Sporting a sweet trio from Princess Mononoke, Rachel, Michaela and Sam pose for a photo. Photo: Lmsorenson.net - Sporting a sweet trio from Princess Mononoke, Rachel, Michaela and Sam pose for a photo. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Salt Lake Comic Con FanX17 @ The Salt Palace 03.17–03.18
Returning for the 2017 season, Salt Lake Comic Con: FanXperience filled the Salt Palace in downtown Salt Lake City for a geek-packed St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Only a two-day event, FanX17 was packed with activities and special guests for the tens of thousands of fans throughout the convention center. Upon first entering the venue from the street, attendees had the choice of finding the best panel, making their way to the artist alley to get some souvenirs or head deep into the con and treat yourself with a picture with your favorite celebrity guest. There were plenty of activities for all of the con guests, cosplayers and families.
Artist Alley was filled with remarkable, creative individuals, who showcased works of geek art that ranged from chalk drawings to elaborate tattoos to even custom-made jewelry and other metalworks. Stopping by a few stalls to discuss their pieces, it was hard to not take a few minutes to explore Monster Mike Art‘s booth. Using spray paint, Monster Mike Art creates colorful and surreal hero and villain portraits, including characters from X-Men, Star Wars Heroes and Ninja Turtles. Another great place to stop at was Salt Lake Ghostbusters for a crash course in hostile entity containment.
If art prints or cosplay isn’t your thing, you might want to head to the Celebrity Row and get a shot of yourself with your favorite actor from the big screen or small from hits like Princess Bride and Once Upon a Time. Maybe you’re the DC type and really want that picture with Jason Momoa of Justice League and Game of Thrones. Ranging in price from around $20 to $100 for that special experience, there were countless options for yourself or a gift for a friend.
And really, what a lot of people go to Salt Lake Comic Con specifically for are the panels, to see their favorite actors, playwrights and even musicians onstage telling stories of what happens on set, behind the scenes and answering fan questions. This year had some very special guests, including Weird Al Yankovic, Cary Elwes and Chris Sarandon of The Princess Bride, cast members from Psych, Once Upon a Time and The Walking Dead, and more. Packed with thousands of fans, cheering and clapping was never in short supply, and only the laughter drowns out the noise. A regular biannual event in downtown Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Comic Con proves to be a consistent source of entertainment for friends, family, lone wolves and more … anyone that is a geek at heart.
Weird Al Yankovic declares, “Look upon me!” after a fan tells him it is their first time seeing him in person. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Weird Al Yankovic thanking Salt Lake City Comic Con! Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Host Chris Provost sporting a shiny new St. Patrick’s Day jacket while kicking off the festivities in the Grand Ballroom. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Special guest Wallace Shawn, famously of The Princess Bride, discussing his method of picking scripts: “Well, usually, if it doesn’t make me ill, I do it!” Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Wallace Shawn. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Actor Cary Elwes of Princess Bride talks Andre the Giant, filming in England and the various injuries he sustained while on set. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Cary Elwes thinks that Salt Lake Comic Con is “… the best Con!” Photo: Lmsorenson.net
The Walking Dead panel with Michael Cudlitz, Josh McDermitt and Khary Payton created a lot of stories and theories about what characters would have done if they’d met earlier and had not been … killed. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Michael Cudlitz, Josh McDermitt and Khary Payton discuss their favorite villains and deaths on The Walking Dead. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Host Chris Provost gives the audience a gratuitous view of his snazzy new socks. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Actor John Rhys-Davies enlightens audience members about population trends and how he is encouraged about people investing into the sciences. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
John Rhys-Davies, best known for his role as Gimli in The Lord of the Rings, tells audiences about the numerous talents of the cast. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Chris Sarandon and Cary Elwes regale Princess Bride and their favorite scenes and share their impersonations of director Rob Reiner. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Chris Sarandon and Cary Elwes invite a young Inigo Montoya onstage to ask a fan question. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Once Upon a Time actors Emilie de Ravin and Sean Maguire answer questions about their characters and romantic interests in the show. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
FanX is always a great place for photos with cosplayers. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Artist Steven Crowe sells a print to a very small fan of his work. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Artist Steven Chase selling his wares and works. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Cosplayer Tyler Russell as Buzz Lightyear. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Cosplayer Tyler Pierce as Barf from Spaceballs. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Ghostbusters of Salt Lake take on the challenge of posing in photos and the dark villain Viggo the Carpathian. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Ghostbusters of Salt Lake educate the public on the importance on proper ectoplasm storage and disposal. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Artist Neil Ohmie uses such mediums as watercolor, oil, digital media and more to create his pieces. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Kid Con! Small cosplayers are able to make their own buttons out of old comic books and other materials. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Con attendee Zoey and her mother Jennifer (not pictured) enjoy the face painting at Kid Con inside FanX17. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Monster Mike Art in the Artist Alley with his collection of spray paint portraits of popular characters. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Sporting a sweet trio from Princess Mononoke, Rachel, Michaela and Sam pose for a photo. Photo: Lmsorenson.net – Sporting a sweet trio from Princess Mononoke, Rachel, Michaela and Sam pose for a photo. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
Couple Jho and Janet cosplaying it up as Valerie and Miracle Max. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
As the hungry and tried cosplayers come out of the Salt Palace, there is always a ride if they need it from Alejandro Marticorena of Salt City Cycle and other such drivers. Photo: Lmsorenson.net
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