Yuckin’ It Up at Tucson Comic Con 2023
Tucson Comic Con returned this year with a star-studded lineup, fun panels, and an excellent exhibit hall. The exhibit hall is always the highlight of the convention, and this year was no different. Small local artists shared the aisles with long-time Tucson Comic Con staples like Bookmans, Zia Records, and Tucson Games and Gadgets, which allowed guests to seamlessly explore the more than 300 vendors, with plenty of variety, unlike the repetitive displays so often seen at other conventions. There was a large variety of artists highlighted and a strong sense of diverse interests represented.
In the hallway above the exhibit hall the cosplay and specialty group area returned. Here, groups like the 501st Legion and the Arizona Brown Coats set up their displays of Star Wars and Firefly memorabilia and costumes while also encouraging fans to join in and become a member of these fan clubs. Continuing down this path led to an exciting display of fake battles, also known as Live-Action Role Playing (LARP), where guests were given foam bats and allowed to attack each other as if it were the Middle Ages. It was a sight to see, but one that might have been missed due to its location. While it’s fun to see everything in this specialty area, it can cause a major traffic jam. Navigating through can be a bit difficult and at times it might have had a bit of a deterrent effect, making some people choose to skip it entirely.
This year the celebrity guests were quite the draw for convention goers. Chandler Riggs (Carl Grimes in The Walking Dead), Tracy Lynn Cruz (Yellow Ranger in Power Rangers), and Honky Tonk Man (WWE Hall of Famer) had long lines throughout the convention and full panels full of questions from fans. Another exciting event that happened throughout the weekend was the ability to play a Dungeons and Dragons campaign that was run by Luke Gygax, author, gamer, and son of the creator of the game, Gary Gygax. Being able to play with the son of the creator seemed like a dream come true for some of the fans that joined in. There was also a significant amount of comic book guests in attendance, which is always great to see for a comic convention. Guests like Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, and Tucson native Henry Barajas joined the convention for the weekend, also hosting panels and chatting with fans on the exhibit hall floor.
Along with the Dungeons and Dragons experience, the game area of the convention hosted many board game sessions. From established board games to brand new playtesting games, there were plenty of options for Tucsonans to explore. In this section there was an area set aside for people to paint miniature figures for their games. It was quiet and peaceful, with just the right amount of calm for someone to spend a few hours making sure their figure looks just right before debuting it to the world. On the other side, Cobra Arcade and Next Level Arcade had a few arcade cabinets set up with classics like Mortal Kombat and Galaga available for players of all ages.
For its 14th year, Tucson Comic Con did a fantastic job of keeping the heart of the convention while also making sure there were new and exciting sights to see. The variety of vendors, the different forms of entertainment, and the fact there was so much to see and do throughout the weekend made Tucson Comic Con one more reason to take pride in our city.
Photographs by Jake Ward
Category: The Scoop
