21°c N/A
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Why do kids like Comic Con? 'No one judges you'
Amy Loewen, dressed as V from the movie Vendetta, has her picture taken with Zombie Santa, a.k.a. Travis Cool. (RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
Cruise Brown, 10, portrays Ghost Rider. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ) Photo Store
From left, Terese Thille, Meahan Roe, Madi Blagden, Jay Budhia and Tess MacFarlane discuss their costumes. (RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
From left, Kassandra Momotiuk (Venom), Kelly Chin (Supergirl), Courtney Bannatyne (Spider Girl), and Marill Barratt (Captain America) from the Mayhem Cheerleading Team, at the Central Canada Comic Con Saturday. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ) Photo Store
It may have been chilly outside, but Danielle Kayahara was toasty-warm inside her blue cloak of black magic.
The Final Fantasy video game enthusiast was one of thousands of science-fiction devotees who converged at the Winnipeg Convention Centre over the weekend at Central Canada's Comic Con. The three-day event was expected to draw 31,500 people, organizers said, making it the largest annual event at the downtown Winnipeg site. Last year, the event attracted 27,000.
"It's pretty fun," Kayahara said, admitting it was a tad warm beneath her homemade robe, and floppy beige hat. "There's lots to see and lots to do."
The attractions ranged from an arena designed for light-sabre duels, a video game room, the DeLorean Time Machine from Back to the Future, a make-up booth for wannabe zombies and autograph sessions with the former captain of the Starship Enterprise. Patrick Stewart was among the sci-fi celebrities who posed for pictures and chatted with fans. He and a number of other celebrities were not available to speak to media. Star Wars's Billy Dee Williams, The New Adventures of Superman's Dean Cain, Star Trek: The Next Generation's Deanna Troi and Relic Hunter's Tia Carrere were also in attendance.
"I think sci-fi fans are incredibly loyal," said Smallville's Aaron Ashmore.
Ashmore said it's important for himself and other actors to make a connection with fans who support, follow and appreciate the work they do. He said these types of events likely draw so many people since people can come and just be themselves.
"No one judges you," said 14-year-old Jay Budhia, who dressed up as a character from the animated TV series Adventure Time.
"You kind of just do what you want and be who you want to be," added friend Madi Blagden.
For Travis Cool, that meant getting into the holiday spirit -- zombie-style. The undead fan spent 45 minutes getting his zombie make-up done by DAS Zombie Productions to look like a slimmer, deader Santa Claus. He said he's always been fascinated with zombie movies and attributes the recent rise in zombie popularity to the fact that people are intrigued by things they don't understand.
"People like what they don't know," Cool said.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 4, 2012 A5
More Latest News
- Back to Top
- Return to Latest News
More Latest News
(1 of 50 articles for this week)
Pittsburgh Penguins take Game 4 with 7-3 romp over Ottawa Senators
05/22/2013 11:31 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Latest News
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Two men now facing first-degree murder charges in Tim Bosma test drive death
- New owner for lumber stores
- New downtown tower could be 42 storeys tall: developers
- 2 dead in crash near Portage la Prairie
- Man killed after test drive a regular guy, and it cost him his life: widow
- Peeping Tom portrayed as sexual deviant in court
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Woman killed in head-on crash in southwestern Manitoba
- Charleswood deaths being investigated as domestic incident
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Winnipeg woman camps out in front of legislature to protest child welfare
- Rainfall warning issued for southern Manitoba
- Crushing blow for amateur sport
- Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil killed by car on Oregon Coast
- 87-year-old woman tells jurors, 'Somebody had to stand up to' Donald Trump
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Driver crashes into tree near golf course
- Arrests made after raids on local head shops
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- News of city's $17-million winner leaks out on FB
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- No threat from bag found at Winnipeg Square
- Susan Griffiths dies in Switzerland
- New owner for lumber stores
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Heritage Winnipeg hosting 10th annual Doors Open Winnipeg this weekend
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- Paying bills and consumer consumption hurting Canadians' ability to save: study
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Creative industries can fuel a city's economic engine
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
- Marsh Madness: Photographers Fred Greenslade and Joe Bryksa capture spring migration's grandeur at Delta Marsh
- Horrific crash kills minivan driver near Brandon
- Prominent Canadians back petition to rename Victoria Day to honour aboriginals
- Famous city grocer loved job, customers
- Animals are animals, new ads say
- Skin picking gets status as distinct disorder, should help sufferers access help
- Order of Manitoba recipients announced
- New owner for lumber stores
- Aboriginal leader Elijah Harper dies
- Dogs can experience separation anxiety and depression just like humans
- Ontario steps in to help save ELA
- Saskatchewan professor wants to test the health benefits of nose-picking
- 'Revenge of the redheads': Ginger-haired Montrealers gather in celebration
- An uncommon phenomenon
- Passengers from diverted flight to leave Winnipeg Thursday night
- Hundreds pitch in to dig out houses damaged, destroyed by Ochre Beach ice floe
- Grocer Joe Cantor dies at 88
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.