Lou Ferringo at Wizardworld-ComicCon Nashville. (photo by Deborah A. Culp)
Wizard World’s annual ComicCon tour stopped in Nashville September 8-10. This year’s weekend played to a sold out crowd of all ages, with not a dull moment to spare. A myriad of fun events made it worthwhile and memorable. Activities included: trivia hosted by Cinema Sins; a variety of music styles; kids combat training; cosplay (costume play) meetups, with personality Kato Kaelin introducing it all.
Once Wizard World Comic Con announced the highlights of its new non-stop entertainment lineup, the five block long venue Music City Center became and continued to be full, with an initiative designed to keep the show floor buzzing throughout the weekend. National and local acts of various kinds allowed fans to enjoy more of the best of pop culture around, during the event and well into evening. There seemed to be as much fun, pomp and circumstance in the audience as there was on display. It was all a good thing and made it difficult to distinguish between the talents onstage and off.
The entertainment offerings supplemented a top-flite celebrity lineup, including: Marvel Comics CEO Emeritus Stan Lee; Val Kilmer, Batman Forever and Top Gun; Nichelle Nichols from the original Star Trek; Charisma Carpenter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Jason Mewes, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Clerks; and Dean Cain Lois & Clark, The New Adventures of Superman/Supergirl to name a few. The event marks Wizard World’s fourth annual show in Nashville and the 11th on Wizard World’s 2017 calendar.
Cartoonist Roddy Fernandez with his Spark comic.. (photo by Deborah A. Culp)
Wizard World Comic Con events bring thousands of fans of all ages together; including the Nashville stop. They celebrate the best in pop culture, including: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles and amazing contests.
Of the many vendors tables, many Music City character staples were onboard, including: the Tennessee Ghostbusters; and Extra Life (playing kids’ games for 24 hours) to benefit the Monroe Carell, Jr. Children’s Hospital.
The Centerstone Mental Health Clinic Agency presented a line of life changing comic books. One character in particular was titled ‘Spark-Caught in the Net.’ It was positive and realistically centered around Foster Care and some of the dynamics within. Spark’s writer, Roddy Fernandez, is the ‘continuum program manager’ of Centerstone, South Central Region. Editors include: Eliot Pinsly and David Schrader; with artist James Lyle. It was developed by Ashleigh Hall, Michael Rivera and Ian Skotte, with the Advisory Board of Centerstone Therapeutic Foster Care Youth Leadership Council and the Centerstone Teen Pregnancy Prevention Outreach Team. The comic series was created to find tools to make healthy decision-making. For more information, visit www.whoyouwant2be.org.
“We want Wizard World Nashville attendees to come away from our show with a full pop culture experience that goes beyond meeting celebrities and getting autographs and photographs,” said John Maatta, Wizard World CEO. “Whether its world-class magicians, interactive question and answer sessions with interesting personalities, live music, dance and art demonstrations—it will be wall-to-wall entertainment all weekend. These are in addition to the celebrity sessions, creator panels and other topical programming fans have come to expect at Wizard World events.” For further information, visit www.wizardworld.com.
