Dave’s Comics in Fort Mill presents 14th annual Charlotte Comiccon
Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman, Iron Man, Captain America and the Hulk will be making special guest appearances Sunday at the Charlotte Winter Comicon.
Well, their likeness will be there, anyway.
If you’re a comic book fan yourself or just want to treat your family to a fun filled day out. Doors open at 10 a.m. at the Crown Plaza Executive Park Hotel in Charlotte.
If you’ve never attended a comicon before, come prepared to see thousands of comic books for sale, from 50-cent books to rare, prized gems that go for thousands of dollars. In addition to books, there are also handcrafted items, local artists, toys galore and hundreds of people in costume, cosplayers, dressed as their favorite characters. If cosplay is your thing, there are contests for just that, plus giveaways.
The comicon itself is put on by Fort Mill’s Dave Hinson, owner of the Main Street comic book shop, Dave’s Comics, and his partner for shows, Rick Fortenberry. This is the 14th year for this show and the Dave-Rick duo have put on over 50 shows, averaging about three a year. Hinson aims to give his shows a more local flare and support a family friendly environment; in fact his favorite part about putting on shows are seeing all the kids getting excited about comic books. Fortenberry offers the following advice for comicon newbies, “Come out and relive your childhood.”
There’s also a very special geeky rivalry going on this year at the Winter Comicon: the 501st Legion Carolina Garrison, the preferred Star Wars costuming group, and the Klingon Assault Group, an international Star Trek fan club, will be competing for who can collect the most toys for needy children this year.
The Carolina Garrison has been involved in children’s charity from the beginning, due to their founder’s daughter, Katie, having an inoperable brain tumor. Katie’s sister Allie actually had the R2 builders build her sister a pink R2 unit to watch over her sister in her last days, just like the likeness from the film. The R2-KT unit has since been all over the world helping to raise money for the Make a Wish foundation, which is the 501st Legion’s largest charity.
There will be approximately six members from the Carolina Garrison in attendance in full Star Wars gear, along with Vader Clause who’s got his “Rebel and Nice list” accepting donations of unwrapped, new toys for the Make a Wish Foundation.
The Klingon Assault Group (KAG), which celebrated it’s 25th year anniversary this past October, will be in attendance with Zantai Klawz, taking donations of unwrapped, new toys for the Toys for Tots charity.
KAG is an international group that is divided into Fleets and Quadrants based on location. The local KAG is the Dark Star Quadrant and they focus heavily on charity work as well, mostly raising money for the Catawba Regional Hospice and Toys for Tots at Christmas.
There will also be independent vendors at the show using proceeds for similar organizations and underprivileged children in our area. All in all, the show consistently proves to be a great experience and you can help make this year better for needy children all over!
Admission is $5 and children and cosplayers get in for free.
This story was originally published December 11, 2014 at 5:42 PM.