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Back to the '80s: Albuquerque Comic Con brings out stars, fans and artists
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Fans went back to the 1980s at Albuquerque Comic Con on Sunday, with a long line awaiting a chance to get an autograph or photo from Christopher Lloyd 鈥� who brought life to Doc Brown in the time-traveling 鈥淏ack to the Future鈥� trilogy.
A miniature Dr. Emmett Brown, 9-year-old Max Williams, was one of many eager fans. Marty McFly is his favorite character, and he watches the movies with his brother, his grandma and for movies nights.
鈥淗e got the DeLorean from Santa for Christmas,鈥� said Adeline Abeyta, Williams鈥� mother.
Doc Brown wasn鈥檛 alone 鈥� Williams鈥� older brother Trey Williams, 20, dressed as McFly, the young man who traveled to the past and the future in the series of films.
鈥淚 always liked 鈥楤ack to the Future,鈥� plus Christopher Lloyd鈥檚 here too, so I kind of had to,鈥� Trey Williams said.
The opportunity to meet the beloved actor was one the family is unlikely to have again, Abeyta said, as the three-day event drew to a close on Sunday.
Downstairs was a real DeLorean owned by Albuquerque couple Marco and Celina Stoyanof, who bought the car in Kansas.
鈥淚t was a barn find,鈥� Celina Stoyanof said. 鈥淪omeone bought this property; they looked inside the barn. There was not only one DeLorean, but there was two DeLoreans, and we were able to negotiate with the owner to sell us one.鈥�
When they purchased it two years ago, the car was trashed. But Marco, along with a team of friends and family members painted the vehicle and manufactured pieces to kit out their DeLorean like the time traveling vehicle from the films. There was a rush to get the work done since Christopher Lloyd himself would be at the convention.
鈥淲e鈥檙e big fans of the 鈥�80s and everything, therefore that鈥檚 why we own 鈥楾he A-Team鈥� van too,鈥� Stoyanof said.
They also have a collection of costumes from the Predator to Batman, and a life-sized remote controlled R2-D2 鈥� all of which they enjoy taking to charity events.
Stoyanof had to pause the interview so she could assist Darth Vader into the driver鈥檚 seat for a photo op 鈥� a crossover spectacle that drew a small crowd who all wanted to snap a photo.
鈥淥ur whole thing is always to do charity work and community work,鈥� Stoyanof said. 鈥淲e show the cars at like I said, Make A Wish events, veterans鈥� events, senior citizen events, anything to promote smiles. Again, it鈥檚 just to give back to the community and to keep the silver screen alive.鈥�
The DeLorean is not drivable yet 鈥� to the future or on Albuquerque streets. The engine still needs work, but give them another year, and the Stoyanofs plan to have their DeLorean on the road and back to the future.
A spectacle to behold: Cosplayers compete for best costume at the 2024 Albuquerque Comic Con
Costumes galore, fans and more
In layers of aprons, splattered with fake blood and carrying a faux head, plastic dismembered arms and vertebrae, Julia Murillo took first place in the adult costume contest Saturday night for her Piggy Pie the Butcher costume.
Sunday鈥檚 costumes were tamer: plenty of characters from the 鈥淪pider-Man鈥� universe, stormtroopers, Sailor Moon characters, at least two Captain Americas, and a very glamorous Jessica Rabbit sipping a Modelo near some stairs. On the stairs, people in costumes sat eating Frito pies or nachos.
Chris Kelly, in a very convincing Captain America costume complete with boots, shield and dark blond wig, was enjoying his sixth year at Albuquerque Comic Con, with his girlfriend Black Widow 鈥� Wendy Harrison 鈥� and cousin Spider-Gwen 鈥� Staci Tipton.
The convention is a great opportunity for people watching, said Harrison.
鈥淚鈥檓 definitely a geek at heart,鈥� Kelly said. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been into comics and all that, so it鈥檚 fun to see that it鈥檚 popular now. Because back when I was younger, it wasn鈥檛.鈥�
For years Kelly has been dressing up for charity groups, including the well known 501st Legion 鈥� a charity group that dresses in 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� stormtrooper costumes and participates in events like visiting children at hospitals.
鈥淭he ones that are really impactful are the hospital visits when we can see kids that are sick and not feeling great, give them something to smile about,鈥� Kelly said. 鈥淭hat is a great feeling when you walk away. So it鈥檚 good to be able to give back, but also still geek out.鈥�
Kelly and Tipton took a photo with 鈥淪pider-Man鈥� in 1983, when they were 6 and 5, at Uncle Cliff鈥檚 (before Cliff鈥檚 Amusement Park was renamed).
鈥淭hat鈥檚 where it began. ... When you think that you鈥檙e actually meeting the character you鈥檝e been watching or reading about, for the young kids they think it鈥檚 the real thing,鈥� Kelly said. 鈥淎nd then as they get older, they just like it because it reminds them of being a kid again.鈥�
Along with a chance to dress in costume, the convention had a film festival and panels with well-known names like 鈥淪upernatural鈥� star Jared Padalecki and 鈥淴-Men鈥� star Famke Janssen.
Comics, swords and plushies were all on sale. But Rod Velarde鈥檚 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� artwork stood out.
Velarde is a Native American artist who used to create pottery. In 2017, his son suggested he try making 鈥淪tar Wars鈥� art. So, Velarde took his art and applied it to stormtrooper helmets and prints of BB-8, a droid from the films.
鈥淭he whole family鈥檚 into 鈥楽tar Wars.鈥� We鈥檙e 鈥楽tar Wars鈥� nuts,鈥� Velarde said. When the first 鈥楽tar Wars鈥� movie came out, he took his family, including his infant daughter, 13 times to see it 鈥� despite the hour and a half drive that required. His Native pop art is on display until August at Fort Lewis College Center for Southwest studies as part of a 鈥楽tar Wars鈥� art show.
