The Jazz Bear absolutely blasts a single fan with silly string during the Salt Lake Comic Con panels at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. Photo: @Lmsorenson
The legend himself, Mark Hamill, at the Vivint Smart Home Arena during his special panel for Salt Lake Comic Con. Photo: @Lmsorenson
William Shatner, Captain Kirk himself, talking to audience members about science fiction and mythology during his Q&A at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. Photo: @Lmsorenson
The nicest, most scattered man in the world, Henry Winkler, talking to the crowd about learning differences and how to believe in yourself. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Evanna Lynch of the Harry Potter films talking with Deseret New’s McKenzie Romero during a grand ballroom panel. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Star of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, Millie Bobby Brown tells the audience that she can’t hear their cheering. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Millie Bobby Brown, who portrays Eleven on the hit series Stranger Things, tells the Salt Lake Comic Con audience that she “hearts” them. Photo: @Lmsorenson
The fabulously entertaining and irreverent voice-actor event Twisted Toonz.” During their panel at Salt Lake Comic Con, they pair famous character voices with hilariously inappropriate movie script readings by this ensemble of talented professionals. Photo: @Lmsorenson
David Ramsey and Stephen Amell from TV’s The Arrow during their panel at Salt Lake Comic Con. Photo: @Lmsorenson
SLUG movie review writer Geek Show podcast host Jimmy Martin moderates David Ramsey and Stephen Amell from TV’s The Arrow. Photo: @Lmsorenson
The Walking Dead star Lennie James shares his stories of stage acting during Salt Lake Comic Con. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Lennie James, who portrays Morgan on the iconic The Walking Dead series, having a laugh during his panel at Salt Lake Comic Con. Photo: @Lmsorenson
The HULK! Lou Ferrigno being sworn in as an honorary Salt Lake City deputy during the Salt Lake Comic Con Press Conference at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Voice actor and all-around rock star Jess Harnell at the Vivint Smart Home Arena during the opening Press Conference. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Mark Hamill handling thousands of fans like it was nothing as he regales tales of his roles, including Luke Skywalker and The Joker, in many animated and video game adaptations. Photo: @Lmsorenson
There are definitely a ton of people interested in buying a sweet collection of classic and contemporary light saber models. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Obviously, comic books are what some people actually come to Salt Lake Comic Con for. These folks are finding their selections in the boxes at Gweedo’s Comic. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Cosplayer Dean definitely has his The Dark Knight/Heath Ledger Joker Nurse on point. Photo: @Lmsorenson
In a world of cosplayers, there are always a select few that stand out as unique efforts. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Kids are totally entertained at KidCon, with face painting and other such activities. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Shopping for goodies from cards, figures, posters … It’s what you do. Photo: @Lmsorenson
When furry friends find each other at Comic Con, some loving embraces are inevitable. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Everyone cosplays for Salt Lake Comic Con—even the folks at SLC Bike Taxi. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Watch out! Trolls all around are trying to squash people and the Salt Lake Comic Con car. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Lantern Corps representing on their way to the Salt Palace for Salt Lake Comic Con. Photo: @Lmsorenson
The Salt Palace, the home of the most popular convention in the state, Salt Lake Comic Con. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Tens of thousands of people pour into the halls of the Salt Palace, totaling well over 100k geeks in their natural environment. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Salt Lake Comic Con artists, shops, food stops and a photo op area. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Cove Owens and Porter Lunceford make a terrific pair as the Suicide Squad movie’s Joker and Harley Quinn at Salt Lake Comic Con. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Daniel McCormick of SLC Bike Taxi rocking the Richard Simmons cosplay at Salt Lake Comic Con. Photo: @Lmsorenson
Salt Lake Comic Con 2016, the massive biannual event that has proven that Salt Lake City and Utah is a boiling hotspot of geekdom, movie buffs and fantasy, kicked off Sept. 1 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. The reported hundred thousand of fans, cosplayers and special guests made their way to the city center and pour into the massive convention center at every angle while avoiding stairs and low ceilings to preserve their elaborate cosplay props.
With three days of activities to sort through in this weekend of chaos, guests have many choices. There are hundreds of shops selling merchandise such as T-shirts, hats, model weapons, video games and, of course, comics! If books are more your thing, you will not be let down: Row after row of authors have their works for sale, ranging from fantasy sci-fi to straight-up fan fiction from established favorites. You can also make your way to artist alley, where many talented painters, illustrators and handmade craft artists have a plethora of one-of-a-kind pieces on display and for sale.
If you are the diehard type, you can purchase autographs from a wide selection of special guests, or you can pony up a few bucks more and snag a photo op with your favorite TV or movie actor or an acclaimed fantasy author.
While all was fun and good, some people definitely got exhausted while walking the miles and miles of attractions with young ones in tow. These folks were welcome to head to KidCon, a special section of Salt Lake Comic Con specifically catered to the youngest of fans. Kids can run amok in this area’s castle structures, get their face painted, pose with professional cosplayers for a photo, get a balloon animal or even make their own foam sword. Giving parents and guardians a quick break from the convention, this is a most appreciated feature of the Comic Con floor area.
For many, the real meat and potatoes of events such as Salt Lake Comic Con are the panels. With anticipated and sometimes surprise appearances by famous actors and Q&As with some of the most well-known geek personalities, web stars and authors, every room in the hallways of the Salt Palace had something special to offer each fan.
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