ENTERTAINMENT

Wizard World Comic Con to return in 2016

Courtney Crowder, and Joe Lawler

Adriana Meza, 27 of Des Moines, center, holds her daughter Janelle Flores, 3, as they get their photo taken with the Iowa League of Heroes at the Wizard World Comic Con inside the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines on Friday, June 12, 2015. Brian Powers/The Register

When Wizard World Comic Con closed Sunday, the nerdy convention wasn't bidding Des Moines goodbye.

Instead, the con and its organizers were only saying until next time.

After a geektastic weekend of panels, comics, celebrity sightings and cosplay galore, Wizard World announced the convention will return to Des Moines next year on May 13-15.

"We had very high expectations for Wizard World Comic Con Des Moines, but somehow the fans exceeded those," said Wizard World CEO John Macaluso. "Attendees, exhibitors, artists and celebrities agree that this was a fabulous first show, and we're excited about coming back next May."

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Thousands of con-goers — most donning an article or two that displayed their geekery, but some dressed completely as their favorite comic characters — flooded the inaugural Wizard World held over the weekend at the Iowa Events Center. Three-day passes for the popular event sold out weeks before Wizard World arrived, while Saturday admission sold out in the days leading up to the convention.

Miss Iowa Autumn Weaver-Nigro, 24, posed for endless pictures and played with young comic fans while dressed as Wonder Woman. Deaf since birth, Weaver-Nigro said going to cons and participating in cosplay (a term for the hobby of making and wearing your own costumes) helped her gain self-confidence and come to terms with the bullying she endured in school.

"I might be a pageant girl, but I'm also a nerd," she said. "I love comic books, fantasy, sci-fi, all of that. And when I cosplay I can be whoever and I can do whatever I want. It makes me feel powerful, almost like I can do anything."

Indeed, the convention was marked by an overwhelming sense of joy. Smiles, high fives and words of encouragement flowed like webs from Spider-Man's wrists.

"Nerds are so accepting of everything because, let's be honest, we've all been picked on and thrown in lockers," said Alexa Heart, a professional cosplayer who hosted packed panels on the subject at the convention. "Every time I go to a con, I get to meet totally awesome people, and it's just the coolest release for me. It's almost therapeutic."

Jeff Schipman, 41, agreed: "This con is busy and pretty big. Bigger than I expected. I'm having a great time. I'm networking with like-minded people and talking about my favorite movies, and it's just a lot of fun."

Schipman, who drove in from Omaha, said he has heard a bit of jealousy in Nebraska that Des Moines got Wizard World and Omaha didn't. "I don't mind," he said. "I drove here, I'm fine."

Jim Hawk, 47, dressed as Rick Grimes of "The Walking Dead," came to the convention early Friday to scope out the lines and get the lay of the convention floor before his scheduled photo op with Michael Cudlitz, who plays Abraham Ford on AMC's zombie apocalypse series.

"I've met a few people who've never been to a convention before and they all seem to be having fun," said Hawk, a longtime con attendee.

Cosplayers were out in full force over the weekend, with multiple Batmen and Supermen, Pokemon characters, Starfleet officers, Hogwarts students and even a Rancor (the giant monster Luke fought in "Return of the Jedi") wondering the floor. Fans who didn't want to shell out $40-$80 for a picture with a celebrity seemed perfectly content to pose with the amateur superheroes, Jedis, and Vulcans that filled the aisles.

Near the back of the exhibitor area, Sean Eike and the Iowa Cosplay group, which included a Squirrel Girl and a pair of Captain Americas, compared outfits with fellow costumers and offered tips for those looking to get involved in the cosplay world.

"Des Moines and Iowa are responding (to the con) and everyone is excited," Eike said. "There are a lot of people here, and people who've been up for hours and are still up and still excited. It's awesome."

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The attendance wasn't made up of just Iowans either. Mary Good Chase, who was volunteering at a Wizard World booth, said she met people from all over, including a couple who drove up from Austin, Texas, for the event.

"I love Iowa," said Heart, who lives in St. Louis. "I actually bought a table (to sell my handmade bags) because I wanted to be here for the first convention in Des Moines. I want to support conventions in the Midwest and in Iowa."

Many exhibitors and vendors said business was good throughout the weekend.

"It's been phenomenal, way better than I expected," said Cam Adams, 28, an artist selling prints and on-demand drawings. "I am selling a lot more than I anticipated. I've sold about a dozen original drawings, which is great. I never sell that many originals."

"The foot traffic has just been amazing," said Andrew Smith, 31, who was working the Iowa Ghostbusters booth. (The Iowa Ghostbusters are a "Ghostbusters" fan group.) "We brought a ton of promotional materials and fliers, and we were wiped out a day and a half into the convention."

The chance to meet a favorite celebrity was another big draw for comic fans attending the convention. From Brandon Routh and Dean Cain to Seth Rollins and William Shatner, the stars at the con represented a wide variety of fandoms and age groups.

"I'm star-struck," said one man asking a question of Shatner, who had the audience in stitches for his hourlong presentation. "This is a very big deal for me."

"I got a picture and an autograph from Jason David Frank (who played the Green Ranger on 'Power Rangers')," said Keifer Van Hanawalt. "I've been a fan since I was 3 years old. I wanted to cry in happiness."

While Saturday was the busiest day for Wizard World (as it is in every city the con travels to), the crush of fans walking in and out of the Events Center stayed constant throughout the weekend.

"We need the whole building, maybe even Wells Fargo Arena," Hawk said. "We could put more stuff out. We could have more booths."

"I'll definitely be back next year," Hawk said, sharing a sentiment felt by many at Wizard World.

You see, Des Moines isn't bidding Wizard World goodbye.

The city's only saying until next time.