AYAN GULED

Close encounters of the cosplay kind at the Comic Expo.

This year Saskatoon will be hosting its first ever Comic Expo at Prairieland Park on Sept. 20 and 21. If comic books, cosplay, or science fiction are your thing then you should definitely check it out.

Many guests involved with comic television, film and graphic novels will be in attendance. Some names that you might recognize are Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead), Nana Vistor (Star Trek: Deep Space 9), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), Dino Stamatopolous (Community) and Lindsay Elyse — known for her professional work as a cosplayer. Considering it is only Saskatoon’s second time hosting the convention, the number of big names coming is quite impressive.

The illustrators of comics such as Superman, Guardians of the Galaxy and Teen Titans will also be attending the Expo, as well as the creative artists for the television shows Adventure Time and Sons of Anarchy — talk about a star-studded lineup. I am already geeking out at the mere thought of meeting Jim Su, visual designer for Reboot: Daemon Rising.

The Expo is also an excellent place to show your support for local artists and designers by buying tons of cool merchandise. Everything imaginable is available at the Expo, from clothing, posters, plush toys and independently published graphic novels to themed jewelry and collectible playing cards. You can even get some sweet body or face art done at the Expo in order to pump up the authenticity of your costume.

If you’ve never been to a convention there are a few things you should know. First, cosplay is encouraged but not mandatory so don’t get intimidated by those who choose to dress up. No one will judge you whether your outfit is incredibly intricate or last minute. I can never finalize a character I want to cosplay and always end up putting together a shoddy, last minute costume — and nobody seems to care.

Second, never feel ashamed about asking someone for pictures. If you see something cool and wish to capture the moment — go for it! Most people love it when someone recognizes and appreciates the effort they put into their costume and are happy to pose with you.

For photo opportunities with celebrities however, you will have to shell out a bit of cash. Photo ops as well as autograph signings are available for purchase closer to the event weekend, so be sure to purchase a ticket in order to meet your favorite actor, cosplayer or artist.

Third, this is a two-day convention so it would be best to plan out your days according to what you want to see most on the first day. If the set schedules allow, don’t make my rookie mistake of going to artist alley and the vendors on opening day as it will be insanely busy.

Finally, take this convention as the perfect opportunity to make friends with like-minded people. It can be tough, especially in a small city like Saskatoon, to find many comic book fanatics — so events like these are a good place to start. I made most of my friends at anime and comic clubs here at the University of Saskatchewan and made more by going to nerdacons.

The Comic Expo gives the residents of Saskatoon a unique opportunity to celebrate their passion for an art form that isn’t as prominent as other mediums such as film, studio art and performance art. Attending the Expo could mean immersing yourself in a world that you know and love or exploring a whole new approach to art and creation that you may never have known otherwise. Either way, it is a valuable and fun way to enjoy a weekend. Hope to see you all there!

Check out the SaskExpo’s website at saskexpo.com for more information. Tickets are available online until Sept. 18 or in-store at Unreal City, 8th Street Comics & Books and Amazing Stories.

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Photo: Flickr/Loren Javier