Weekend Recap: Fan Expo Dallas 2016

Who was excited to be a big kid this past weekend? This girl. Call it what you want nerdfest, comic geeks, nerd con ... Fan Expo Dallas is the largest three-day comics, sci-fi, horror, anime and gaming event in Texas, and is quickly growing into the one of the largest events in North America. It is packed with exciting, family-friendly activities and celebrity guests. Some include the famous Stan Lee, John Cusack, Hayley Atwell/Agent Carter, Lucy Hale/Pretty Little Liars, Rob Scneider, Jon Bernthal/Daredevil/The Walking Dead and now Punisher, Jenna Coleman /Doctor Who, Candice Patton/The Flash, James & Oliver Phelps/Harry Potter, Curtis Armstrong/Revenge of the Nerds, and many more.

I attended Saturday's event which I estimated brought in thousands of attendees. Some that came just as themselves, others wore T-shirts with movie titles or pop-culture slogans, but many went for the costumes like - Spiderman, Batman, Harley Quinn, X-Men, and Anime. But Star Wars was represented BIG in many forms and variations that took over Dallas Fan Expo this weekend, from the toys, driods, BB-8, R2D2 roaming around and many Rey's and Kylo Ren's were everywhere in the Expo. What an awesome experience to people watch, see illustrators draw live, pass by celebrities, look at amazing artwork, and see how many people just enjoy the world of comics. This year I dressed up as old school April O'Neil(the only one in the entire building) from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and my daughter was her favorite turtle - Michelangelo. We had a blast and it couldn't had been matched up more perfectly since I was able to attend as "Press" this year. Comics had taken over the past few years and continues to grow with smashing numbers at the box office every year, cosplay costumes are amazingly designed, and comic merchandise sell likes crazy. I have no shame in my game – I am happy to call myself a comic nerd.

“So you’re a little weird? Work it! A little different? OWN it! Better to be a nerd than one of the herd!” ― Mandy Hale

I was so happy to see the whole Turtle Gang including Splinter and Casey Jones. I happened to complete them for a few photo opps.

Always great to run into one of my good friends who been running of the best booths for years at almost all the comic cons around the states - Michael Champion. His 'Game of Thrones' illustrations are one-of-a kind. Check out some of his work here.

Caught up in a sticky situation? Well Spiderman or Spiderwoman is here to save the day.

Bad Deadpool ... Good Deadpool.

What a great experience to be a big kid again. Can't wait till what next year brings. Check out a gazillion more images in the gallery below. Enjoy! - xo Mel