Thousands of fans pack BCEC for ’17 Comic Con
Boston Herald Sunday, August 13, 2017
Thousands of hard-core comic fans packed into the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center yesterday for the second day of Boston Comic Con, a three-day pop culture extravaganza where visitors can get autographs from movie and TV starts, buy exclusive merchandise and, of course, show off their elaborate costumes.
“I look forward to it every year,” said Joe Heglar, 55, of Cornwall, N.Y.
“When you’re older, where else can you go and get dressed up and have fun?” he asked. “It’s all about the inner kid.”
Heglar, who was wearing a homemade Dr. Otto “Doc Ock” Octavius costume with four mechanical arms, said the ensemble — complete with LED lights inside the four claws — took him six months to finalize.
The Seaport District convention center was jam-packed with Spidermans, Wolverines and countless other characters. Organizers said the anticipated 50,000 fans who are expected to attend Comic Con events this weekend are why the gathering was moved from the World Trade Center to the BCEC.
“I think our new home here is a testament to the fact that the appeal of pop culture conventions is broadening every year,” show organizer Andrew Moyes said. “There’s a bit more space, a few more comfort services for everyone to enjoy, so that’s been a big change for everyone.”
As they perused hundreds of booths, fans bought memorabilia, posed for pictures inside the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon and enjoyed the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet celebrities. Headliners yesterday included Marvel Comics creator Stan Lee, Eliza Dushku from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and Matt Smith of “Dr. Who.”
And though some fans stopped by to see the stars, others said they were there to spend time with loved ones, such as Tim Potts and his 8-year-old son, Mateo Cueto-Potts, who showed up dressed as Darth Vader.
“He loves all the comic book figures and the movies, and so I brought it up for his birthday and said, do you want to go?” Potts said. “He said ‘I’ve been wanting to go my whole life.’ ”
