My First Comic Con

A few days ago, I was assigned to cover the Fort Collins Comic and Gaming Festival, which happened to be my first Comic Con. I’ve thought about attending a Con to see what it’s like, but I never found enough motivation to go. So, a photo assignment turned out to be enough incentive for me to finally see a comic convention myself. On my way to the Con, I had some preconceived notions of what the crowd and environment would be like. I figured the crowed would fulfill the many stereotypes of  “comic book geeks”.  I must say, when I stepped onto the convention floor, every comic book stereotype you can imagine was there in some capacity (even Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons). However, what was I didn’t expect was the vast diversity amongst the patrons. I saw families, small children, teenagers, adults, and what was to me a surprisingly large number of women who attended and participated in the Con.

A Hulk figurine sits on display at the
Fort Collins Comic and Gaming Convention.

The convention floor had much more than just a collection of comic books. There were live podcast, radio shows, film makers, make up artists, costume artists, Q and A panels, board games, and video games. As I walked the convention floor, I snapped photos and managed to strike up conversations with nearly everyone at their booth. As I talked to some of the artists, designers, etc. I came to realize that they were not merely paying patronage to their favorite comic book characters, but they were some of the creators, movie directors, and other people that drive the industry forward.

After I talked with some people and got some shots of the costume contest, I grabbed a few photos from the Smash Brothers video game tournament. Even though I walked the convention floor and saw some of my favorite comics and games, the inner geek inside me didn’t start to come out until I got to the tournament. During some of the matches, onlookers cheered, and the trash talk was intense. This reminded me of my friends and the countless hours and long nights we spent during our undergraduate careers playing Halo, Smash Bros., and other games. Even though the comic book crowd has a stigma to them, the fun, competitiveness, and culture is the same whether you are playing Smash Brothers, Halo, or Madden.

A man plays the board game Warhammer 40,000.

When I look back on the video game tournament and the video game fans I met at the Con, I see a group of people that are not “adults playing kid’s games”. They are true fans that appreciate creativity, the art of storytelling, an immersive environment, and an overall great game. Lately my xbox has only been used to stream Netflix and watch ESPN, but the game Tomb Raider (which was an amazing game by the way) was free to download a fews days before the Con. I managed to complete the game just after the Con, and it rekindled my liking of an adventure game and love of a flat-out good video game.

What I learned from these vendors was that they were all striving artist. Whether they illustrated comics, designed a costume, or applied makeup, they were all exceptional at their craft. Each person payed their dues in their respective field by working extremely hard and keeping passionate about their craft. While I spoke with them, I learned a lot, and I am extremely thankful for their advice and well wishes to me as a photographer.

Although I didn’t fully immerse myself in the convention, I enjoyed what I saw. No guarantees, but this probably won’t be my last Con.

Editorial and publication photos from the event at Coloradoan.com

[metaslider id=100297]

In lieu of the Con, I have to repost this great DBZ fan.