5 Reasons to Take Your Kids to a Comic Con

I am a huge nerd. I don't care who knows it and I am always ready to let my freak flag fly whenever need be. I grew up watching Batman and Robin take on the bad guys with their Zap! Pow! and Bam! antics. I loved every minute of it. I am a child of the 80's and since I couldn't really appreciate the 'big hair' craze, I tuned in to the same Bat Time and same Bat Channel every week to explore the world of crime fighting.

As a kid, the strong female roles were few and far between. However, in the land of comic books, tough chicks rule! Sure, there are the fantasy girls. The women with irrational proportions who were, more than likely, dreamt up by a guy with a pencil and an idea of their dream girl. That's fine. Girls have their dream guys too.


Comic books and super heroes are magical. They delve into a world of imagination that creates a colorful depiction of life beyond the normal. I remember reading my first comic book (X-Men) and I was immediately hooked. I wanted to be like those "freaks" and have powers that could help people. On the pages of these colorful books were normal people with not-so-normal powers and I wanted that. To this day, I still have an infatuation with super heroes. I love the imagination and creativity behind each character and I appreciate how those icons have created a group of like-minded people who carry on the tales.

That is why I love comic conventions. I have been to two and at the first one I got to see my childhood hero, Batman. Adam West Batman that is. I was in awe. I remember walking by him way too many times staring like a true groupy girl. I wanted to go up to him, hug him, and tell him 'thank you' for getting me through some of the toughest years of my life by letting me escape into his crime fighting world each week. My parents got a divorce around the same time I discovered who Batman was. I turned to super heroes and comic books to help me escape. It worked for me. The art was soothing and the story lines were adventurous.

I took my sons the next year when I went and they were amazed to be walking amongst Storm Troopers, Spider-man, and so many other people just being themselves and enjoying life. You see, at comic cons it's normal to see half of the crowd dressed as their favorite hero or villain (Cosplay). Some go to great lengths to keep their costumes as true to the character as possible. Kids will stop these average people for photo ops. You can see the joy in their faces when they see Batman, Captain America, or Darth Vader walking toward them. It's an experience like no other. Even nerdy adults like me love seeing the elaborate detail in costumes. Nerd power!

Here in Ohio, on October 31, November 1, and November 2 the Wizard World Ohio Comic Con is coming to town at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. It's a day for the nerds of Ohio to gather together and share in the joy of what unites them. Special guests like Norman Reedus from the Walking Dead, Sean Astin from Goonies,  and Sean Patrick Flannery from Boondock Saints will be there to highlight the day. Along with many other special guests, comic books, and pop culture fun! This is not just for adults. There are activities for kids like a trick-or-treat and contests.   Visit the Wizard World site for more details HERE.

If you don't think this is a reason to get your Superman or Wonder Woman costume out of the closet, then you should really reconsider. This is a great time to show your kids the wonders of comic books and share a day full of adventure and exploring. I know I'll be taking my boys this year. They are looking forward to it.

In case you need convincing, here's five reason your kids should experience their first comic con with you!

1. Kids believe in heroes. Just imagine the looks on their faces when you take them to see their ultimate heroes!

2. Comic books are a great way to help teach kids to read. I'm not talking graphic novels. I mean good, old-fashioned, bad guy gets beat by the good guy comic books. There is a large selection of vendors selling all sorts of items to help start your child's collection. Even stuff for those Minecraft fans too!

3. Parents don't have to grow up. Comic cons are a good way to show your child that even though you are a grown-up who pays bills, you can let your hair down and be a super hero too. They get to see that believing in something fantastic doesn't stop when you grow older.

4. It's fun to dress up! If you have kids like my two boys, then you've made a few trips to the store with Spider-man and Batman in tow. There were days when my sons refused to remove their crime figthing uniforms for a trip to the grocery. So, I let them wear their little super hero costumes. Imagine their joy when they are told they're going to a place where a lot of people will be doing the same thing!

5. Memories are important. Amusement parks and camping trips are wonderful, but how many times will you get the chance to see TV and movie stars, comic book characters, and artists as a family? This doesn't happen every single day. This is an event you can go to, create a memory by capturing a pic of the family with Batman, and look back on. Memories are sometimes overlooked, but, I know from experience, kids won't soon forget walking amongst legends.

I hope you get the chance to visit the Wizard World Ohio Comic Con. It's an awesome experience. If you decide to take the plunge and go, use the code OHIOWEEN for a 10% discount on the Wizard World website to order your tickets in advance. No standing in line! Who knows, maybe we'll see each other there.

Take Care,
NB