If you’ve never been to a Comic-Con (what are you waiting for?) essentially it’s a market & trade show – at it’s base, it’s just one big store. All the vendors gathered together in one convenient place. To get the fans to come shop, the convention books stars (past & present) for Q&A’s, autograph sessions & photo ops.
But it’s the people that attend that make it so much more.
The fans of everything that make up this culture are so dedicated that they dress up in amazing cosplay some have prepared all year long to show off t’s just SO MUCH FUN.
Dallas Comic Con Fan Days – October 14-16th – Irving Convention Center – Irving, TX
The Dallas Comic Con organization holds three shows a year – The big Expo in downtown Dallas over the Summer and then two sattelite events dubbed Fan Days held in the smaller venue in Irving, one in the Spring and then again in the Fall.
Friday – Day 1
So the weekend kicks off with abbreviated hours, only open for 4hrs usually for press guys like me to do interviews or super fans that want to experience it all.
Mick Foley
The Hardcore Legend & WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley has been doing the “con rounds” last couple of years but has seen his star on the rise recently with his new position as General Manager of Monday Night RAW & even his own reality series with his family focusing on his impossibly charming daughter Noelle called Holy Foley!
Sadly the “bad real estate” of going on last on Friday is similar to having to follow the Undertaker at Wrestlemania, not a great spot to be in and so of the Grand Ballroom that seats thousands, their were easily less than 200 people. So much so that when the moderator announced him Mick didn’t appear because he thought their was no way such a lackluster introduction was real and even called the guy out for which I thought was cool.
Foley is always a delight and enjoyable, he took questions from the crowd for about 20 mins before heading back to his booth for signings.
With such a legend in town it inspired some really great wrestling themed cosplay around the convention.
Dee Rich of The Lady Scarlett Cosplay (right)
Speaking of Cosplay
For the panel thankfully, I was joined by a superhero – Cosplayer extroidinaire Star Dust who came to my rescue in full Wonder Woman regalia.
Since we only had a brief window for daylight I was so pleased to be able to capture some great shots of her amazing cosplay before heading upstairs for the first panel with Tori Spelling.
Tori Spelling
Saturday – Day 2
So the second day upon us the convention is in full swing with a full day of panels & signings, contests & 10s of thousands of fans eager to display their hard fought cosplay & secure amazing purchases from the vendor showroom.
Christian Slater
Making his first appearance on the Con circuit is legendary actor Christian Slater now star of the hit show Mr. Robot
He shared how he won the role of the title character noting that his characters in Heathers and Pump up the Volume were hackers, of a kind. This was a thoroughly enjoyable panel and Slater was funny, genuine and seemed very pleased to be there and was very engaging.
One of the best panels of the whole weekend.
Caught some outstanding cosplay & met some awesome fans leading up to the annual cosplay contest.
Sal Muller (right)
Leigha Smith, Avery Lind & Brandon Maldonado
Clarissa Harros’s very unique southern take on Wonder Woman as paralleling WW’s lasso with that of a cowgirl.
Facing off with Batman on the Cosplay Red Carpet
Cosplay Contest
Their were some great contestants this year as always along with an impressive judges panel of seasoned veteran cosplayers.
Sunday – Day 3
Started the day with a panel the minute I arrived and rushed from the backstage elevator to get to in time.
The phenomenon that is Stranger Things was everywhere at this convention and I too am a fan so I was greatly anticipating the Q&A with cast member Millie Bobby Brown who plays the mysterious Eleven to wit her panel started at appropriately – 11am
Millie Bobbi Brown
As I mentioned, I too am a fan of the Netflix series but I’ve only seen 3 of the 8 existing episodes and seemingly like most at this convention, I too am totally hooked. I was hoping to binge watch the rest before this panel to avoid spoilers & able to get any & all references.
That didn’t happen but thankfully I managed to avoid getting any plot twists ruined for me.
What was totally unexpected (for me at least) is that Millie is a freaking force of nature. For real.
Seriously – first of all since I knew very little about her the person, I didn’t know she was British, secondly her character (at least in the first three episodes) rarely if at all speaks. Lastly, she’s only 12 years old
However, this pre-teen had more poise, grace and weapons grade wit & animated with a worldliness that I and the collective 3,000 or so in attendance will never know in our combined adult lives. How does that happen? She was funny, staggeringly smart, she rapped, had impeccable timing with humor and the perfect charm. I’m totally signing up for finishing school as I write this.
This most entertaining panel stole the show and ended with a special guest Matthew Lewis of Harry Potter fame.
Thankfully since she’s new to attention and her fame literally exploded out of nowhere & she is a pre-teen girl she loves the interaction, was genuine with the mob of fans lining up to see her and even roamed the floor wearing a mask to have a little fun with unsuspecting patrons.
Good times.
Like Mick Foley had his wrestling cosplay following – the impact of Stranger Things was everywhere.
….and after the panel Star Dust returned to bless the entire convention with her stunning Dragonball Z cosplay & kickass moves!
……and speaking of kickass, what is a superhero without an opponent right? As Star & I were headed up the escalator I spotted the perfect badass I was looking for to setup my favorite shots of the entire weekend.
Meet Ashlynn Starbuck
Her whole vibe was infinitely cool, super talented and one of the most deadly & presence filled cosplayers I’ve had the pleasure of meeting thus far.
She will be co-hosting this week’s Cosplay Culture episode & look for her in her own feature right here at Tricky-Kid.com soon!
With the runaway success of the Suicide Squad franchise and the summer movie, only second to Stranger Things the most popular character was expectedly Harley Quinn & their were some really great ones.
Joanie Brosas
I wrapped up this amazing weekend with someone who many would consider the Queen of Cosplay (she was voted #1 cosplayer in 2015 by our readers & listeners of TrickyKid Radio).
I first met Joanie Brosas in her hometown of Salt Lake City in 2015 at the SLC Comic-Con Fan Xperience.
That con & meeting Joanie both set off a chain reaction that inspired me to attend almost a dozen more events since that truly introduced me to the Cosplay community & develop a deep appreciation for this art form.
This girl is a true fan who also just happens to be impossibly attractive. Her Twitter feed is a delight of socially engaging inquiries, inspired photos & body/image positive messages that promote acceptance of all. Seriously, no one is doing cosplay this legit, this hot, with such a fun, positive attitude.
I had been wanting to sit down and catch up with her since I last saw her at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim last year in which time her popularity has just (deservingly) exploded. We were finally in the same town at the same again and I was delighted to have her on the show.
It almost didn’t happen though as Joanie endured a nightmare travel day to make it to Dallas for her first time (& sadly her return trip was even worse) As a testament of her dedication to her craft & fans, she never complained and was all smiles & a total joy to speak to.
We had so much fun & was the perfect way to end such an great weekend at Dallas Comic Con Fan Days.
Don’t miss our Cosplay Culture episode airing Thurs Oct 27th on TrickyKid Radio – You can subscribe for free here
as well you’ll be able to see my interview with Joanie Brosas on TrickyKid TV the following day – Subscribe here.
Photos –
Roy Turner
Rachel Parker
