What You Need To Know:

• BCS held its first ever Comic Con on Sept. 9th and 10th at the Brazos County Expo Complex.

• The event featured voice actors, panels, games, and booths for comic and pop culture enthusiasts to enjoy.

• The Chronicle interviewed three attendees to hear about their experience at the event.

On September 9 - 10th, the Bryan/College Station area held its first ever Comic Con, where locals had the opportunity to immerse themselves into their favorite franchises or discover something new from local creators. The event featured celebrity voice actors, panels, video games, and multiple booths for vendors to sell their own products ranging from clothes, art, and original comic books.

Ami Chou, freshman physics major, and Baoyen Tran, freshman biochemistry major from Texas A&M University, arrived at the convention together to enjoy all the convention had to offer. 

“Cons are just a great way to try and be yourself even if to other people it might be seen as cringey,” Chou said. “It’s all about having this passion over these sources of media.” 

Chou said conventions are always really fun because you get to meet new people, browse merchandise, and see everyone dressed up in their homemade outfits. 

“I think it’s just a cool way to connect with what you like too,” Tran said. “You can really get into the fandoms…I’m not particularly into any fandoms, but it's so cool seeing all of it.”

Tran competed in the cosplay contest dressed up as the character Sweetheart from the game, Omiri. 

“I was actually planning on just walking around and checking out stuff to buy and we talked to a few people and they said oh you should join the contest,” Tran said. “It was a very last minute decision. We were not planning to actually be in it but I ended up in the area so we ended up entering.”

Chou said she was not dressed up as anyone but she did help create her friend's costume so the two went in the contest together. 

“It was really nerve racking and also a bit funny because before then you need proof that you made this cosplay or some percentage of it,” Chou said. “I didn’t take a lot of photos so we were desperately trying to find photos of the cosplay.”

Paul Gomez is a comic book creator/writer selling his own comic books at the convention. 

“One of the things about starting into comic creation you gotta kinda have to get a little bit of exposure,” Gomez said. “Going to comic conventions is a good way to meet people and also introduce your product to people.” 

Gomez said so far he has put out four comics titled PTSD, Cryptic Haze, Booshie Boo Circus Mystery and Prelude to Aurora which is currently being printed. 

“Whenever I started, the pandemic had hit, and I had been let go of my job,” Gomez said. “My kids were at home from school, so we ended up starting to write stories and, as a thank you to my kids, I wanted to make it into a comic for them to lift their morale.” 

Gomez said he started learning how to draw comics six months ago, so he is looking for different artists to work with. 

“Whenever I decided to make a comic, I went out on a search to find an artist that best fit my story,” Gomez said. “From time to time I actually find new artists to work on my stuff and, from time to time, at a different convention I will find an artist who will work on a cover for me.” 

Gomez said he can be found on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook using his handle: @Paulgomez790.