REVIEW: Saratoga Comic-Con: My Kind of Place
05/02 & 05/03 @ Saratoga City Center
“These were not gatekeepers of the culture, by any means. They were ushers, allowing everyone a peek into their world with an open invite to join.”
As someone who is a self-described nerd, you might find it strange to know that I had never attended a Comic-Con before this weekend, but it is true. I had somewhat assumed that it was for people who are far more interested in the culture than I was, and that I might feel out of place.
I now admit that I was mind-numbingly wrong.
Upon first arriving at Saratoga City Center with fellow nerd, BJ Schwinghammer (host of Unsigned518’s Weekend Spotlight), I noticed just how incredibly long the line to get in the door was. Schwinghammer (a Comic-Con veteran) informed me that this was just the beginning.
“This is hour one,” Schwinghammer noted.
“Just wait until you see hour three,” he added with a smirk.
Luckily for us, the line was not something that we would endure. We secured our press passes and hit the ground running.
As we entered the first hall, I was struck by the intricate costumes and outfits. To say that Comic-Con attendees go all out would be an incredible understatement. There were movie-accurate Boba Fetts, Deadpools, Wolverines, Spider-Man variants and more. Within minutes of arriving, we witnessed a full-scale Deadpool v. Wolverine fight go down with marvelous pageantry. It was really hard to distinguish between sanctioned character actors and attendees, as the level of artistry and technicality were pretty much on par with each other.
As with any sub-culture, there is bound to be a certain amount of camaraderie, and Comic-Con was no exception. Being that I was there as an observer, that is basically all I did. What I saw was a sense of strangers belonging to a larger community. There were people complimenting each other nearly every step of the way. We heard commendation for outfits, hairstyles, t-shirt choices, make-up, and more. It was very reassuring to me that this was a place that I belonged. Every positive interaction I observed brought me closer to the realization that I had been wrong about the Comic-Con “scene.”
I had always sort of thought Comic-Cons were more for those with a deeper understanding of the culture — ‘inside knowledge,’ if you will. I was pleasantly surprised to find that literally every single encounter that I had that day was one of positivity and inclusiveness. These were not gatekeepers of the culture, by any means. They were ushers, allowing everyone a peek into their world with an open invite to join.
In addition to the wonderful attendees, both costumed and not, were the incredible items on display and for sale. There were masks of all kinds, horror items, oddities, and lightsabers.
So many lightsabers.
Even if you have a tangential interest in Star Wars, and don’t have hundreds of Star Wars related items at your house like me, the allure of a lightsaber is unmistakable. Just the sound of one igniting can transport me instantly to childhood, but the thought of customizing my own, had my adult head spinning.
I’ve played several video games where you can craft your own lightsaber, but to see the physical parts and choices laid out on a table was transcendent. I clearly was not the only one fascinated with them, as it seemed as though every third person in attendance had a lightsaber.
There was no shortage of unique items to be seen and purchased. Figurines, Pokemon cards, and other collectibles were obviously ever-present, but there were also vendors selling retro video games, collectible knives, horror themed items, and even pickles.
In addition to the halls with vendors, and items for sale, there was also a room dedicated to celebrities. Voice actors, comic artists, writers and more were on hand to sign autographs, take pictures and mingle with the super-fans of their work. It was really endearing to see the smiles on not only the attendees' faces, but also on the celebrities. Everyone was having a good time and they were all on hand for the love of the culture.
While I have always kind of considered myself a “nerd,” I never thought I dug deep enough into the culture to be able to “fit in” at a Comic-Con. I am not only admitting I was wrong, but I am declaring my intention to attend every Saratoga Comic-Con from here on out.
Also, I’m going to get a lightsaber.
