No laughing matter
Comic Con draws thousands to City Center in biannual return
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.» More than 5,000 enthusiasts gathered over the weekend at the Saratoga Springs City Center for the latest Saratoga Comic Con.
The convention, presented by Chase Con, was founded by Saratoga County resident Samuel Chase in 2014. Since then, it has grown into a biannual event that brings ever-growing crowds of comic, gaming, anime and science fiction fans.
Some of the big draws were a Stranger Things wall, the Montreal X-Men cosplay group, celebrity guests Costas Mandylor from the “Saw” films and David Sobolov, who plays Gorilla Grodd in the current television version of “The Flash.”
The two-day event attracted thousands, many of them cosplayers who came in costume as their favorite comic book, movie or video game character.
First-time event-goer George Flint of Ballston Spa came as Marvel superhero Star-Lord on Saturday, then explored a new armored viking warrior look Sunday. Both, he said, were popular with fellow patrons.
“It’s my first time ever coming to one of these, and it was like actually everything I was expecting. It was awesome,” Flint said on Sunday. “It’s amazing.”
Flint enjoyed admiring others’ costumes, as well.
“The different takes on people’s costumes are pretty cool.” he said.
Now that he’s part of the comic con culture, Flint plans to be back for the next Saratoga Comic Con.
Also attending her first-ever comic convention was 8-year-old Shyan McFall of Argyle. McFall wore a bright yellow Pikachu costume Sunday and was most excited about purchasing some new Pokémon cards at the event.
Shyan’s mother, Martha Dunbar, has been to several Saratoga Comic Cons in the past and decided it was time to bring her daughter along, as she showed an interest and seemed excited.
Clifton Park resident John Lawrence, who was dressed as supervillain Penguin on Sunday, has traveled to other comic cons in Boston and New York City, but always likes coming to Saratoga Comic Con because it is in his home county.
“It’s fun. It’s local,” he said, commenting that there was a good number of vendors on-site “and a lot of fun people.”
Everyone was loving Lawrence’s purple Penguin costume on Sunday for its nostalgia. The day before, he broke away from the comic theme and went as one half of The Blues Brothers, which was a hit, as well.
Chase first started Saratoga Comic Con because he felt the area could use one. Looking around at the crowds of people walking throughout the venue Sunday, he said, “Now you can see what the community has to offer.”
In the future, Chase said his goal is to keep making the convention bigger and bigger and to simply bring the community together.
Planning will begin soon for the next Saratoga Comic Con, scheduled for April 7-8, 2018, at the City Center. More information on Saratoga Comic Con is available online at www.saratogacomiccon.com.