Family fun at SW-FloridaCon – Naples Florida Weekly

SW-FloridaCon offers a full day of family entertainment Nov. 27th, with free admission for kids under 11 years old. COURTESY PHOTO

When the first comic book conventions started decades ago, they catered to nerdy types with specialized interests. Since then, comic cons have grown exponentially in popularity and scope. Fueled by the success of superhero movies, episodic television shows like “Stranger Things” and addictive video games, the comic cons of today have become part of the mainstream culture and a source of enjoyment for young and old.

Celebrating this vibrant pop culture, SW-FloridaCon comes to Fort Myers Sunday, Nov. 27, for a full day of family entertainment featuring more than 100 industry vendors, panel discussions with insiders and a cosplay contest where everyone is invited to dress as their favorite character and compete for prizes.

According to founder and show promoter Carmine De Santo, the biggest draw is the lineup of celebrities coming for Q&A sessions and meet-and-greets. Fans love to get up close and personal with artists, taking selfies and getting their memorabilia autographed. Among the most anticipated appearances are Howard Mackie, the creator of Marvel’s “Ghost Rider”; Linda Young, anime voice actor for “Dragon Ball Z”, an animated Japanese action/adventure series that has enjoyed international acclaim; Batman artist Jerry Bingham; and actress Vanessa Angel, who made a name for herself in such 1990s movies as “Kingpin” and “Weird Science”.

Fans of all ages can enjoy dressing up and seeing others dress up at SW-FloridaCon. In addition, guests may visit booths with classic comic books, toys and fun collectible items, in addition to attending panels and meeting stars. COURTESY PHOTOS

Also on tap is a roster of influential, professional cosplayers from Southwest Florida, including Fort Myers’ own Avera Cosplay, who has won numerous international competitions and is considered a leader of the local cosplay community; Joel Xero, a Mortal Kombat cosplayer from Sarasota; and Geeks to Gods, also from Fort Myers, who will not only attend in full costume but also bring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle car, which he owns. Members of the 501st Legion, a Disney parody group that suits up like Star Wars characters, will also be there.

“People love to come and see these folks because of all the effort and work that they put into their cosplay,” says Mr. De Santo. “We’re having a panel discussion led by Avera Cosplay, where they will discuss getting started in cosplay, from crafting and upcycling to store-bought costumes, what to know about social media, what to expect at cons, photo shoots, how to grow as an artist, and just generally how to become a professional cosplayer, because a lot of people want to do this for a living. It’s a very popular session.”

Anime fandom is growing steadily among the younger generations, and Mr. De Santo expects many youngsters to dress as their favorite characters and celebrate famous anime like Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer and Dragon Ball Z. “It’s fun to dress up and to see everybody dressed up,” Mr. De Santo says. “Everybody is always taking a lot of pictures.”

At 4 pm, anyone wearing a costume is welcome to enter the cosplay contest free of charge and compete in one of four categories—best cartoon, best comic book, best kid and best group. Winners will receive trophies and bragging rights, but everyone is guaranteed to have a lot of fun, Mr. De Santo says.

The partying will commence at SW-FloridaCon Nov. 27 in Fort Myers. Dress up and enjoy the show, get autographs and meet some stars. COURTESY PHOTOS

Throughout the day, kids of all ages are invited to try their luck and skill in the game room. Sponsored and run by a local company called Dragon’s Lair, there will be tournaments in numerous role-playing and card games, including Dungeons & Dragons, Pokemon, Magic the Gathering, Digimon and more.

Appealing to serious collectors as well as regular fans, more than 100 vendors from around the country are expected at the SW-FloridaCon representing all the major fandoms and selling comic books, toys, sports cards, statutes, jewelry, apparel, posters, crafts and gaming gear. About 20 to 25 local artists will populate what Mr. De Santo calls Artist’s Alley. “That’s another important part of the show, because these are talented young artists that want to get into the comic book world or to the animation world, and they want to be seen by professionals. They do paintings, drawings, animation cells—anything to get into the pop culture world.”

Items purchased at the show or brought from home can be signed by celebrities. “Fans of Ghost Rider, for example, may want to bring their comic books, toys or other memorabilia to get it signed by its creator, Howard Mackie. We have a company called Alpha Omega that authenticates anything that gets signed that day, which will substantially increase the value of that toy or collectible because it was signed by its creator,” Mr. De Santo says, adding, “For some people, this is like an investment. I’ve been saying this for 15 years now: There’s more money in comic books and toys than in gold and silver. Just recently, a Superman comic that came out in 1938 for 10 cents sold for $3.4 million, and a Mickey Mantle baseball card that came out in 1950 sold for $12.6 million.”

For Mr. De Santo who has been running comic cons all over the country since 1989, the growth of these events has been exciting to watch. “It’s a whole new world. It’s not just comic books anymore. Now it’s apparel, jewelry, young artists that want to get into the business, gaming, board games,” he says. “This is a family event. Kids under 11 get in free. If you’re looking for anything for your cave man or woman, or you want to experience a whole new world of pop culture, this is a great show to get your foot into it and understand the collectors’ world and also the fandom-based world, all under one roof. It’s a great day. People love it.”

SW-FloridaCon begins at 10 am and ends at 5 pm Tickets, which are $20 for adults and $10 for youth, may be purchased at the door or online at www.swfloridacomiccon.com. Kids under 11 get in free. There is also a $50 VIP ticket for serious collectors that want an early entry at 9:30 am to get a head start on rare items, celebrity signatures or bargains. Parking is free, and food trucks will be on hand to provide refreshments throughout the day. ¦

In the KNOW

“SW FloridaCon”

» When: Sunday, November 27, 10 am to 5 pm

» Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers

» Tickets: Adults $20, Youth $10, kids under 11 free, VIP $50

» Information or to purchase tickets: info@swfloridacomiccon.com or www.swfloridacomiccon.com

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