10th annual Cape Comic Con brings out all types of characters

Being outwitted by The Riddler is just a normal part of Chris Bower's day at the 10th annual Cape Comic Con.

Emceeing the event, Bower's main task for Saturday was to host the costume competition, introduce the participants and throw out a wisecrack or two. But, with Cape Girardeau's most creative cosplayers in attendance, it was sometimes difficult to get out the punch line.

Bower's good nature and willingness to banter make him the perfect host for the contest, which he's been a part of for eight years.

"It's really grown in the past eight years," Bower said. "The first year we had 15 [participants] and last year we had over 100, so it's really grown over the last few years."

Last year a Swamp Thing costume won the contest, and Bower said the costume was just incredible. However, this year judge Brian Morris said the competition was just as stiff.

Alvin Minnick checks the price on one of the comic books for sale at his booth during Cape Comic Con on Friday at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

"This year was the toughest one yet, I swear. Not just from the volume of people, because it's a huge amount of people -- 56, it was just like a cornucopia of people coming out," Morris said. "But as far as this year's competition, all three of us [judges] agreed it wasn't tough just because of the number of people ... but the quality of the presentation and costumes. We were like, 'Oh, my god.' We were having a tough time."

The top costumes this year were Loki, from the Marvel Comics in the children's category, and The Batman Family, which took home first place in the adult category.

When judging the costume, Morris explained there's a multitude of factors he considers.

"A lot of it has to do with originality. Also, it's a balance between how close they are to the model they're trying to imitate or how creative the interpretation of an existing costume or character," he said. "But also a major thing is how much work they put into it themselves."

Vendors from across the U.S. and Canada attended Cape Comic Con, according to co-organizer Deneké Murphy. And she said she's pleased participants are supporting the community while spending time at comic con.

Adult division of the costume contest during the Cape Comic Con on Saturday at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

"I would say this year we have exceeded any year previous," she said Saturday. "And I would say by the end of tomorrow, we would double what we've done the last couple of days. So we expect [5,000] to 7,000 people to come through the doors."

Murphy said another draw was guest Greg Land, a Marvel comics artist who designed an exclusive "The Avengers: Ultron Forever" No. 1 variant cover that features the superhero team battling Ultron under the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge.

There was no lack in variety of the characters in attendance Saturday. Every character from video game "Assassin's Creed" to TV shows "Game of Thrones" to "Gravity Falls" made an appearance, and Bower said he believes it's because of the welcoming disposition Cape Comic Con offers.

"I think what's important to people is they're in a place where they can feel good about letting their freak flag fly," Bower said. "They like coming in here -- some want to wear just a horse mask -- that's cool. Some just want to wear a Tony Stark suit, that's cool, too. Some just want to come play video games in a big room with other people playing video games. That's what makes cons so great. And then you have the card games and the role-playing games, all a whole different level. And it just gets weirder."

Morris is a perfect example, having read comic books since he was 3 years old, he has spent most of his life in the world of speech bubbles. He even has a subtle Superman symbol tattooed on his left wrist to prove it.

Santino and Tammy Marani share a laugh on stage during the adult division of the costume contest during the Cape Comic Con on Saturday at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

"I've come full circle," Morris said. "I am 59 years old now, and I've been reading since I was 3. I was the only kid in the first grade who could spell the word 'invulnerable.' So yeah, ... I loved the old TV shows and movies, and that got me into being a writer, eventually, and now I'm not just writing books, I'm writing comic books."

Cape Comic Con concludes at 5 p.m. today. For more information, visit cape-con.com.

smaue@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

Dominic Souza poses for a photo after having his face painted as Spider-Man during Cape Comic Con on Friday at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau. (Glenn Landberg)

Osage Centre, 1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.