Lafayette, Louisiana became the comic headquarters this past weekend.
Louisiana Comic Con: Lafayette took place Oct. 17 and 18 at the Cajundome Convention Center, bringing vendors from around the state and guest panelists from all aspects of pop culture together.
Vendors offered collectable prints, illustrations and collectible figures from the world of comics, television and movies. Some offered rare vintage comics for fans of different series who normally would find it hard to get ahold of their favorite heroes’ tales. GameStop was also present at the convention and brought game demos for games that come out over the next few months like the new Guitar Hero.
The convention brought those who make pop culture happen to the fan. Guest panelists ranged from well known comic illustrators, such as comic book inker Roland Paris, to actors, such as Donald Fullilove of “Back to the Future” and “American Dad.”
While the number of conventions Paris has attended is too many to count, the illustrator was happy with the convention’s size and layout, he said.
“The Lafayette convention has been amazing so far,” Paris said. “It’s big enough that people can come in and find what they want but also small enough that you can make personal connections with the people at the convention.”
Paris is an illustrator for Marvel Comics and he brings characters like Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel and the X-Force to life. He said his favorite thing about the convention was meeting fans of the characters that he inks.
“I love doing sketches for people and meeting the kids,” Paris said. “Watching their eyes light up when they see characters they recognize is my favorite part.”
Fullilove is also no stranger to comic conventions, but he enjoyed the excitement surrounding this past weekend’s convention, he said.
“I like how the people come here to enjoy the experience at this convention,” Fullilove said.
Students from LSU also came from Baton Rouge for the event.
Physics freshman David Bryant had never been to Comic Con before this weekend, and he was happy that he could go to a convention and be surrounded by people that share his interests.
“This convention is a place like no other,” Bryant said.
Criminal justice senior Cole Sellers said he had never been to a Comic Con before the Lafayette Convention. The best part for him was the amount of people in costumes and how everyone wanted to take photos, as well as the original artwork that vendors were selling, he said. Sellers joined the crowd in costumes by dressing as Captain America to the convention.
“I would definitely come back next year,” Sellers said.

Gallery • 10 Photos

Emily Brauner

For the first year, Louisiana Comic Con hits Lafayette's Cajundome Convention Center for a two day event beginning Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015. A young Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cosplayer poses for a photo with her father,