BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WIAT) – As COVID restrictions ease, more events are heading to central Alabama. This weekend, Alabama Comic Con was back in town, drawing thousands of people.
The Alabama Comic Convention and My Hero Convention were supposed to be separate events, but organizers decided to combine the two events after they both had to reschedule due to last year’s pandemic.
Every year, people gather at the convention center to celebrate their favorite comic book characters, superheroes, and anime characters.
“It’s kind of like meeting your favorite character, which is my favorite way of looking at it, oh like ‘I know this character’, I want to take a pic with them because it’s like meeting them in the real life, ”said Mac Elrod and Emily Copeland.
Elrod and Copeland are regulars at comic con events. They say it’s an opportunity to connect with people who have a similar interest in pop culture.
“It’s been so long since we’ve been in a space with these people doing this kind of thing, it’s so much fun. When you’re doing conventions and you’re in the cosplay aspect, usually the only time you hang out with these people is during conventions, ”said Elrod and Copeland.
“You can come here and meet a lot of people who are also passionate about a movie, TV show, or anime that you love too,” said Greg Hanks, owner of the ABC convention.
Hanks says the two-day event brought together 150 vendors, 30 celebrity speakers, and an opportunity for families to bond.
“There is a bit of everything, we try to have age groups like there is something for little kids up to their parents and grandparents because we want everyone to come together as a family “said Hanks.
The event attracted over 10,000 people. Organizers and participants say they hope to see this tradition develop in the city of Birmingham.
“Do it as safely as possible based on the guidelines we have, but you know I think the event hasn’t been as busy or busier since we opened,” Hanks said.
“I feel like if we keep going the community will grow and I guess it’s business as usual,” Elrod said.
Hanks says his team is already in discussions with the BJCC about next year’s event that will be announced to the public soon.
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