This weekend was the spring edition of Dallas Comic Con Fan Days, the pop culture convention for fans of comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming. Celebrity guests in attendance this year included Stephen Amell and John Barrowman (Arrow); Robbie Amell (The Tomorrow People, Firestorm, The Flash); Danielle Panabaker (The Flash, Bones, Justified); John Schneider, Tom Wopat and Catherine Bach (The Dukes of Hazzard); Sean Pertwee and David Mazouz (Gotham); Bruce Greenwood (Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness); Will Friedle (Boy Meets World); and more.
It was my third time attending the expo, and I think this year may have been my favorite. My first time at Dallas Comic Con was thrilling and overwhelming. I missed the main event in May, but luckily Sevi and Valery were able to cover it in my absence. By last October’s Fan Days, I felt much more prepared, but had still been apprehensive about doing some of the traditional Comic Con activities such as dressing up in costume or paying for photo ops with celebrity guests. Maybe third time’s the charm, but I was finally ready to jump in!
In anticipation of this year’s X-Men: Apocalypse film release, I busted out the Jubilee cosplay I had been practicing. Luckily, I have amazing fellow pop culture fanatics as best friends. Sevi and Valery put together amazing Storm and Quicksilver costumes respectively, to complete the X-Men theme.
I couldn’t convince Holden to dress up as Wolverine, but he participated by wearing a Deadpool snapback that he designed.
The crowd was insane. The attendance at each Fan Days seems to multiply, and it feels like the event is outgrowing the space at the Irving Convention Center. The parking situation (or lack, thereof) gave us a late start on Saturday. We barely made it upstairs to the grand ballroom on the 4th floor in time for Brent Spiner’s panel.
Naturally, our next stop was Wild Bill’s Olde Fashioned Soda Pop Co. stand. I hadn’t tasted a drop of soda since before Whole30, but this was SO worth it. Holden and I both indulged in the Vintage Vanilla Cream flavor– aka sparkling ice cream. I can’t get enough of their soda, and luckily- with the purchase of the souvenir mug (ranging in price between $15-25), refills were unlimited for the day!
With our Wild Bill sodas in hand, we explored the vendor booths in the Exhibit Hall and took pictures on the first floor. We even spotted some fellow X-Men and grabbed a photo with them. It was fun having people recognize my costume– heard several exclamations of “Jubilee!” throughout the day, and even had someone ask to take a picture with me. I was reminded of my days as a saloon girl at Six Flags Over Texas, and I’m already brainstorming my next cosplay.
Worked up an appetite posing for all the photos, so we headed to the food trucks outside for a quick lunch. Valery and Holden got slices of pizza while Sevi and I opted for sushi. The weather was beautiful (albeit windy), and the fresh air was a welcome change from the massive crowds inside.
One thing I do love about Fan Days being held at the Irving Convention Center is all the cool spots for photos. We did another impromptu photosession outside the third floor, #becausecomiccon.
Holden and I had to leave early, because my dad got hockey tickets for the Stars v. Capitals game, but Sevi and Valery ended up staying ’til closing! I don’t know how they had energy the next day, because I was completely wiped out. But we all rallied for our group photo op with Stephen Amell and John Barrowman from CW’s Arrow (one of our favorite TV shows).
We made it out of our photo op just in time for Will Friedle’s panel where I noticed an Elvis Deadpool sitting across the aisle from us. I strongly feel that he/she won Dallas Comic Con for the weekend.
This year’s Fan Days was epic, and I feel like I’ve finally hit my con stride. Already counting down to the larger event in June. A little birdie told me that Stan Lee will be making an appearance! Who wants to go with me? And most importantly, which characters should we dress up as!?