Comic conventions always create a sense of community; the unique and close atmosphere of geek culture is something that few things in this world can match. July kicked off with not only Independence Day weekend excitement, but also the Florida Supercon, where people came dressed in their respective fan communities — from Game of Thrones to Star Wars.
Walking in felt almost normal, despite the fact that there was a guy in an incredibly elaborate “Do It Yourself” getup of what could only be assumed as a retro Transformer robot. Somewhere else in the entrance hall was someone dressed head to toe in a Nick Wilde furry costume from “Zootopia”, which may be the most ghastly thing to exist since bolo ties. And yet with all of this, it still felt inviting and positively fun.
It’s not unusual to see celebrity guests in attendance to speak at panels, meet fans and sign pictures and merchandise. Cons, short for conventions, even usually feature them.
This year’s Supercon guest list was extensive: three leads from this year’s “Deadpool”: Morena Baccarin, also on FOX’s “Gotham”, Brianna Hildebrand as the Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and Stefan Kapicic as Colossus.
Other guests included Baccarin’s co-star and lead on “Gotham” Ben McKenzie, William Shatner, and famous voice actresses Tara Strong and Paige O’Hara.
Another voice actor who was available for fan meetings was Jim Cummings, whose work in voicing animated characters is renowned. His most famous work has been in Walt Disney Animation for beloved characters such as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, and for the obscure but still as widely admired, Darkwing Duck.
“It’s interesting to see what really touches people,” said Cummings in an interview with FIU Student Media. He recalled his first convention where fans had unexpectedly asked him to recall a line from the 1998 video game, “Baldur’s Gate”, instead of his more iconic roles. “They grew up on all my crazy cartoons and voices.”
Cummings also talked about the culture that resonates in these conventions. The admiration and love for a movie, television show, or any media, comes to a sort of nexus here.
People dress up in simple or elaborate costumes because this is the place to do it, it’s an environment where people understand it. Anywhere else, it might seem weird to dress like a fox from a Disney movie, but at Supercon, it’s not any more weird than being clad in black and carrying around a crossguard lightsaber.
Comic Con goers love these characters and the actors who brought them to life. Though people may not have been familiar with Cummings and his work, they still came because of the legacy he has and that’s something that is valued and love at these conventions.
After speaking with the man behind Winnie the Pooh, it really is interesting to see what touches people. That is what made Supercon a great experience.
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