Comic book fans in Yuma County have options to attend nearby conventions, also known as comic-cons. The most famous is the annual event in San Diego and there are others in the Phoenix area. But for the past six years, San Luis has hosted its own comic-con.
Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Deadpool all descended on San Luis Saturday to save the planet. Well, sort of.
These were just some of the characters at the Blazing Desert Comic Con. Now in its sixth year, organizers said it began as a small club event and is now a day-long convention for fans who may not be able to attend the much larger comic-cons.
Sisters Samantha and Meliea Barrientos of Yuma were dressed as the video game characters Mario and Princess Peach. Meliea Barrientos said she enjoys the fans’ costume play, also known as cosplay.
“I’m really into cosplaying," she said. "I love dressing up and just looking like a whole different person. I think that’s the most fun thing of cosplay. At comic cons, you get the whole cosplay aspect and I love seeing people’s different costumes and how cool and amazing they can be.”
Fans could meet comic book artists and buy prints, comic books and memorabilia from their favorite movies, shows, video games and anime series. Roger Velasco, an actor from the Power Rangers TV show, met fans and posed for photos.
