Community, connection, Comic-Con
Grand Rapids Spring Fling offers way more than just comic books
Chatter filled the air on April 12-14 as crowds of attendees flooded the floors of the Kalamazoo Expo Center, for Grand Rapids Comic-Con's annual spring fling. To some it may be considered a second home, a spot where fandoms collide, friendships are formed and people can express themselves however they wish.
The convention opened for the first time in 2013 and has grown over the years, according to the Comic Con website. This creates a kind and respectful community that welcomes cosplayers, artists and even V.I.P guests, including YouTubers and other media personalities, celebrity voice actors, comic book artists and many more.
A couple of highlighted V.I.P guests include:
- Tony Moran, who is known for playing the first Michael Myers in 1978’s “Halloween”
- Greg Cipes, the voice of Beast boy in “Teen Titans” and “Teen Titans Go!,” and Michelangelo in the 2012 “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” TV show.
- Hyden Walch, voice of Starfire in “Teen Titans” and “Teen Titans Go!” along with Princess Bubblegum in “Adventure Time.”
- Jacob Pauwels, known mainly for his work on "Adventures in Aardia" on TikTok.
- Scott Rosema, comic book artists for many companies including “Marvel,” “DC” and “Archie.”
Even with their VIP status, these guests fully embraced the Comic-Con experience, just like any other attendee.
“Oh yea, I always do every convention,” Moran said. “I’m not religious or anything but you know I'm blessed, the only appropriate word I can come up with.”
A few tables down from Moran, Cipes gave a quick run down about the future of his career. He plans to continue voice acting in “Teen Titans Go!” and creating new episodes for his own short series called “Life's a Beach.”
The heart of Comic-Con comes from the attendees, who are there to cosplay, sell and buy merchandise and create new connections.
Cosplayers Tabitha Ryerson and Max Haggart, dressed as Angel Dust from "Hazbin Hotel" and The Riddler from DC Comics, respectively, gave great insight as to what cosplay means to them.
“As cosplayers, I am also a disabled woman that likes to show other people with disabilities that anybody can do accessibly, whatever they want to do with cosplay, if that's what they would like to do,” Ryerson said. She added that you can adapt your mobility aids to cosplay.
Haggart said cosplay has always been a form of self-expression to him. He said it's a way to, “show off what you enjoy and be who you want to be.”
Natalie Thorne, a cosplayer who was dressed up as Starfire from “Teen Titans,” said they were enjoying themselves.
“I am loving the convention," Thorne said. "This is the second one I've ever gone to -- it is so much fun and I love the community.”
Merchandise is a big part of all Comic-Con as well, especially art. Grand Rapids Comic-Con hosted many artists this year, but there is one artist who is a regular attendee.
Terry Huddleston is a freelance artist who once again attended Grand Rapids Comic-Con.
He puts a lot of effort into his art, describing his style as: “A little bit of Andy Warhol pop culture, combined with Roy Lichtenstein and other comic book styles on top of that.
"So it's really detailed comic book-style art," Huddleston said. "It's right between realism and cartoony.”
Many different aspects help bring this community together. Whether it is the entertainment or the meeting of new people, this is an event many look forward to. The next Grand Rapids Comic-Con is set to take place Nov. 15-17, 2024.
