The Miami Comic Con 2011 Wizard World Convention was held Feb. 26-27 at the Double Tree hotel in Miami. Among the guest speakers were “Star Wars’” alum Billy Dee Williams and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s” Nicholas Brendon.
The atmosphere in Comic Con was electric. People of all ages were dressed in a variety costumes, such as The Joker and The Ghostbusters. The crowds milled about the various eclectic stands. Every table was as different and unique as a snowflake. T-shirts, paintings, drawings, posters, comic books, and action figures are just a few of the items that were
for purchase.
Props were also available for pictures. A Batmobile and the “Back to the Future” car were located near the entrance for fans to take photos of. The Mystery Machine, the “Scooby-Doo” van, was also there.
Williams and Brendon drew large crowds with their speeches. It was standing room only as fans lined up to learn more about their favorite stars.
One fan asked Williams whether he still got a lot of “action” from playing Lando Clarissian, or what got him more action, telling ladies he was Billy Dee Williams or Lando? The 73-year-old grandfather laughed and answered, “Both.”
Williams also told the crowd of his many art projects, which he had been doing for many years. He never watches himself on film. One of the hardest roles he ever played was when he performed as Martin Luther King, Jr. on stage.
Brendon joked about a costume malfunction that occurred during an intimate scene he was filming with a female co-star on the show “Criminal Minds.” He said that the protective clothing, which keeps the star covered accidentally fell off and he was standing on a set full of people, completely naked.
Brendon has also garnered some Emmy buzz after portraying a rapist on ABC’s “Private Practice.” When asked about his role, he said that playing such dark characters is more challenging but allows him to be more creative.
Not all of the entertainment came from the stars. At around 5 p.m. on Saturday, a group of fans gathered around and began a break dancing competition. The handful of dancers drew a small crowd of cheering on-lookers.
The next Miami Comic Con Wizard World Convention will be Dec. 2012.
