The Florida Supercon - Miami 2010

What are Super Mario, the Thunder Cats, the original Shaft, and a rave party doing all under one roof? They call it the Florida Supercon - South Florida's largest comics, anime, sci-fi , film and video game convention. Friday, June 18^th until Sunday the 20^th 2010, The Doubletree Miami Mart Hotel's 125,000 square foot Convention Center played host to a plethora of events, vendors, artists, and just pure fantastical extravaganza like nothing you've seen before.

Now in its fifth year, the Miami Supercon is more popular than ever. The event has grown from an attendance of hundreds in 2005 to thousands in 2010 - with more guest celebrities and artists each year. The Supercon welcomed Bruce Campbell of the cult film Army of Darkness in 2009, and 2010 was not too shabby either. To name just a few, Ska Punk band Less Than Jake rocked out on stage and B-movie celebrities such as Richard Roundtree (Shaft), Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, Tia Carrere, John Wesley Shipp (The Flash), and even Larry “Soup Nazi” Thomas (Seinfeld) graced the event with their presence!*

At the Florida Supercon, there’s a weapons policy in place for a good reason. Some of its attending fans are carrying an arsenal of massive swords, hammers, guns and shields as part of their uber creative, and downright freaky, cosplay outfits. The Supercon holds 3 days of costume play (aka Cosplay) competitions, with over 100 imaginative cosplayers in participation. Prominent cosplay guests of attendance included Outland Armour (steampunk characters), Miracole Burns and the sexy Yaya Han.

Keeping in with the theme of costumed dementia and video game tributes, the Live Action Smash Brothers 3000 Super Show was your chance to see Mario, Princess Peach, Luigi, Yoshi, Wario, Snake (MGS), Samus, Bowser, and Zelda performing in a tasteful theatrical performance. The extreme Rumble Roses Live featured some of the sexiest female wrestlers in the country, and the loony Supercon Mania had Batman in the ring up against The Joker, Mario Bros, Cobra Commander, the Geico Caveman, and more.

The 3-day Supercon was a journey during which we had the opportunity to meet remarkable comic-land artists such as Luis Diaz, who illustrates spoofs on the Garbage Pail Kids, art-nouveau illustrator Echo Chernik (aka Echo-X), and Christopher Darden – an illustrator, filmmaker, and photographer whom may have seen a few two many Tim Burton movies! And since no one gets away from a convention without buying some hot merch,’ we made it out with some wicked t-shirts from Phil Fung – an artist with plenty of political messages.

As children of the 80s, we found ourselves observing old favorite classics reborn with a new spin – and taking in a new understanding of society. The Florida Supercon was reminiscent of a time not so long ago when iPhones, Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution were only figments of imagination. Those were the nostalgic days of Thundercats, Goldorak, 8-bit Mario, good ol’ Scooby Doo, and cutting-edge Betamax technology – brought back to life!

The 2010 Florida Supercon in Miami was an incredible event, surprising in countless ways, and a welcome twist to the already crazy life & times of South Florida. We all wish an outstanding continuation to the talented and enthralling contributing individuals of this hidden social movement.

 

*Other noteworthy media guests at the 2010 Florida Supercon included Rebecca Staab (Desperate Housewives), Joseph Culp (Mad Men), Julie McCullough & Cathy St. George (Playboy Playmates), Cindy Morgan (Tron), Brad Kesten (Charlie Brown & Snoopy Show), Herschell Gordon Lewis  & Lloyd Kauffman (filmmaker legends), Paris Themmen (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory), Anthony “These are not the droids we’re looking for” Forrest, Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen Hunger Force), Robb Demarest & Brandy Green (Ghost Hunters International), plus wrestling superstars Gregg “The Hammer” Valentine, Terri Runnels, Stacy “The Cat” Carter, Traci Brooks, Mia St. John, Sinn Bodhi, Lizzy Valentine, and too many more to list!