A Sea of Geeks: An Unofficial Guide To Florida Supercon

By Aimee Mahmoud

Ah, fan conventions. Thirty years ago, publicly announcing your intention to attend one would be the pinnacle of social suicide. Indeed, until recent years, fan conventions were relegated as a mecca for the socially inept, the sexually frustrated, and the all-around pathetic, Sci-fi loving misfits of an MTV-medicated society. In recent times, and partly thanks to the Internet, the words 'nerd' and 'geek' have taken on much more flattering connotations: Does the word 'sapiosexual' mean anything to you? Fan conventions like the well-known San Diego Comic-Con and Atlanta DragonCon attract thousands upon thousands of visitors a year; becoming well-known for attracting a throng of gorgeous geek girls clad in revealing costumes, high-profile celebrities, and hundreds of eager, one-of-a-kind vendors. Living in South Florida for nearly my entire life, I've come to associate Miami Beach with any but 'nerd chic' and geek-culture. As an ardent fan of graphic novels, arcade video games, and science fiction television shows, I was beyond thrilled to hear about the up-and-coming Miami Comic-Con, better known as Florida Supercon. Any reason to dress-up as my favorite media character, browse for $1 comic book deals, and congregate with thousands of like-minded nonconformists is a good enough reason for me to get my butt down to South Beach for Florida Supercon 2014. Cosplay is an essential part of Cons, as any attendee can tell you, and in keeping with the trend I chose one of my all-time favorite superheroines: Black Canary. Tough, smooth, and sultry, Dinah Laurel Lance (aka Black Canary) is a force to be reckoned with. Sporting a super-sonic scream and some of the sharpest martial arts skills in the DC Comics Universe, Black Canary's deceptively simple costume simply isn't enough to represent her badass-ry and supreme awesome-sauce. Cosplay being more about handiwork than scouring the internet for ready-to-wear outfits, I was satisfied with my valiant effort at crafting a satin bustier leotard by hand. Entering through the Miami Beach Convention Center doors, I was taken aback at the hundreds of people packed into the registration room. Sure, I had attended Supercons in the past, but this year's Con was estimated to attract over 40,000 attendees - and looking through the main reception hall doors, I was prepared to take that as a conservative estimate. 

With my 'normie' companion in hand, I was almost immediately hailed by a smiling woman clutching a camera who had apparently chased me down for a picture. "I love Black Canary! I had to run to get your photo!" she managed to say through gasps for breath. With a peculiar blend of awkwardness and narcissism aside, being approached by complete strangers for a photo opp while in costume at Supercon (or any other convention, for that matter) is a total norm. I'd heard countless horror stories about cosplayer girls being disrespected by fellow convention go-ers, but thanks to Supercon's zero-tolerance policies, convention attendees proved to be respectful and restrained. Creativeness is key to a great cosplay outfit, and many seasoned pros will often eschew traditional character uniforms in lieu of their own unconventional designs. I was, in any respect, stunned by some of the more high-end outfits I managed to catch glimpses and photos of. A trio all the way from Canada arrived in an incredible Wild Wild West group costume, in what could perfectly be described as a love-letter to Steampunk fiction and subculture. The winner of the costume competition, however, took things another step further by constructing a Gundam Wing mobile suit made entirely out of cardboard coated with acrylic paint.

Well-known industry names from the likes of Dana Snyder, Nichelle Nichols, and Jason Momoa took to the main stage to talk with fans about their experiences on-set, and naturally; the stars of Arrowand Game of Thrones stole the thunder with a riveting Q&A panel. A round of amateur-run Florida Super Championship Wrestling provided a breath of fresh air in-between celebrity meet & greet sessions and offbeat workshops like 'Creating Graphic Novels & Manga' and 'The FSC Dating Game hosted by Cobra Commander'. The Vendor's Arena, however, is the icing on the Supercon cake. Fan conventions are as much about shopping as they are about cheesy, over-the-top fandom. Last-minute $0.50 comic book deals, unique fan art, and handcrafted jewelry are the hors d'oeuvres of a Con experience - for me, at least. Being in the vendor's pit afforded me some fun opportunities to connect with my fellow convention-goers, as I was casually approached by a young girl who was interested in discussing the fundamental differences between Marvel's Black Cat and DC's Black Canary. Later on, an older lady with a booth displaying unique Supernatural memorabilia gushed about our mutual love for the cult TV-series' key supporting character, Castiel.

Collective affection for a particular fandom, nerdy debate, eccentric seminars, and exclusive merchandise are some of the key reasons myself and countless others chose to attend Florida Supercon. Being able to discuss a specific character without feeling over-analytical or just completely silly is, in my experience, a complete relief. Living in a place known for it's wild nightlife, beaches, and shopping malls has left geek-oriented introverts like myself feeling alienated, alone, and with something to be desired. It seems that in keeping with South Florida's cosmopolitan, 'anything-goes' attitude, events like Florida Supercon aim to cater to Miami's growing melting-pot. Or it might be just another money-making marketing ploy on part of the Miami-Dade County Parks & Recreation department. Regardless, the united geek community of South Florida (and pretty much the world) stands ever-ready, ever-eager for whatever fandom goodies Florida Supercon and Co. has to offer.