Comic-con heading back to Madera
Wendy Alexander/Madera Tribune File Photo
Temoe Navarro dresses as Inspector Gadget for Comic Con.
Back by popular demand will be the Madera Toy Anime Comic-Con to St. Joachim’s Holy Spouses Hall from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday.
The cost is $6 for adults, however if one takes a photo of the flyer (available at Blue Shell Gaming, 1501 Howard Road) or brings one in, they can save $1. Children under 12 are free. Dressing as one’s favorite character is also encouraged. The Comic-Con will hold a costume contest at 2:30 p.m., which is the highlight of the event.
“It’s about educating people about the pop culture from yesterday,” organizer Tom “Ziggy” Star said. “I like the people. I like to see the smiles coming in. I’ve never seen a grumpy person. We’re all nerds and geeks. Everybody is getting their geek on when they come to Comic-Con.”
Star hosted a Comic-Con last year in March or April and also had one the year before at Holy Spouses Hall.
“Hopefully, people are hungry for it,” he said. “We haven’t been in Madera or the area in a while, so I thought it was about time. We had a few people text and e-mail me about coming back. We had a very good reception there. Madera has always been very cool about comic-cons and supporting it. There’s a lot of cosplayers in the area. Blue Shell Gaming, which is one of the biggest gaming stores in the Valley. They are passing out flyers for us.”
Star is expecting about 30 tables of merchandise for collectors to peruse. “We have collectibles and Funko Pops are very big right now, including the new movies that came out like Spider-Man and Avengers,” he said. Also making an appearance will be Deadpool Fresno and his wife, Lady Deadpool. In addition, Star is making plans for another Comic-Con in November at Madera’s annual Pomegranate Festival.
“I have a couple of celebrities coming in for that,” Star said. “They are hooking us up with a building. We’re going to work with them.”
Star said that some of his bigger vendors will be in Stockton for another Comic-Con, but he said this also gives some of his smaller vendors a chance to shine.
“We have some smaller ones who can’t afford to go to Stockton,” he said.
“Come get your geek on,” Star said.
