offers a refreshing change to the typical arena or hotel ballroom setting for a comic book convention.

Nicole Nartowicz, the venue’s new marketing manager, said The Soul Rebels, a New Orleans brass band, will perform on Sunday starting at 7:30 p.m. Hawks & Reed is offering a deal of $5 off admission to that show for anyone who has purchased a ticket to the comic book show.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.