'We're back': Here's your guide to the 2022 Corpus Christi Comic Con
The American Bank Center in Corpus Christi will soon be overrun with cosplayers, comic book lovers and nerds letting their geek flag fly high.
Corpus Christi Comic Con will return this year and, for the first time, will be held over three days — Friday, July 15, through Sunday, July 17.
The event was postponed for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but co-owner Daniel Benavides said he and his team are pulling out all the stops to make this year memorable.
"It's going to be our biggest show yet," Benavides said. "We're expecting 8,000 to 10,000 people that weekend, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's more."
Benavides said he wanted to wait for the right time to bring Corpus Christi Comic Con back to make sure people felt comfortable enough to be out.
"2020 and 2021 were the dark ages for us, but now we're back," Benavides said. "People are out everywhere and I'm excited to see them back."
Benavides said High Tide Events, the company that owns Corpus Christi Comic Con, will have a second convention for the community coming in February 2023: Anime Corpus Christi.
The new convention is set to be "all things anime," Benavides said, and more information is forthcoming.
Benavides said the break allowed him to come up with plenty of ideas to entice the community.
Here's everything you need to know about Corpus Christi Comic Con.
Celebs
More than a dozen celebrities are coming to visit this year's Comic Con.
Some are only here for one day, so be sure to double-check before you miss your favorite actor.
Jake Abel (Adam Milligan/Michael in "Supernatural") will be at Corpus Christi Comic all three days.
Cooper Andrews (Jerry in "The Walking Dead") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam in "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con Saturday.
Justin Briner (Izuku Midoriya in "My Hero Academia") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
Greg Cipes (Beast Boy in "Teen Titans") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
Jason Faunt (Wes in "Power Rangers Time Force") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con Saturday and Sunday only.
Dan Fogler (Jacob Kowalski in "Fantastic Beasts" series) will be at Corpus Christi Comic all three days.
Jason David Frank (Tommy in "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con Saturday only.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Zack Morris in "Saved by the Bell") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
Alaina Hoffman (Abaddon in "Supernatural") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
Ross Marquand (Aaron in "The Walking Dead") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
Scott Patterson (Luke Danes in "Gilmore Girls") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
Khary Payton (Ezekiel in "The Walking Dead") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
DJ Qualls (Dizzy in "The New Guy") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
Kim Rhodes (Sheriff Jody Mills in "Supernatural") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
Monica Rial (Bulma in "Dragon Ball Super") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con all three days.
Matthew Wood (General Grievous in "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith") will be at Corpus Christi Comic Con Saturday only.
Guest artists and pro cosplayers
Here are the celebrity guest artists to look out for and the pro cosplayers you have to meet.
Hector Ceniceros: Best known for his cereal box art covers, Ceniceros specializes in parody art. He makes sure his art provides positive humor.
Scott Harben: A digital illustrator whose work can be seen in "Punisher Max" for Marvel Comics and other projects including "Sandman," "Jennifer Blood" and "Hellraiser." Harben has been working with Lucasfilm since 2005 creating images for the original "Star Wars" trilogy, prequels and "The Clone Wars" animated series.
Clinton Hobart: A licensed Disney Fine Artist, he creates original oil paintings of a wide variety of subjects ranging from classical subject matter, such as fruit, to more modern subjects like Mickey Mouse. Hobart has been featured on NBC News, FOX News, The CW and ABC News.
Julia Mann: A sketch artist, Mann has designed stationery, murals and illustrations. Her favorite media are her colored pencils and sketchbook.
Vo Nguyen: A professional since the mid-1990s, Nguyen has been in the comic book industry providing artwork for covers, trading cards and other collectibles. He has worked with comic book companies including Marvel, DC, IDW and Dynamite.
Ally B. Cosplay: Ally has been cosplaying since 2010, and her favorite character to dress up as is Wonder Woman. Her cosplays include various anime, video game and comic characters.
Bart Sears: Sears has been drawing comics for more than three decades for publishers including DC, Marvel and Dark Horse. He also designs toys for G.I. Joe, X-Men and WWF.
Henshin Squad: This Houston-based team devotes their time to making live-action content around the tokusatsu genre — think "Power Rangers" vibes. They have worked with trained actors, performers, artists, voice actors and other cosplayers over their five-year career.
Ithileryn Cosplay: From Denton, Ithileryn started her cosplay career in 2017 and became a self-taught seamstress and photographer. Best known for her portrayal of Raven from "Teen Titans," she has been featured in magazines including Cosplay Realm Magazine and Creative Cosplay Magazine.
Paradox Cosplay: This Puerto Rican cosplayer and U.S. Army veteran from San Antonio has been bringing characters to life since 2012. Along with being a seamstress and photographer, she has cosplayed more than 80 characters.
Sir Nick Justice: Since 2013, Nick has been cosplaying and hoping to influence future artists in the community. The Texas cosplayer has cosplayed as Sub-Zero, Batman, Venom and Deadpool.
Photo ops
To purchase photo op tickets, visit corpuschristicomiccon.com/photo-ops. Each session includes one glossy 8-by-10-inch print and a free digital copy.
The earlier you buy photo ops with celebrity guests, the sooner you will get your experience. VIPs will also be placed in their groups according to when they purchased their photo op. However, VIP attendees will always have priority.
Photo ops with guest artists and cosplayers will be held at their respective booths.
Panels
Friday
3 p.m. — Class 1-A at U.A. High (Justin Briner and Monica Rial)
4 p.m. — Friends of the Legion (501st presentation)
5 p.m. — The Art of Bart Sears
8 p.m. — Nerd Prom
Saturday
11 a.m. — History of Heroes (Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History)
Noon — Time Out with Zack (Mark-Paul Gosselaar)
1 p.m. — Go Go Power Panel (Jason Faunt and Jason David Frank)
2 p.m. — Don't Dead Open Inside (Cooper Andrews, Ross Maquand and Khary Payton)
3 p.m. — Earth's Mightiest Metal (Bitforce)
4 p.m. — Cosplaying How-to (Props, sewing, social media and everything in between)
5 p.m. — Nerdcore Comedy Hour
6 p.m. — Adult Cosplay Contest
Sunday
Noon — Fine Art Live Painting (Clinton Hobart)
1 p.m. — Life in the Wizarding World (Dan Fogler)
2 p.m. — Supernatural Delight (Jake Abel, Alaina Huffman, DJ Qualls and Kim Rhodes)
3 p.m. — C4 Charity Auction & Trivia Hour (Exclusive autographed items up for grabs; benefits charity)
4 p.m. — Nerdcore Comedy Hour
5 p.m. — Kids Cosplay Contest
Nerd Prom
Corpus Christi Comic Con will host its first Nerd Prom after the first day of the event Friday, July 15.
The prom will be held at The Bay Jewel event center. There will be arcade games, curated nerd cocktails, a 360 photo booth, a live DJ and crownings of a Nerd Prom King and Queen.
Presale tickets can be purchased at corpuschristicomiccon.com/tickets for $12. Tickets at the door will be $15. VIPs and volunteers get in free.
How to get tickets
Friday passes are $25, Saturday $35 and Sunday $30.
Weekend passes are $50.
VIP passes are $110 and come with a VIP badge and lanyard, Corpus Christi Comic Con exclusive prints, an exclusive shirt, a Corpus Christi Comic Con branded collector's mug, a Corpus Christi Comic Con collector's pin, priority access for celebrity autographs and photo-ops and free entry into the C4 after party.
Children's one-day passes are $10 for any day and $20 for weekend passes.
Tickets can be purchased online at corpuschristicomiccon.com/tickets.
If you go
WHAT: Corpus Christi Comic Con
WHEN: Noon to 7 p.m. Friday, July 15; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 16; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 17
WHERE: American Bank Center
WEBSITE: corpuschristicomiccon.com
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Here's your guide to the 2022 Corpus Christi Comic Con
