Convention brings heroes, villains together

Photo By Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock | The Norris family shows off their prize-winning group costume depicting characters from the movie “The Last Airbender” during the second annual Comic Convention at the Camp Foster Library Feb. 25. The event brought out many different creative costumes based on characters from movies, comic books and cartoons.  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

02.25.2012

Story by Lance Cpl. Kasey Peacock 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP FOSTER, Japan - As Darth Vader’s eyes met Captain America’s, it was unclear who would make the next move. Meanwhile, Super Mario and the Joker remained deep in conversation as the library full of science fiction and comic book characters set their differences aside and came together as one.

For enthusiasts from across Okinawa, it was no ordinary day at the Camp Foster Library.

Superheroes, villains, cartoon and science fiction characters gathered for the 2nd annual Comic Convention at the Camp Foster Library Feb. 25. The event was hosted by Marine Corps Community Services librarians from different camps across Okinawa for comic-loving service members and their families.

“Our goal was to gather people with similar interests together,” said Jeffrey B. Conner, a library supervisor for the event. “With being overseas and living in a different culture, events like these provide the opportunity for service members and their families to get a taste of home and see what the library has to offer.”

The Comic-Con featured several different activities for attendees, including several discussion panels featuring different comics, an art contest, drawings, graphic novel discussions, gaming rooms, a photo booth and an audience-judged costume contest.

The audience judged the contest in three different categories: best child costume, best adult costume and best group costume.

“The contestants really stepped their game up this year,” said Rebecca K. Baldwin, an MCCS library programmer who donned a Lady Sif costume from the movie “Thor” during the event.

“I loved the costumes and the enthusiasm, and hope people continue to look for what the library has to offer,” she added.

The event brought out many different creative costumes from movies, comic books and cartoons, but it was a young Anakin Skywalker who proved herself as the audience favorite for the child costume contest.

Participants in the adult costume contest did not hold anything back as they displayed near-perfect replicas of their favorite science fiction characters, but in the end it was a strikingly accurate portrayal of the Batman villain “The Joker,” by Hunter Burton, who was crowned best costume among adults.

While a majority of the annual Comic-Cons are held back in the U.S., for many service members and their families this was their first opportunity to attend one.

“I was excited to bring some of my friends who had never been to a Comic-Con before,” said Branden L. Childers, a participant. “With this being my first Comic-Con on a military base, it was great to see both sides of the American and Japanese cultures.”

The final costume event was the group contest, which was won by the Norris family for their depiction of characters from the movie “The Last Airbender.”

“As long as we get turnouts like we did today, the annual Comic-Con will continue to come back again and again,” said Baldwin.

• Date Taken: 02.25.2012
• Date Posted: 03.01.2012 18:57
• Story ID: 84601
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP