Pop culture fans say they have been “sorely missing” San Diego Comic-Con since the convention returned to in-person for the first time in two years after being forced to take place online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Many arrived on the first day of the convention on Thursday in elaborate costumes that had taken them “many hours and a lot of sweat” to make.
Thousands queued for hours in the sun for the event, which enforced strict protocols including Covid wristbands, vaccination checks and mandatory face masks.
Bryn Tarr, a costume designer from San Diego, was dressed as a master at arms from Disney’s “Mandalorian” series and was accompanied by a model of Baby Yoda in a carrier made from a converted European stroller.
“The costumes take us about four to six months to make, but we wouldn’t have it any other way,” she told the PA news agency.
“We love to appear at conventions in full regalia.”
Ms Tarr added: “It’s great to be back. We’ve missed it a lot and are delighted that our fellow cosplayers and fans of the Star Wars and Mandalorian franchises want to come and greet us and pose with us.”
Brian Cicco, 55, who was dressed as supervillain Mysterio from the Spider-Man franchise, said the return of the in-person event was “definitely what the fans needed.”
Mr. Cicco is a human resources manager for an entertainment company in Philadelphia and traveled across the country with his two sons to attend the conference.
“Comic-Con has definitely been missed, so this seems like a great time to return and exactly what the fans needed,” he told PA.
“It took four or five months to put this costume together and it seems to be going over well.
“This headpiece is actually a garden ball. I sawed off the bottom part and 3D printed the collar and the LED lights inside – it’s one of the easiest parts to make.”
Jose Cuadros, 30, a hospitality worker from Escondido, California, said it has always been his dream to play DC hero Aquaman.
“I’m having a really good time today (and) I actually plan on getting some seafood later, if you get the joke,” he told PA.
“I decided to be Aquaman today because it has always been my dream to be Aquaman. I have seen a lot of good cosplays and I am happy to cross this one off my list.”
Mr. Cuardros said he bought parts of his costume, including the famous yellow and green costume and the large trident, at Comic-Con years ago.
“The only thing I didn’t buy is my beard. I grew it myself,” he joked.
When asked how it felt to be back among other fans at the convention, he replied, “It’s great. I just wish we didn’t have to wear masks, but I think it’s a good idea.”
Jordan Riley, 28, of San Diego wore the bold purple of Marvel’s Hawkeye, played by actor Jeremy Renner, and said the pandemic gave him time to work on his various costumes.
“The lockdown was there and I had more time to improve my cosplay, so here it is, improved,” he said.
“A lot of time, a lot of hours, a lot of sweat and sewing… so a lot of needle pricks on my hands.”
When asked about the return of the convention, Mr. Riley, who has attended over a dozen Comic-Cons, said: “I’m finally back home and I’m so excited to continue playing different characters.”
Some fans dressed up not only as their favorite superheroes and fantasy characters, but also as characters with a more sentimental touch.
Alice Irvan, 38, of Washington DC, was dressed as Grace from the 2019 horror comedy “Ready Or Not,” her late father’s favorite film.
“It was my dad’s favourite film and I bought all the materials for that costume in January 2020 before the pandemic started and that was the last time I saw it in person,” she told PA.
“The world stood still and this costume went unfinished into the closet and then my father died completely unexpectedly in December 2020.
“So now we’re back in San Diego and it’s like, ‘Let’s finish this’ … It’s incredibly personal and people have responded well to it. I didn’t know if anyone would recognize it.
“It was just nice to be back and feel the embrace of people who know that my father is here in the spirit of Comic-Con.”
Celebrities who appeared on panels on the first day of the event included Ben Stiller, Hugh Grant, Adam Scott, William Shatner, Chris Pine and Rege-Jean Page from “Bridgeton.”
