Dover Comic Con 2024 shines across the city
Beautiful weather was reflected in the eyes (and masks and armor and lightsabers) of attendees at Dover Comic Con on Saturday.
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Dover Comic Con 2024 shines across the city
By Laura WalterDOVER — Beautiful weather was reflected in the eyes (and masks and armor and lightsabers) of attendees at Dover Comic Con on Saturday.
The state capital transformed into a costumed, family-friendly pop culture festival. From anime to medieval moments, the day was filled with fun sights.
Gaming wizards competed in the pinball tourney or the Super Smash Bros. throwdown. Other wizards and witches enjoyed magic at the John Bell House. Disney fans met princesses, while “Star Wars” fans encountered characters and trained in lightsaber demos.
Most stunning was the wide array of costumes — from families who dusted off Halloween outfits to individuals who spent months handmaking a favorite or original character, meaning superheroes, horrific villains, elegant fantasy folk and, frankly, whatever else struck their fancy.
Jean Davis decorated her mobile scooter into the “Cat Mobile.” Meantime, Mark Powell displayed a mash-up of several beloved characters: Mr. Rogers, Captain America and Thor (based on a comic strip in which the good-hearted TV personality was able to easily lift Thor’s hammer).
Many of these visitors strutted their stuff in the cosplay competitions. And other activities included shopping from a number of vendors (game dice, collectibles, art and more), trivia, guest lectures and art exhibits, plus a VIP area (tickets for which are available each spring at delmarvaevents.net).
Professional wrestling concluded the day, as Dynamite Championship Wrestling set up a full ring under the trees on Legislative Mall, where heroes and heels competed in Clash at the Con 3.
Dover Comic Con is produced by the Daily State News and sponsored by the city of Dover, P&G Gable Dover, Dover Electric, Kent County Tourism, the Dover Federal Credit Union, Del-One Federal Credit Union, 92.9 TOM-FM and WBOC, with the support of many local partners, including the Dover Public Library, Red Bandana, the Biggs Museum of American Art, the Delaware Division of Historical & Cultural Affairs, the First State Heritage Park and TKO Productions/DCW ProWrestling.
This was the event’s 10th anniversary, developing from what was originally a Dover Public Library activity.
“What the library did with Dover Comic Con was consistently knocked out of the park, and everyone wanted to see it grow,” so the Daily State News took the reins several years ago, to continue its expansion, said special events manager Jessica Cook.
“It’s been a really nice partnership. … We’ve added new things every year.”
Find more photos online at baytobaynews.com. Dover Comic Con updates are posted on Facebook and Instagram (@dovercomiccon). Read the program book at baytobaynews.com/specialsections.
