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| 'Dude fest’ Phoenix Comicon gets a feminine touch | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Albert Ching, Get Out | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| January 25, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The organizers of the Phoenix Comicon, which returns this weekend to the Mesa Convention Center for the third time, are working to change that perception. “We are always trying to increase the size of our tent as far as genres that we try and cover,” says convention director Matt Solberg. He expects an attendance of 4,000 this weekend — a number that has grown every convention since it moved to Mesa. “It’s not just comic books, it’s not just animé, it’s not just science fiction.” There are still plenty of options for the typical comic book convention crowd: Exhibitors selling comics and action figures; big-name creators like “Heroes” writer Jeph Loeb; actors from sci-fi films and TV shows like Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca in the original “Star Wars” trilogy. But this year there’s also plenty to offer a group often overlooked at such events — female fans. New events this year include Friday night’s “zombie beauty pageant,” a Girl Gamer Tournament that runs throughout the convention, and tonight’s Japanese-themed Animé Dance. Solberg says there wasn’t a conscious decision to target the female market; rather, it was an organic result. “I think that the influence of having women involved in key staff positions within our convention brings a varied perspective to what we can offer,” he says. Cira Peterson, the convention’s director of animé-related programming, conceived the tournament, designed to find the best female player in the Valley through competing in a variety of video game titles, chosen at random to surprise the contestants. Solberg says Peterson came up with the idea when she noticed that women often feel uncomfortable while playing video games with men. “Guys tend to be very hotheaded, arrogant, while playing games,” says Solberg. “It’s a tournament geared specifically toward women gamers.” The Japanese-themed dance, believe it or not, actually comes from the result of overwhelming popular demand. “That is something our attendees have been clamoring for,” says Solbert. Solberg and his crew are well aware of the cliches that come with comic book conventions. “We’ve very much aware of that stereotype, and as a result, we try to be a family-friendly event,” says Solberg. “I think when you look at our convention, especially compared to others, it’s a very diverse group that comes out. It’s fairly well split among genders, and the age groups we get, it’s all across the board.” Finally — a place where women and wookiees can feel at home. DETAILS Phoenix ComiconWhen: Exhibit room is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Programming runs 10 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday Where: Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St. Cost: $20 Saturday, $15 Sunday, or $25 for both days Information: (602) 697-4007 or phoenixcomicon.com. Contact Albert Ching by email, or phone (480) 898-5688 |
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