The Force of fandom is strong with Big Texas Comicon, which hosts a galaxy of celebrities, cosplayers and more geeky fun Oct. 9-11 at the Convention Center.
Courtesy Big Texas Comicon
A pop culture convention with the woman who took on the Terminator, a Jurassic Park star who now directs Star Wars shows and Cheech and Chong? Got to be Big Texas Comicon.
The made-in-San Antonio celebration returns to our downtown galaxy Friday through Sunday at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Hall 4 & Meeting Room 205-214.
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Now in its seventh year, Big Texas continues to pack the Convention Center with celebrities and cosplayers, plus comic books artists and ephemera that inspire those live-action performers. It’s a multiverse of fandom across sci-fi, fantasy and other genres. It’s also an adventure in budgeting when it comes to all those celebrity autographs and photo ops as well as parking, food and merch.
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Which days works best?
Big Texas Comicon celebrates its seventh year of fandom this weekend.
Courtesy Big Texas Comicon
Three-day passes to Big Texas Comicon are sold out, but single-day tickets are available at relatively affordable prices.
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Before taxes and fees, single-day tickets run $20 for Friday, $35 for Saturday and $30 for Sunday for ages 11 and older. Kids ages 3-10 are $7. Day passes are available at bigtexascomicon.com/tickets and at the door each day of the event at the Convention Center. Show floor hours are 2-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Budget for the stars
Linda Hamilton in “Terminator: Dark Fate.” The star of the Terminator franchise will appear Saturday at Big Texas Comicon.
Kerry Brown/Paramount Pictures via Associated Press
Famous faces are always the big draw at Big Texas Comicon. This year’s special guests include “Terminator” queen Linda Hamilton, who later brought her formidable presence to “Stranger Things.” During her Saturday-only appearance, she will be joined by fellow “Terminator” stars Michael Biehn from the original film and Edward Furlong and Robert Patrick from “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.” Also on hand will be “Terminator Salvation” star Bryce Dallas Howard, best known for her onscreen work in the “Jurassic Park” films and behind-the-camera directing of “Star Wars” episodes for “The Mandalorian” and “The Book of Boba Fett.”
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Back on the television side, Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley from “The Vampire Diaries” will cast a spell on fans along with “Charmed” stars Holly Marie Combs, Drew Fuller and Brian Krause. “Sons of Anarchy” lovers can look forward to Ron Perlman, Theo Rossi and Tommy Flanagan. Wrestling fans can cheer the likes of Kofi Kingston, Paul Wight and Dustin Rhodes. And comedy legends Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong are sure to spark up lots of memories.
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Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, who first found success with their comedy act in the 1960s and 1970s, are back in San Antonio for Big Texas Comicon.
Paul Mobley/Contributed photo
Most celebrity autographs and photo ops at Big Texas run between $50 and $100. Keep in mind these purchases are extra. Celebs only take cash for autographs and selfies, so hit the ATM before you head over to the show. Some previous attendees have noted onsite ATMs run out of cash. You can purchase photo ops via celebphotoops.com or at the convention.
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Follow the schedule
Big Texas Comicon hosts various celebrity panels where movie and television stars talk about their on-camera and off-camera adventures.
Courtesy Big Texas Comicon
Big Texas Comicon features various celebrity panels throughout the three-day event, so check the schedule onsite and online at bigtexascomicon.com/schedule so you know when your favorite star is speaking. You may even be able to ask questions if there’s time for a Q&A.
This year’s panel highlights include “The House of Halliwell” podcast panel 7 p.m. Friday, where “Charmed” stars Combs, Fuller and Krause talk about their on- and off-camera experiences, Cheech and Chong at noon Saturday, the Terminator panel at 3 p.m. Saturday, and “Sons of Anarchy” stars 1 p.m. Sunday.
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Don’t forget the comic books
Big Texas Comicon is packed with vendors selling comic books, action figures and other collectibles.
Courtesy Big Texas Comicon
Comic conventions tend to focus more on the stars than the source material that made them famous. That said, there is an actual comic book presence at Big Texas Comicon, with sequential art talents that include Marvel and DC Comics artist Pablo Villalobos, “Transformers” comic talent Michael Watkins and San Antonio comic artist Leno Hernandez. Budget for artist prints and comics, as well as toys and other collectibles.
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Cosplay encouraged
Big Texas Comicon will host cosplay contests for various ages with more than $8,000 in cash and prizes.
Courtesy Big Texas Comicon
You could always hit Big Texas Comicon in your favorite jeans and Spider-Man shirt, but why not look the part in your own Web-Head costume? Attendees are welcome to dress up as their favorite characters, whether they’re competing in one of the convention’s three cosplay contest categories or just soaking in the sights as Spidey, Darth Vader, Wonder Woman or myriad other characters across pop culture.
Your faux wings and foam armor skills could pay off. Big Texas will host a big cosplay contest at 5 p.m. Sunday with more than $8,000 in cash and prizes. The contest’s three categories are kids ages 12 and younger, teens ages 13 to 17 and adults age 18 and older. Contestants should arrive by 4 p.m. for lineup and prejudging.
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Even if you don’t compete for cosplay supremacy, you can still team-up with fellow costumed fans at various cosplay meet-ups and panels throughout the convention. There’s even a cosplay atelier at Room 215 to help with stitching and other tips, plus free cosplay photoshoots at Room 207 to help you strike a pose like a real superhero or supervillain.
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Game on
It’s always game time at Big Texas Comicon with video game and tabletop gaming.
Courtesy Big Texas Comicon
Big Texas Comicon offers plenty of free video game and tabletop gaming, plus tournaments for those looking for more than just bragging rights. Wolf Den Gaming will host various Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon and other deck-based tourneys all weekend at Room 212 A+B. For game console action, Big Texas has teamed up with Texas Gaming Empire and Vanguards Vault to deliver button-mashing competition on games that include Street Fighter 6, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Tekken 8. Search for Big Texas Comicon at start.gg for details.
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