Salinas Comic Con proved small events can inspire big obsessions.

The third annual Salinas Valley Comic Con brought one day of a reception on Friday, Dec. 16, and two subsequent days of panel discussions with professional and amateur artists, workshops on the fundamentals of creating comics, vendors selling collectables, and fans dressed faithfully as Darth Vader and Wonder Woman to the Hartnell College Student Center.

This marks the first year that the convention moves into a new venue, leaving the National Steinbeck Center for the slightly more spacious Student Center, with the Staff Lounge appropriated for smaller discussions. It turns out, the extra space wasn’t entirely warranted by the attendance.

Friday’s admission-free opening night, though all but empty of people browsing the booths of independent comic creators, offered some engrossing experiences nonetheless. Noting the lack of comic fans that night, artists from the Latino Comic Expo—which had a two-table set up covered with colorful covers of collected works, pins, and patches—were eager to share their ideas for the state of comic book culture today.

“Our [Latinos] presence is increasing and uniting,” said Ricardo Padilla, executive director of the San Jose-based Latino Comics Expo. “The first year we held our convention, back in 2011, we only had 10 artists. Now we have 80.”

Artists at the Latino Comics Expo booth included Javier Hernandez, whose art for his El Muerto Resurrection graced the cover of a recent issue of the Weekly, andCrystal Gonzales, author of seven-deadly-sins based In the Dark.

Saturday had people lining up out the door of the Student Center, but not because the venue reached maximum occupancy, but instead due to a few teenagers contemplating whether tickets could be bought online or at the door.

Saturday’s event had an additional array of fun and fascinating elements. Like panel discussions held at Steinbeck Hall throughout the day. The audiences rarely reached more than 30 people, but they provided a platform for comic creators to speak their minds. Lalo Alcaraz, cultural advisor to Pixar’s upcoming Dia de Los Muertos-inspired animated production and author of La Cucaracha comic strip, which is syndicated in the Los Angeles Times, never strayed away from illustrating his political along with artistic influences, and that made for some minor drama.

“Even if Trump tries to build that big wall, immigration won’t change,” Alcaraz said, chuckling between making points. “El Chapo perfected the tunnel system, it’s too late to stop us.”

Suddenly, a long-haired man with sunglasses on his head stood and told Alcaraz to hurry and get to the question and answer segment. Alcaraz reminded the heckler it was his event to speak at.

“Well, I’m Native American, I belong here more than most of you!” The heckler said, right before he was escorted out by an event organizer.

“They appreciate my presence,” Alcaraz said later, joking about the mixed responses his overtly political works get at conventions. His booth included posters of Migra Mouse, a Mickey Mouse wearing a border patrol costume, the Virgin of Guadalupe with bun-like braids in Princess Leia style, and an illustration of Trump with the top of his toupe making a Nazi salute. “Honestly, Salinas has the same level of love as the bigger conventions. The crowds may be smaller, but there’s much more diversity here,” Alcaraz continued.  

Another exciting sight that Saturday and Sunday con-goers were treated to were the cosplayers, fans who put on costumes of their favorite characters. A young man in overalls methodically walked around the expo in a Michael Myers mask and two teenage girls posed in the black uniforms of the Empire enforcers from Star Wars. Some took their costumes to the next level, like the 501st Legion, a clan of Stormtroopers officially recognized by Lucas Films that tour comic conventions in shiny white armor that’s as close as you can get to the stuff used in the movies.

Chris Greene, standing by an informational booth for the 501st Legion, exhibited a pride in his organization of fan-boys-turned-fictional army.

“We have 9,000 members worldwide. We have close ties to the Make-A-Wish Foundation,” Greene said. “Children, especially special-needs kids, really appreciate the hope of the Force.”

Though the 501st Legion now performs at Star Wars premiers, the Stormtroopers are at their most super when creating smiles for fans old and young alike.

“The 80-pound costume is a drag. But there’s nothing like a 3-year-old running to you in your scary Stormtrooper gear for a big hug,” Greene said, smiling. “Sometimes it can be more fun being the bad guy.”

By Ivan Garcia

Photos by Wyatt Slate