ONE HIGHLIGHT OF THE CONVENTION is the annual Cosplay contest, where fans dress up as their favorite heroes from comics, TV, movies and video games. Photo courtesy if wizardworld.com.
WALKING DEAD STAR Norman Reedus is among the luminaries of comics and sci-fi coming to the Portland Wizard World Convention Jan. 24-26. Photo courtesy of wizardworld.com.
LEGENDARY MARVEL COMICS CREATOR Stan Lee will also be coming to Portland to talk about comics and movies. The 91-year-old Lee has become a pop-culture icon in the last thirty years. Photo courtesy of wizardworld.com.
Lovers of comic book heroes, science fiction series and all things pop culture, hold on to your light sabers and dust off your Green Lantern costumes. The second annual Wizard World Portland Comic Con is set to touch down at the Oregon Convention Center January 24-26.
As part of the three-day extravaganza, area residents will have the opportunity to attend question-and-answer sessions with some of the celebrities scheduled to appear. The lineup includes Bruce Campbell, Robert Englund, Stan Lee, Ron Perlman, WWE Superstar CM Punk, Norman Reedus, William Shatner, Adam West, and Billy Dee Williams, among others.
Legendary comic creators will also be on hand including Neal Adams (Batman, Green Lantern), Jim Cheung (Avengers vs. X-Men, Iron Man), George Pérez (Superman, JSA), Humberto Ramos (Amazing Spider-Man, Impulse), Rafa Sandoval (Catwoman, Ultimate Hawkeye), and Mike Zech (Spider-Man, Punisher), to name a few.
Portland is the first of 16 fan conventions to be held around the country in 2014. Wizard World Comic Con has grown rapidly in the last 12 months, up from eight cities in 2013.
“Our goal is for every fan, celebrity and exhibitor to have a great experience,’’ said John Macaluso, CEO of Wizard World. “We feel like there are people all over the country that enjoy the kind of show we put on, and being in eight new markets gives us the opportunity to share that vision in many new places in 2014.”
The Comic Con explosion began in 1970 in San Diego as a comic book convention. Over the years, it has grown to encompass science fiction, pop fiction, horror, gaming, and art work from these popular genres as well as toys and a myriad of other elements. While Wizard World is not affiliated with the San Diego Comic Con, all Comic Cons held nationally and internationally would be remiss if they didn’t give a nod to the one that started it all.
Several of the attendees at Wizard World Portland Comic Con, as well as other schedule locations, are recipients of one or more Eisner Awards (Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards). This is the equivalent of an Academy Award for cinematic achievement or a Grammy for musical achievement.
Comic Con fans keep the classics alive as well as embrace new ideas in pop culture. Linda Blair, possibly most famous for her role as Regan in The Exorcist, is slated to attend many of Wizard World’s 2014 functions. She continues to draw a crowd 41 years after a performance that garnered her an Academy Award nomination.
William Shatner’s portrayal of Captain Kirk reaches back even farther in cinematic history. Shatner captained the USS Enterprise from 1966-1969. He’s had other, very recent roles that have kept him in the spotlight, but Captain Kirk is the character that draws Shatner fans to Comic Con.
Standing side-by-side with veteran Comic Con personalities are some relative newcomers. The Walking Dead has capitalized on America’s infatuation with the undead. Norman Reedus, Jon Bernthal, Laurie Holden and Michael Rooker are the stars scheduled to be in attendance at Wizard World Portland Comic Con from the phenomenally-popular series.
“Being part of Comic Con events, especially with Wizard World events, I get to meet my fans from all walks of life and they tell me how my character helped them throughout their childhood and how I inspire them now,’’ said Jason David Frank, best known for his role as Tommy Oliver in The Power Rangers. “I’ve heard stories (of) how my character helped someone get through bullying, or an illness, or even how my character was like a father/brother figure they did not have in real life.”
Arguably, the highlight of every Comic Con event is cos-play and Wizard World Portland Comic Con should be no exception. This is where fans come dressed in costume and can even grace the Cosplay Stage to be envied by their peer group. A contest crowns a winner at each event.
“We are constantly amazed at the dedication and inventiveness of our cosplaying fans,’’ Macaluso said. “Some work for weeks and months on a single costume. Our Costume Contest has become a must-see part of the shows, and we regularly pack our largest programming hall with cosplayers and an audience just wanting to see all the costumes. The Syfy series, Heroes of Cosplay, filmed their very first episode here last year and are coming back to shoot it again.”
Frank shared his thoughts on Portland as a first-time visitor last year and echoed Macaluso’s sentiments of Portland’s enthusiasm for cosplay.
“Portland is a beautiful city,’’ Frank said. “I remember being in awe at the beautiful skyline of downtown Portland when I first visited ... I saw some of the best cosplay costumes here in Portland, and I’ve seen quite a lot since I am one of the judges for Wizard World’s costume contests.”
Exhibitors at Portland Comic Con are as varied as the convention itself. Everything from gourmet coffee to area comic book stores, gaming shops, jewelry booths and apparel make for a well-rounded shopping experience.
Portland Comic Con will be held at the Oregon Convention Center. Hours of operation are Fri., Jan 24, 3-8 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 25 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sun., Jan. 26 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.wizardworld.com/home-portland.html”http://www.wizardworld.com/home-portland.html.
