Thousands of genre and comic book fans attend Wizard World Comic Con weekend event

Fans of pop culture and comics have one more day to attend the fourth annual Wizard World Comic Con in Des Moines this weekend. Held at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines, thousands of attendees from Iowa and neighboring states toured the halls and giant celebrity autograph and photo-op room, many in cosplay garb Friday and Saturday. Even more people are expected to turn out for the show Sunday as Wizard World rolls out a “bring a friend free” promotion. The show continues today 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Check out the event website here for more information. Wizard World continues its national presentation of comic book and pop culture conventions next week as the show moves on to Columbus, Ohio. After the success of the first two days of this year’s event in Des Moines, the fifth Wizard World Des Moines show is already being planned by show organizers for next year, to be held May 10-12, 2019.

Doctor Who’s David Tennant and Black Panther’s Winston Duke, and many other celebrities talked with fans in the show’s celebrity row signing area. Comic book creators talked about books, and autographed books and art for fans. We loved this new Green Arrow print from guest comic book creators Phil Hester and Ande Parks (with color by Mouse Baumann):

Even more than 20 years after the last episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, James Marsters (Spike) maintained a steady stream of fans waiting in line to meet him all day Saturday:

Star Trek icon Nichelle Nichols returned to the Midwest. Here she is being interviewed at the event for a local radio station:

Genre actor Jim Beaver (Supernatural, The X-Files, Deadwood, Enterprise) met and signed autographs for crowds of fans:

Nationally-known comic book creators were well-represented at this show. Artist Phil Hester returned to Wizard World–here he is featured on the creator stage demonstrating illustration techniques:

Here is writer/artist Ande Parks chatting with fans in Artists Alley:

Writer Jai Nitz and the Nitz Boys talking comics and selling books:

And here is writer Aaron Gillespie with a young fan checking out his New Challengers comic for DC Comics at his booth in Artists’ Alley:

Cosplayers lined the halls in the two main floor areas. Attendees could find every type of genre represented, from Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to G.I. Joe: