Once every year, typically in February or March, geeks of all kinds gather under one roof in downtown St. Louis. Fans of Marvel, DC, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and other geeky franchises all come together in a convention center for what is known as ComicCon. These Cons happen in cities across the country, big and small. The one that visits St. Louis on an annual basis is called Wizard World. Upon arriving at this convention, you must walk through a line. It is long, but it moves rather quickly. The line alone is an experience in itself. That is where you get your first look at a vast variety of costumed geeks. Some are hardcore cosplayers who look identical to movie superheroes, and others are just fans who casually threw together some clothes to make themselves resemble their favorite characters. Regardless, once you see people in costumes, you instantly are able to connect with others who share your interests. And once you make it past the “weapons check”, the real fun begins.
Check in at the front desk, get an admission bracelet slapped on your wrist, and you’re in for a fun time. You can meet more cosplayers and take pictures with them, and you can also meet celebrities! Actors, writers, artists, and stars of all sorts show up to sign autographs, take selfies, and chat with fans. Your favorite comic book artist might be there to draw you as your favorite superhero! Or the actor who plays your favorite character might be there to shake your hand and have a conversation with you. Meeting famous actors typically costs around $40, but the experience is well worth it. Some of this year’s stars were from the hit shows ‘Stranger Things’, ‘Arrow’, ‘Doctor Who’, and ‘Gotham’. There were also actors from ‘Lord of the Rings’, ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Captain America’, and more. This year, I paid to meet John Barrowman, who plays the main antagonist on the hit CW show ‘Arrow’, which is currently on its sixth season. And last year, I met Michael Rooker, who plays Yondu in the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ films. Meeting these stars is always a joy. Meanwhile, artists and writers of famous cartoons and comic books are typically out in the open for anyone to chat with. A couple years ago, I met Ethan van Sciver, artist of popular comics such as ‘Green Lantern’, and that was an honor. These talented people host panels and programs in theatres for large audiences to enjoy. You might get some insight on how these shows, movies, and comics are made. Or you might just hear some hilarious stories. John Barrowman’s program was basically a comedy act. He told hilarious jokes and stories, sang original songs, and answered questions from fans, all while wearing a dress and heels.
But aside from the cosplayers and celebrities, ComicCon is where you can buy anything your geeky heart desires. An enormous room is filled with booths from all sorts of comic book shops, vendors, and hardcore collectors selling parts of their collections. You can buy comics, DVDs, figurines, stunning pieces of original artwork, and so much more. You’ll definitely want to bring a full wallet to Wizard World so that you can go crazy and buy loads of awesome stuff. I hope everyone is convinced to save up their money and pay a visit to a ComicCon, in St. Louis or elsewhere. It is an experience you will never forget.
