A New Approach to the Vendor Floor

(Guest Post by Ken)

This was my fifth year attending FanExpo Dallas and bringing my children with me. They’ve become quite enthusiastic fans of the event each year and ask repeatedly when it will be happening to make sure I still plan on bringing them again.

Some of the reasons for their enthusiasm I understand. They love looking at all the cosplay. They love a lot of the activities sponsored for kids (this year’s new addition that became their favorite was a con-themed magic show). They have even enjoyed some of the panel discussions even if those aren’t always geared towards kids. All of those things make sense to me.

And then there is one part they love that does not compute for me at all: the vendor floor. In case you’ve never been a fan convention, the vendor floor constitutes a shockingly large percentage of the total area of the convention filled with literally hundreds of small merchant booths pressed together on either side of surprisingly narrow walkways. The original sales draw of such conventions was comic book, and there are still many of those. But there are also dozens of other specialties: collectible toys, custom art in many shapes and sizes (and 90% of it having a very questionable relationship with trademark law), trading cards, cosplay accessories, custom dice for tabletop RPGs, and much, much more.

Now, some of my children’s enthusiasm I understand because I have let them make some small purchases so years, so I guess at least some of the thrill comes from dad-sponsored shopping (they’ve also sometimes brought some of their own saved-up cash funds to supplement my meager disbursal). But their excitement for the vendor floor is not purely contained to the thrill of spending, because even after they’ve spent what little they have and I’ve supplied, they would choose to remain among the vendors for hours if I let them. And that’s something I could not understand, but I’m trying.

To me, the vendor floor has always been the number one place to try to avoid. It is loud. It is saturated with products to an overstimulating degree. It is claustrophobically crowded to a degree that gives me anxiety and slows one’s pace to a staggering crawl. Finally, it’s entire purpose is to attempt to sell things to you—and I hate being sold to. I get anxiety when salespeople knock on my door or when I see the internet guy staked out at the store trying to get me to switch. The vendor floor is thousands of square feet of salespeople, which I’m pretty sure must constitute one of Dante’s circles of hell.

Nonetheless, whatever their reason, my kids wanted to walk through and look at all the booths and I allowed it in the name of trying to be a good dad. Was it just as crowded and noisy and overstimulating as ever? Absolutely. But somehow this year I managed to hate it less.

What changed? I think it began as I watched my children spend a solid fifteen minutes just perusing in awe through binders of rare collectible Pokémon cards. Watching the wonder on their faces began to alter my perspective on the whole area to frame is less as an overbearing and bizarre bazaar, and more as a museum of fandom. Even if they knew they weren’t going to purchase anything else, my kids loved seeing so many things related to things they are fans of.

I also now have a co-worker who regularly rents booths at these types of events for his custom 3D prints he creates and I’ve started to get a clearer view into the craftsmanship that goes into the creation of so many things presented on the floor. Some of what he designs on his computer and prints is stunning and amazing and I see many examples among the booths of such great artistry that is worth taking some time to admire.

That said, not all booths represent overwhelmingly admirable craftsmanship to admire and the 3D printed wares are a perfect example—some are filled with originally designed items that can be stunning and unique, while others are stocked to the brim with dime-a-dozen downloaded designs they found on the internet with now effort for the same old 3D printed items that are becoming eye-rollingly common. Another worrying trend is the clear increase in AI-slop products I saw this year, which distract and pull attention from the true great work of the real artists who’ve been selling their talents for years since long before AI started threatening their profitability with cheaper, worse products not requiring the same level of attention or care to create.

Will I still get some anxiety next time I visit the vendor floor at a future con? Absolutely. But hopefully I can emulate my children a bit in also approaching it with a bit more of an eye of wonder for the wonderful things created. And if you find yourself on a vendor floor yourself, perhaps with intent to purchase, I recommend lending your patronage to the real artists and not the AI generated knockoffs threatening their livelihoods.

Oh, and for curious minds wondering what my kids purchased this year: they each purchased a classic comic book (the particular choices were Guardians of the Galaxy, Transformers, and Wonder Woman) and they found a Lego Minifig vendor from whom they purchased several favorite characters for themselves (Gandalf, Galinda from Wicked, and a Minecraft Chicken) plus a Bluey and Bingo for their youngest siblings still too small for me to bring.

More Content You Might Like:

• "Braver Than Their Dad: Fan Expo Dallas 2026" by Luis
• "Shopping for My Kids at Fan Expo Dallas" by Spencer
• "Dos and Don'ts of Comic Con" by Ken

Across the Multiverse: Fan Expo Dallas

]

(Guest Post by Curtis)

How Dallas Fan Expo Reminded Me That Sometimes the Best Things Aren’t What We’re Searching For

There is something truly awesome about attending a comic convention with friends. For a few hours, the ordinary rules of reality seem to bend. Superheroes walk among us, villains become celebrities, and entire universes collide beneath one convention center roof. At the 2026 Dallas Fan Expo, I found myself surrounded by the incredible worlds of Marvel, DC, anime, gaming, and pop culture. Everywhere I turned, there was another character to recognize, another artist to admire, and another piece of nostalgia waiting to transport me back to childhood.

But I wasn’t there simply to admire the multiverse. I had a mission. I was searching for a Black-Suit Peter Parker Spider-Man Funko Pop for my nephew.

Simple enough, right?

As any superhero fan knows, however, even the simplest missions have a way of becoming origin stories.

The Mission is a (Spider) Man

In the Marvel universe, Peter Parker has worn many suits. The classic red and blue. The advanced technological suits. The Iron Spider armor. And, of course, the iconic black suit, a darker version of the familiar costume that carries its own fascinating history.

The black suit represents something more than a costume change. It symbolizes transformation, hidden potential, and the delicate line between power and responsibility. It is a reminder that even our favorite heroes can become something unexpected when circumstances change.

That made finding the Black-Suit Spider-Man Funko Pop feel like the perfect mission.

I had a specific target in mind, and I was determined to find it. Walking into Fan Expo, I imagined myself navigating a maze of collectible displays, hunting through boxes, scanning shelves, and eventually spotting that unmistakable black-and-white spider emblem.

In my mind, the ending was already written.

My friends and I would locate the figure, secure the prize so I could deliver it to my nephew. Mission accomplished. Heroic music would play somewhere in the background. Somewhere in the multiverse, Peter Parker would give an approving nod.

Unfortunately, reality had a different script.

Searching Through the Multiverse

Dallas Fan Expo was filled with enough collectibles to make even Tony Stark consider expanding his storage space. Vendors displayed everything from rare comics and original artwork to action figures, memorabilia, and Funko Pops representing characters from nearly every corner of popular culture.

Every booth offered another possibility.

I continued searching - maybe the next vendor would have it. Maybe the figure was hiding behind another character. Maybe one more aisle would bring me face-to-face with exactly what I had come to find.

But the Black-Suit Peter Parker Spider-Man remained elusive.

Eventually, I encountered a figure that wasn’t what I had envisioned: a Venomized Miles Morales Funko Pop.

Now, if you’re familiar with Marvel, you know Miles Morales is already an extraordinary character. He represents a new generation of Spider-Man, proving that the mask can belong to more than one person and that heroism isn’t restricted to a single identity. Add the visual influence of Venom, and you get something that feels like a collision between two powerful forces.

It was certainly cool. It was also not the figure I had been searching for.

/My original plan had been straightforward: find Black-Suit Peter Parker, buy Black-Suit Peter Parker, give Black-Suit Peter Parker to my nephew. Venomized Miles Morales wasn’t part of the plan.

But sometimes the universe doesn’t care about your plan.

The Unexpected Plot Twist

I brought home the Venomized Miles Morales Funko Pop and mailed it off, and here’s where the story took a turn worthy of a Marvel post-credits scene.

My nephew liked it even more than the figure I had originally intended to find.

The thing I hadn’t been looking for turned out to be the better choice.

I had spent my time focused on one particular outcome, convinced that I knew exactly what would make the mission a success. Yet the actual outcome exceeded my expectations in a way I hadn’t anticipated.

In superhero storytelling, we often see this happen when a character’s journey takes an unexpected turn. Peter Parker doesn’t always get the life he wants. Tony Stark doesn’t always emerge from a battle with the outcome he planned. The Avengers themselves discover that saving the universe sometimes requires abandoning the strategy they thought would work.

The detours become part of the story.

My little Funko Pop adventure wasn’t exactly an Avengers-level threat, but the lesson was surprisingly familiar.

I went looking for one thing and found something else. And the person I was trying to make happy preferred the unexpected discovery.

Sometimes, the plot twist is the point.

The Problem With Having a Script

How often do we approach life the same way I did at Dallas Fan Expo?

We identify something we want, create a mental picture of what success looks like, and begin working toward it. We establish a destination, develop a strategy, and convince ourselves that happiness is waiting at the end of that particular road.

Maybe it’s a job we believe will finally make us successful. A relationship we think will complete our story. A business opportunity we are certain will change everything. A particular milestone, possession, or achievement that becomes the centerpiece of our expectations.

There is nothing wrong with having goals. In fact, goals give us direction. Without them, we risk wandering through life without ever pursuing the things that matter to us.

The problem begins when we become so attached to one version of success that we stop recognizing it in other forms.

We become convinced that there is only one acceptable ending. In the language of the multiverse, we fixate on a single timeline and forget that countless other possibilities might exist.

What if the job you didn’t get would have kept you from an opportunity better suited to your talents? What if the door that closed forced you to discover a skill you never knew you possessed? What if the plan that fell apart was making room for something you couldn’t have imagined when you first started?

We cannot always know the significance of a detour while we’re living through it. Sometimes, all we can see is the thing we didn’t get.

Every Universe Has a Different Story

One of the most fascinating ideas in superhero fiction is the multiverse: the possibility that countless versions of reality exist, each containing different choices, consequences, and outcomes.

In one universe, Peter Parker might make one decision. In another, he might choose differently. Each path creates a different story, with its own victories, losses, and unexpected discoveries.

Our lives aren’t quite as neatly divided into comic-book panels, but the metaphor is powerful.

Every decision opens certain doors and closes others. Every unexpected circumstance creates possibilities we might never have considered. And every disappointment can become the beginning of a story we didn’t know we needed to tell.

We spend so much time wondering what would have happened if we’d gotten the thing we wanted that we sometimes overlook the beauty of what actually happened.

Perhaps the opportunity we missed wasn’t our only chance at happiness. Perhaps the person we met by accident will become one of the most important people in our lives. Perhaps the alternative we initially dismissed will eventually become the very thing we’re grateful we discovered.

We don’t have to believe that everything happens for a reason to recognize that something meaningful can come from an unexpected outcome.

Sometimes, life doesn’t give us the ending we requested. It gives us the opportunity to write a different one. And occasionally, that ending is even better.

Keep Searching, But Stay Open

My experience at Dallas Fan Expo didn’t teach me to abandon my goals or stop pursuing the things I want. I’ll probably keep an eye out for that Black-Suit Peter Parker Funko Pop, because the hunt isn’t necessarily over.

But I walked away with something more valuable than the collectible I had originally imagined buying.

I was reminded that the purpose of a mission isn’t always limited to the object we’re pursuing. Sometimes, the real reward is the experience, the discovery, or the happiness we get to share with loved ones along the way.

I went to Dallas searching for one Spider-Man and came home with another. My nephew was happier than I expected, and I gained a reminder that will stay with me long after each year’s convention floor is packed away.

So, by all means, set your goals. Chase your dreams. Put on the suit, study the map, and embark on the adventure. Just don’t become so obsessed with finding your Black-Suit Spider-Man that you overlook the Venomized Miles Morales standing right in front of you. Because life is full of unexpected crossovers, alternate timelines, and plot twists that no amount of planning could have predicted.

You may be pursuing one particular future, convinced that it is the only one worth having. But somewhere along the journey, you might discover an opportunity, a relationship, an experience, or a new direction that makes you grateful things didn’t go according to plan.

And maybe that’s the real superpower: not controlling every outcome, but having the courage to recognize something extraordinary when it appears in an unexpected form.

After all, even the greatest superheroes don’t always get to choose how their stories unfold.

They simply have to decide what they’ll do next.

More Content You Might Like:

• "Something For Everyone: Fan Expo Dallas" by Ryan
• "Dallas Takes Center Stage: A Nostalgic Reunion" by Jason
• "Mischief Managed - My Riddikulus Experience at the Dallas Fan Expo" by Curtis

A Voice of My Childhood: Jim Cummings

(Guest Post by Tyler)

Hey y’all, Tyler here – your resident Bulbasaur writer! It’s been a bit, but I was so glad to be join FanExpo Dallas again this year.

I didn’t quite have much time to put together a costume. So I ended up wearing a Bulbasaur cap that Spencer was sweet enough to get for me for my birthday (I truly do not deserve him), and building the rest of my fit around that. It’s been a couple of years since I wrote my article “Bulbasaur at the Zoo” for this blog – and now, I have “become” the Bulbasaur at the zoo. Poetic, right?

This year, schedules didn’t line up well for our crew, so I couldn’t meet up with everyone. I ended up mostly walking around with my brother, who hadn’t ever been to a comic con before. I enjoyed showing him around, and we appreciated seeing the creativity of so many people in their costumes and their merchandise. When life’s so crazy, it’s refreshing to be able to be with people to just “enjoy” things.

For me, the highlight will always be walking the vendor floor. But this year, I was also able to do something different. I attended a panel by the incredible voice actor, Jim Cummings.

Jim is known for many voices from several different properties. Some of them include:

• Winnie the Pooh
• Tigger 
• The Tasmanian Devil
• Ray in The Princess and the Frog
• Hondo Ohnaka in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels

There are literally hundreds more. During this panel, I was looking up his IMDB and Wikipedia page and realizing how many more characters I knew but hadn’t realized were his voice. He talked about his processes of voicing some of these characters. He would do some physical movements and even stand like the character to really project that character’s essence into his voice. Something he shared as well that found interesting is that he never read the scripts before doing a recording session. He explained that these scripts can be hundreds of pages long, so he would just make sure he could get in character beforehand and just read it as they go along.

It was fun to listen to him share some of his experiences as a voice actor. He talked about one time doing voice work for a movie, but actually his part ended up getting cut entirely from the work. He unfortunately didn’t find out about this until the movie premiere, which he attended with his family. The director didn’t see him until after the viewing and apologized for notifying him earlier. (I am writing this weeks after the comic con, but if I remember right, it was for the movie Surfs Up, about the surfing penguins). He also told about a time that they misspelled his name in the credits of the final cut of a movie, even when he was a pretty well-established name in the industry. (Imagine the intern that was probably fired for almost offending a legend in the voice acting industry).

I was absolutely excited to be there. While I am your in-house Bulbasaur writer today, I love many different fandoms. But one of my first was actually Winnie the Pooh. My mom actually nicknamed me her Pooh Bear growing up – because I would love watching the movies, and because I would do nothing but eat and sleep all the time. He did end up doing the voice for us, as well as a couple of others, and it felt incredible to hear it live. (And in an appropriate setting, at least. I would have hated to be one of “those fans” who goes up to him outside of a panel and beg him, “Do the voice!!!”).

It was also humanizing to see him as just a person, talking normally and joking around. As silly as it is to say, I had to remember that he is just the voice of Winnie the Pooh and other characters. He is not those characters themselves. This was especially interesting to me, because sometimes he would say jokes that weren’t necessarily distasteful, but were a bit more off-colored than what you would hear in a Winnie the Pooh show.

(Nolan North, another voice actor, was also on the panel. But I was focused more on Jim, so I didn’t take any notes)

In the end, I was really glad to be able to do something different than I have at cons before. To sum it all up, I just say: while it’s cool to see the actors who voice your favorite characters or play as your favorite characters, I hope that you yourself stay attuned to the voice of your own inner child.

(My inner child is saying to go eat something and take a nap. Good to know that I still have a bit of Pooh Bear in me).

More Content You Might Like:

• "Something For Everyone: Fan Expo Dallas" by Ryan
• "Dallas Takes Center Stage: A Nostalgic Reunion" by Jason
• "How to Speed-Run a Comic Con" by Tyler

Braver Than Their Dad: Fan Expo Dallas 2026

(Guest Post by Luis)

Cons are my happy place: the costumes, the energy, the culture, the panels, the geekery, the creativity, the celebrities. Even though this was my 10th con, I still get a giddy thrill walking onto the floor. But I must confess, talking to celebrities makes me super nervous. What would I say? Could I be clever or quippy? Or would I crash and burn in a blaze of awkwardness? (Spoiler alert: crash and burn.)

That was confirmed on Friday. I was exploring the floor solo in my Red Power Ranger t-shirt when someone called out from a booth:

"Oh, hey, man." He was staring at my shirt. Before I registered it, I was talking to Steve Cardenas (Rocky) from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

"Hey there!" I said, with no idea what to say next. "How're you doing? How was Power Morphicon?"

He gave a quick, one-sentence answer that didn't give me much to work with. He was sharing the booth with David Fielding (Zordon) and Karan Ashley (Aisha). My brain ran out of words. So when he gestured to his prints for sale, and didn't want to get guilted into buying any of it, I made up some excuse and said I'd definitely be back.

I did not go back.

Saturday was a completely different con.

Put me in a panel audience, though, and I'm right at home. Panels are my favorite part of any con: the stories behind the shows, the panelists playing off each other, and those one or two cringey audience questions that never quite land.

This year I caught Larry Houston, one of the key players behind the original X-Men: The Animated Series and now a consultant on X-Men '97. He talked about what an uphill battle it was to get the show made. Fox Kids had little faith in it, but Margaret Loesch put her career on the line for it, just as she did for another little show called Power Rangers. (So apparently I owe her most of my childhood.)

I'm a sucker for theme songs and opening sequences, and we all know the X-Men intro is one of the all-time greats. When I first heard the revival's new intro, I was 10 years old all over again.

So I asked Larry what role he played in creating the original. His answer: he had one weekend to draw the whole thing out. One of my childhood's most iconic openings came together in a matter of days!

I offered to take my two older girls, and each of them got to bring a friend. I wanted them to experience what I love about cons, all the fandoms and vendors and costumes and everything.

My 15-year-old and her friend peeled off pretty quickly. But, my 11-year-old and her friend dragged me all over the vendor floor and Artist Alley. They found the VR station and played for a solid half hour, went to a Sailor Moon panel, then went straight back for more VR. I was basically their chauffeur for the day, and honestly, I loved it.

My 11-year-old is also braver than her dad. She really wanted a signed poster from Stephanie Sheh, the English voice of Sailor Moon in Sailor Moon Crystal. It was $70, so she offered to pay half up front and earn the other half. If she wanted it that much and was willing to work for it, that was that. She went home with her poster.

I, for the record, still don't have a Steve Cardenas-signed print.

All day she kept spotting cosplayers from Undertale and Deltarune, and she'd walk right up to tell them she loved their cosplay. She never once stopped to worry about being clever. She just told them what she felt.

Watching her, I thought about Friday and how much I worry about saying the right thing. Sometimes the right thing to say is just the thing you feel.

I've taken each of my older girls to a con before, separately. This was the first time I got to share one with both of them, fandoms, friends and all. There's no other place I'd rather be.

More Content You Might Like:

• "Shopping for My Kids at Fan Expo Dallas" by Spencer
• "Dallas Takes Center Stage: A Nostalgic Reunion" by Jason
• "Conventions are Better with a Friend" by Spencer
  

Something For Everyone: Fan Expo Dallas

(Guest Post by Ryan)

Another year and another Con down. Fan Expo Dallas 2026 has come and gone and it once again has not failed to disappoint. While it isn’t the biggest convention I’ve been to, it still hits that pivotal urge to be around people who have similar interests as you. It really is the geeky equivalent to a tailgate party for a sports event. Except with people in costumes and sweaty people packed together...wait. I guess they are the same. Just replace sports outfits for Batman and anime characters. And like sports you see people of all walks of life come together to show off their fandoms in full blast.

Each Con has its aspects that really scratch the itch of its goers. Do you want to meet one of your favorite actors from a tv show or anime? Well Fan Expo Dallas has that for you. Some of the stand outs were Nicholas Cage, Karl Urban and most of the Fellowship from Lord of the Rings. I personally got Sam Witwer, the voice of Darth Maul from Star Wars, autograph during my visit. It was a long wait but it was worth it. I did feel bad for Sam Witwer because he was under the weather but still showed up for the fans.

It is also interesting to see which actors are popular even years later after their roles have ended. Many of the English voice cast from the Death Note anime had long lines. I love to see the old shows get the love they deserve. But unless you have VIP status expect to be in line for a couple hours for quite a few of the actors. Or get to the con early to be one of the first in line. But just remember you might have to sacrifice other events at the con to wait in the line.

Speaking of other events, there are panels and activities galore for all ages. From actor panels to Pokemon Trivia, there is something for everyone of all ages and fandoms. Just have to plan around other activities you might want to attend. There are great photoshoots and games for kids and the kid in you. My nephews particularly love Star Wars so my brother took some pictures with members of the 501st Stormtrooper group and the Mandalorian legion. These were absolutely free and the craftsmanship of their armor is amazing. I wish I had the talent and the money to pull it off myself.

With that we can’t forget to mention the cosplays. While I have always loved geeky things, cosplay is what got me into going to cons. Seeing the hard work and dedication so many put into their costumes is an inspiration. I’ve cosplayed in the past myself and it was quite expensive and not as amazing as many you see walking around the convention floor. Though be aware there can be quite revealing costumes worn at conventions like these. So keep that in mind when bringing young children to these events. Also be respectful and ask for a picture when possible.

Lastly, there is the food and the collectables. From geeky named fudge to unlimited soda with purchase of a mug, there is something to satisfy your sweet tooth but punish your wallet. You can find all sorts of art and toys as well. So take a stroll down artists alley or visit one of the many vendor booths to drain your wallet but bring home something memorable. Keep in mind, some products can only be found at conventions like Dallas Expo so choose wisely. We picked up some custom Star Wars minifigs for my nephews and in the past I’ve bought some amazing artwork.

All in all I had a great time at this year's Fan Expo Dallas and am excited to attend next year. Hope to see you there.

More Content You Might Like:

• "Shopping for My Kids at Fan Expo Dallas" by Spencer
• "Dallas Takes Center Stage: A Nostalgic Reunion" by Jason
• "How to Speed-Run a Comic Con" by Tyler

Shopping for My Kids at Fan Expo Dallas

I had hoped to finally bring my daughter with me to Fan Expo last week for her first Con. However, when I picked her up from first grade with an ear infection, it was obvious she wasn't coming with me. So while I was wandering around the vendor floor, I had my children in mind. I told my wife I wanted to bring them back a surprise after being away all day Saturday at the Con. I had to keep it cheap (and ended up getting them cards of their favorite Pokemon) but I had some other fun ideas along the way.

Ever since my brother got my daughters Squishmallows of Clefairy and Teddiursa, they've been the girls' favorites. So my choice of TCG merch was obvious. Just wish I couldn't gotten the full evolution lines, but I couldn't find Ursaring. It was fun to look through the cards (and I got myself a Blastoise EX to finish off my Squirtle line).

Funko Pops are always a good choice for Con souvenir, but they can get pricey. Plus there are so many Pop vendors that I didn't dare search through them all for the right ones. Some might be cheap, but I didn't feel like navigating the vendor floor for the best deals.

Our baby boy is coming in October (just in time for Halloween) so I was severely tempted to get him a onesie or two. I mean, look at that "Halfling" onesie--I'm not even a big Lord of the Rings fan and it was tempting. Really the biggest reason I didn't come back for one of these was because I was tapped out physically before making my decision and just wanted to leave. I'll get him something geeky off our Amazon registry.

Artist Alley would have been a good place to go shopping for the kids' playroom. Let's be honest though, this purchase would have been for me, not them. Plus I would've probably only gotten one, instead of getting them both something.

Plush is a solid choice for any child and these crocheted snugglables would have been so loved. However, if you've seen my girls' closet, you know they don't need more toys to cuddle. 

My girls have seen bits and pieces of Harry Potter, so anything here would have been purely for me... I wish I'd gone back to get that Hufflepuff wallet. Puffs gonna puff.

Next year I'll have three kids to shop for at Fan Expo (and hopefully a second grader to bring with me). Any merch you like to get your kids? (PS: Ten points to your Hogwarts house if you recognize my cosplay)

More Content You Might Like:

• "Dallas Takes Center Stage: A Nostalgic Reunion" by Jason
• "How to Speed-Run a Comic Con" by Tyler
• "Dos and Don'ts of Comic Con" by Ken

Dallas Takes Center Stage: A Nostalgic Reunion

(Guest post by Jason)

Comic-cons have grown from niche gatherings into massive cultural events. Over the past few years, fan-centric conventions (focused on comics, gaming, anime, and pop culture) have seen consistent annual growth around 25%. What’s driving this surge? Nostalgia—an emotional connection to the past that’s drawing more people in each year.

Seventy-five percent of people say nostalgia makes them feel more connected to others and their identity. Comic-cons tap into that feeling, offering fans a chance to revisit the stories and characters that shaped their childhoods. Whether it’s classic cartoons or vintage video games, these events create a shared emotional experience.

Dallas’s own Comic-Con, Fan Expo, delighted fans by taking nostalgia to the next level via star power. The 40th-anniversary reunion of Back to the Future brought icons like Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, and Tom Wilson back into the spotlight. Attendees also met nostalgic cultural heavyweights—John Cena, Mr. T, Orlando Bloom, Tom Welling, and Zachary Levi.

To add to the nostalgic environment, fans went all in on cosplay, donning costumes from Marty McFly to Luke Skywalker to Wonder Woman. As I walked through the throngs of characters from yester year, I noticed that 90%+ of the merch being sold was featuring characters and stories from decades past. My favorite booth featured artistic depictions of pixilated characters from early video games, which immediately took me back to Saturday mornings with my brother trying to save princesses and knock out opponents.

Nostalgia isn’t just a trend—it’s the heartbeat of comic-con’s continued rise. With nostalgia at the core, events like Fan Expo Dallas do more than entertain—they reaffirm who we are and where we come from.

Mischief Managed - My Riddikulus Experience at the Dallas Fan Expo

(Guest post by Curtis)

I believe in the Holy Trinity of nerdism: 1) Star Wars, 2) Lord of the Rings, and 3) Harry Potter (my favorite being #3). Marvel is up there too, and if they can keep up the renewed momentum after Thunderbolts*, we might see somebody get overthrown. All this to say that I’m a huge movie nerd that likes to delve into deep lore, occasionally.

So naturally, when I heard some friends talk about going to this year’s Dallas Fan Expo, I would’ve used one of the 3 Unforgivable Curses on someone to be able to tag along. And man, was it the experience of a lifetime! Not only was the overall energy more illuminating than the tip of a wizard’s wand, but the fact that I was among so many fellow nerds of different factions (Potterheads, Trekkies, D&Ders, Middle-Earthlings, and more) reminded me that we’re all just as misunderstood creatures as spiders and dragons are.

But what made my first Comic-Con experience truly un-obliviate-able was the friends that came with me. And I not only left with a new wand to add to my growing collection, but with some newfound friends as well! 

Even though I was only able to stay for a couple hours, during that time we saw some legendary cosplay costumes, incredibly detailed memorabilia and replicas, extremely rare comics and famous celebrities that left me absolutely stupefied! If I had a time-turner, I’d spin that thing all day long just so I could relive what I witnessed and see everything I missed! 

To Harry, Hogwarts served as a reprieve; a glimpse of joy, purpose and belonging in a muggle world that, without his experience there, would have left him to live a miserable life in the cupboard at No. 4 Privet Drive. This probably explains my micro-experience at the Expo best. Though I’m sure my feet are too big to fit under any staircase, my soul has always longed for a truly magical, fun and welcoming relief from the world that has been my life lately. 

With that, what could be a better subtitle for this blog post than “My Riddikulus Experience at the Dallas Fan Expo”? If anything can take life’s moments of fear or darkness and turn them into joy, laughter and hope, it’s the magic of surrounding yourself with like-minded friends and savoring their company! 

So here’s my closing challenge to the dozens of people reading this: if an owl ever drops a letter off at your doorstep (meaning, if you ever have the opportunity) inviting you to go to your next local Comic-Con event - just go! I’d even invite some of those pesky death-eaters in your life. Who knows? Maybe they’ll finally see the light!

Mischief managed - Nox!

Can LARPing Change Your Life?

(Guest post by Ken)

Each year that I’ve brought my kids to Dallas Fan Expo, there is one absolute must-do activity: Jedi Padawan training, sponsored by the local chapter of the Saber Guild, a Star Wars live-action roleplay (LARP) organization. The kids line up and get practice sabers and are taught by what appear to them as 100% authentic Jedi some basic lightsaber moves and then have to pass a test of their skills. The Jedi training them then put on a combat show, facing off against some just-as-authentic looking Sith who interrupt the proceedings. 

The costumes and saber choreography are impressive each year and this year I took the time to talk with several of the participants and get to know them a bit better and learn about this Saber guild. What I learned was fascinating and reinforced for me the positive power that role-playing can have in multiple ways.

Why and how do people role-play? The reasons and means are broad and diverse. Roleplay can be basic and surface level; cosplay for example is, at its core, a very basic form of roleplay, and LOTS of people do that. Not just people who go to cons either—on October 31 most people you know suddenly become cosplayers and thus very basic role-players. But of course, the members of the Saber Guild I witnessed were roleplaying at a level far beyond cosplay. This was LARP-level in all its glory. 

LARPing comes in many forms and many fandoms, whether general medieval roleplays, or those tied to major franchises like Star Wars. The main difference between a cosplay and a full-fledged live-action roleplay is that with LARPing, you go beyond just dressing up and maybe adopting some behavioral tweaks. You become fully engaged in that role like an actor in a play, except there is no script. You’ve become a different person, an actual Jedi or Viking or wizard. You have an identity and you put yourself into that life. 

So again we ask why? Well, the surface level answer is: fun. People enjoy it and leaning into imagination is something that adults can enjoy as much as children. But there’s lots of reasons beyond just fun for some people. Speaking with members of the Saber Guild, for example, I learned various reasons why they would spend to give up hours and hours of time to learn saber arts and wear costumes, performing often at over twenty events per year, all while taking on a whole new personality and living like a Jedi or a Sith. Beyond the fun of it, some enjoy honing skills in combat or sewing. Some are there for the strong sense of community and friendship with their fellow Jedi or Sith. For others there is an even deeper therapeutic effect—being someone else for a while helps you decompress from the stress of your “real life,” and then go back to that life better able to face and handle it. 

Collectively the Saber Guild has a charitable purpose as well: at many of their events they raise money for Make-A-Wish Foundation, and they even help volunteer for Star Wars themed wish granting ceremonies for terminally ill children. That’s a level of LARPing that is changing the world for good. 

I admit my curiosity in Star Wars based LARPing was more relevant this year, as in an unexpected way I’ve found a similar thing unfolding in my own life. I’ve been working on getting back into exercise and wellness lately and signed up for an online fitness training course offered by Paul Clingan—who offers Star Wars themed workouts. He encourages participants to create an alter ego for themselves and train as if for the Grand Army of the Republic. He wears a trooper mask in the workout vids and leans into the Star Wars roleplay in all his content. At first it seemed cheesy or kitschy. Then I found myself really getting into it. And I realized that this little injection of fun and putting my mind into a different ego state required for roleplay made exercise the most enjoyable and motivated it’s ever been for me. In fact I’ve never been more consistent in my life at working out and have never pushed myself harder. 

I’ve made the mistake before of categorizing roleplay enthusiasts (and there are many communities from LARPers to “furries” and beyond) into a “weird” label. I hereby repent. I’m learning more than ever lately that a little roleplay goes a long way. It can aid therapy, motivation, and stress relief and even bring in money for ill children. Maybe we need to all relax and let a little more roleplay and imagination into our lives. Kids do this naturally and it’s one of the ways we’d all benefit from being a little more childlike. 

How to Speed-Run a Comic Con

Heyo! Tyler here. It’s been a while since I’ve written for this blog. My last post was actually the last time I attended Fan Expo in Dallas (see my article “Bulbasaur at the Zoo”). I just barely graduated from medical school and have been trying to make the most of my time before I start residency. As part of that, I planned on attending Fan Expo in Dallas this year. However, I later found out that I had a family event that same day. The family event schedule was “perfectly imperfect” such that I would only be able to attend about 2 hours worth of the con if I wanted to get to my family on time.

I considered backing out. But the Fan Expo I had gone to two years ago had been so much fun, and I had missed the con last year due to schooling – who knows the next time I’d be able to go? I suddenly found myself relating my situation to something from my college days. I had a group of geek friends who I would hang out and play video game with. One time, we all watched a speed-run of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This was a game that I had played multiple times throughout my childhood. I was astounded to see the tricks people had figured out to complete the game in record time. As of today of me writing this article, the current world record to complete this game is 3 minutes, 47 seconds, and  900 milliseconds, something unfathomable to me, who spent hours playing through it. This memory then made me ask myself: “Is it possible to speed-run a comic con?”

Granted, there are certain mechanics that only work in a video game due to coding. (Sorry, no wall running or sequence breaking in real life). But what are the principles necessary to “speed-run” a comic con? Here are some of my ideas:

Evaluate Your Limitations

There many different rule sets for speed-runs depending on which game you are playing. For example, that 3m 47 s 900ms Ocarina of Time speed-run only got through the main storyline (called any “Any% speed-run,” not all collectibles required). However, there are other speed-runs that focus on completing every quest, collecting every collectible, achieving a 100% on the game (suitably called a “100% speed-run”). Super Mario 64 is a classic speed-run game to illustrate the difference between Any% and 100% speed-runs. Some people just try to make it to Bowser ASAP. Others only want to beat him after getting every single Star.

You have to figure out your own limitations with what time and resources you have, or just what you constraints you’d like to put on yourself for whatever reasons you have. 

Decide Your Priorities

Once you figure out your limitations, decide what is most important to you. What activities would make the experience feel like a success for you? There aren’t IRL “achievements” you unlock like on games, but you can decide for yourself, out of everything, what you want to focus on. Fan Expo runs over the course of 3 days. They pack the place with enough things to do to fill that time – celebrity meet-and-greets, cosplay meet-ups, panels, and so much more. In my case, I had 2 hours. I made the choice that I would focus on a few goals for that time:

1. Find something Gardevoir-related for a friend
2. Buy something for myself, for memory’s sake
3. Find a rubber duck that was advertised as a part of Fan Expo’s scavenger hunt (more on this later)

Make sure you list yours out as well to keep you centered on your purpose.

Beware of Time Sinks

For speed-runners, every millisecond counts. There are slip-ups that are classic for wasting time. Speed-runners have ways of planning around those, or at least minimizing the damage they do. You have to form your own strategy. Traffic, parking, and registration are classic time sinks for comic cons. But there are certainly more depending on what you’re attending. I also think it’s wise to plan to avoid the big time sinks, but learn to stay flexible when unexpected things pop up. For example. I tried to plan for traffic and parking this year, but didn’t do so well at it. I drove in early to park and hopefully get into the con on time. But unfortunately, traffic was a lot more than anticipated. Plus, getting through the lines to get through security and getting my pass ate up a lot of my time. It was a good 45 minutes by the time I actually got settled in. It made me a bit stressed, to be honest. But I had to force myself to remember the next point…

Keep Moving Forward

A time sink that many don’t plan for is discouragement. Speed-running requires precision and basically perfection. However, when you lose time, there is no use in wallowing in self-pity about it. The best speed-runners are resilient and accept that we’re human and mess up sometimes. But they keep focused and keep moving forward in order to avoid losing any more time. So while I did lose 45 minutes right off the bat, I recognized that the most important thing was that I was with people that I cared about, and that very fact would make the experience memorable no matter what else happened.

Have Fun!

Some people think speed-running to be masochist because you are so focused on perfection just for an arbitrary record or goal. Yet, speed-running in general prevails, not because of the pain and effort required to do it, but because there are people who honestly love the endeavor and find some amount of joy in it.

Therefore, my advice if you’re going to speed-run a comic con – don’t come from a place of constraint to perfection. It’s okay to want to optimize the little time that you have there. But don’t let strictness keep you from finding joy in the journey. There are great moments to be had, treasures to be found, and wonderful people to meet. Don’t be so focused on what you wish your experience to be that you miss out on recognizing how great your experience is in reality.

My Fan Expo 2025 Experience

I came away feeling my comic con experience was a success. I so wish I could have done more, but that’s a sign that the organizers did their jobs right. I hope to come back next year, ideally without any other scheduling conflicts so I can stay for a longer time.

I ended up completing all of my personal goals for this comic con this year. I spent time with incredible friends who even helped me fulfill some of my goals! (It’s a lot harder to find something Gardevoir-related on the vendor floor that isn’t “sexualized” than I realized). This con is definitely one for the scrapbook that is my greatest memories.

And as a final explanation: one of my goals was to find a rubber duck. Fan Expo was Back to the Future-themed this year, and they had a rubber duck scavenger hunt throughout the convention hall. My family grew up watching the Back to the Future movies all the time, so I was very eager to find a duck. I looked for the entire time that I was there… could not find one. But literally, on the way out, I found one right beside the exit! It wasn’t quite Back to the Future-themed, but it was still enough for me to say:

“Comic con speedrun: Success!”

Conventions are Better with a Friend

"Am I getting lame or are Cons getting lame?"

I sent that question to a friend as I wandered the floor of Fan Expo Dallas last Friday. It's been two years since my last Fan Expo and last time I struggled with heightened anxiety at the convention center. Still, I love cosplaying and I love the merchandise and the artwork... so I want to continue loving Comic Cons. But this Fan Expo didn't have any celebrities I was excited to see (and that I could afford), so celebrity meet-and-greets and celebrity panels weren't appealing. Since only one of my friends could come on Friday night, that first lap through the convention floor ended up being solo.

But then I met up with that friend and a few others on Saturday. Sometimes I like to think I'm introverted and would much rather keep to myself at an event like Fan Expo, especially when the atmosphere can be overstimulating at times. However, during the time I spent with friends at the Con on Friday and Saturday, I realized the social aspect is what I like most about the event. 

On Saturday morning I took to walking the floor with a friend who had never been to a convention before. We chatted and caught up (since we hadn't hung out since last summer) while I looked for a potential souvenir from Fan Expo (I ended up picking a Newt Scamander wand for my cosplay, since my kids broke my old generic wand). Seeing a convention through the eyes of a newbie is always refreshing, especially when buying all the great artwork isn't practical.

With a new job this year and my kids getting more and more interactive and hyperactive, it's been hard to get together for some guy time. I managed a trip to the temple earlier in May, but before that it had been months since our group got together. Even when it wasn't about the convention and I was just chatting with my buddies, it was enriching. Like my favorite YSA bishop once told me, the scriptural assertion that "It is not good that the man should be alone" applies to more than just marriage. It's healthy for men and women to have other friends besides their eternal companion... but in our modern world sometimes it takes extra effort to get together and connect. 

I still enjoy cosplaying for an event (I lost track of how many people commented on my Perry the Platypus that pulled my Phineas cosplay together). I love scoping out artist alley for the future date that I have a man-cave to decorate. And when there's a celebrity I love, I'm still giddy to meet them. But enjoying the cosplay, the art, or the meet-and-greets with a friend changes the experience. It's also not a bad place to make a new friend (that's how I met Zack and Jacob Smith).

So next time an event comes around, grab a friend and bring them with you. Just like mortality in general, it's better to go with someone. Make a friend or bring a friend. Your mental health and your Comic Con experience will thank you!

A Salute to Animators, Illustrators, and Voice Actors

(Guest post by Ken)

For the third year, I took my kids to Comic Con. While I had less time this year than the last two years at Dallas Fan Expo, I was particularly impressed by both sessions I attended, each showcasing some of the most underappreciated artists who play a vital role in many of our favorite art forms: illustrators and voice actors.

The first session we saw was with illustrator and cartoonist Joe Wos, the host of Cartoon Academy on PBS. We came to his session very intentionally after seeing him last year, where he told stories while illustrating them live, and it was the highlight of my children’s experience. They wanted to go again, and this time he was teaching illustration live and we got to draw along. My kids had so much fun they’ve been watching his PBS show and learning more drawing skills ever since, and they’re getting pretty good!

Joe Wos is a prolific illustrator of children’s books and comics, not to mention the current official illustrator chosen by Charles Schulz’s estate for any new illustrations containing the Peanuts characters. He’s also a great teacher with a gentle demeanor who appropriately broadcasts his show from the studio originally used by Mister Rogers.

Joe Wos event Fan Expo 2022

The next session we went to was a panel with the voice actors from The Clone Wars: Dee Bradley Baker (all clones and various background voices), Matt Lanter (Anakin), James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan), and Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka), followed by a special 15th anniversary screening of the original animated film.

These four voices have more screen time as their respective characters than any of their live-action counterparts. They’ve also been the voices in many other animated productions (like Lego Star Wars), video games, theme park attractions, toys, and even tooth brushes!

They also lend their voice talents to a wide variety of other animated productions as well. In fact, Dee Bradley Baker is the only person to be credited as a regular cast member in series for both Star Wars and Star Trek (where he voices Murf in Star Trek: Prodigy). He’s also the current official voice of Daffy Duck and has leant his voice to such a wide variety of animated shows and films, from Paw Patrol to Avatar: the Last Airbender, that it’s almost easier to list animated properties he ISN’T involved with. Baker and Taylor put on a good show for a while in the panel, switching between many of the various characters they’ve voiced over time. (We also learned that if you ever see Matt Lanter in person, you should offer him some ketchup—a long running prank on Ashley Eckstein’s part to convince fans everywhere to do this to him.)

When we think of those who entertain us, we often think of screen actors like Tom Cruise or Sandra Bullock, or even big name directors like Steven Spielberg. But have you ever enjoyed a comic? An animated film? An illustrated book? Visual artists and voice actors play a huge role in your entertainment, even if you can’t name as many of them off the top of your head. Thinking of you favorite animated television series, can you name the lead illustrators off the top of your head? If not, maybe take a moment and find out who they are and learn a little bit about them to celebrate their contributions.

Do the same for voice actors, too! Many voice actors are dedicated specifically to that craft instead of live-action acting. Historically, animated films relied on specific voice actors to bring characters to life.

Although some older films occasionally used a big Hollywood name for an animated role, it wasn’t common. That changed in the 90’s. Disney famously hired Robin Williams for Aladdin. He was so wary about roles being taken from dedicated voice actors that he did not want his name used to advertise the film. Disney broke that bargain and feuded with Williams for years. Then in 1995 Toy Story was released with two of the biggest names in Hollywood in the lead roles. Since then, it has been common practice for lead roles in animated films to be voiced by the hottest stars of the day. Some of them have made the switch well, while in many cases the quality of voice acting has declined as someone was cast for their name, not their ability to bridge the gap between traditional and voice acting. Dedicated voice actors are masters of their craft, even if their name-recognition is much lower.

Take some time to honor the behind the scenes heroes of some of your favorite films and shows by looking up and learning about the illustrators, animators, and voice actors who create the books, shows and movies we love so much.

Why Does Cosplay Bring Us Joy?

(Guest post by Jason)

As I made my way through the halls and booths at the Dallas Fan Expo, I marveled at the hundreds of elaborate costumes around me. This showing could surely rival the most massive Halloween parties in the US. With Jedi and stormtroopers, superheroes and villains, fairies and trolls, famous and obscure characters, I started wondering what’s behind the costumes? What about cosplay brings these people so much joy? And why they choose the costumes they do?

Is it for the attention? Cosplayers in the most elaborate or unique costumes would often get people wanting to take photos with them. They beamed each time it happened. Can’t imagine that happens to them much outside of this world.

Or possibly for the connection? The Guardians of the Galaxy group surely had fun planning their costumes and walking around feeling like they could save the world together.

Maybe it’s the escape? As I watched the lightsaber battles between jedis, it really felt like they had entered a different world. I can see how the opportunity to escape from everyday life and become someone/something totally different would be a reprieve from the same old daily routine.

Could it be self-expression? Harry Potter fans seemed to embody this purpose. First, with such passion in their different houses (particularly Hufflepuffs, who didn’t seem to realize they weren’t in Hogwarts). But, beyond that, many took it to a whole other level and tailored their robes to their personalities.

Or maybe people are just trying to feel young again? As I watched a toddler excitedly approach an edgy-looking rabbit from a game I didn’t know, the two connected on such a sweet, innocent level. The toddler just saw a sweet white bunny, and the cosplayer became that sweet white bunny in the moment as if it was the highlight of her day.

Not really sure what people’s reasons are. Maybe all of these, or maybe there are other reasons. But, whatever the reasons, the fantasy world cosplayers create is objectively incredible and something everyone should experience at least once in life.