Community and Comic Con

Nov 12

Nov 12 Community and Comic Con

By Ella Tracy

Nov. 8-10 marked my second weekend attending Twin Cities Comic Con in Minneapolis. After my experience last year, I reflected on the importance of connections made by fandoms. The love and community shared by famous guests and cosplayers alike was felt exponentially this weekend as we celebrated collective adoration for our fictional worlds in a space that welcomed, celebrated and cherished each one of us.

I bought my tickets for TCC in May 2024 the second I found out that the cast and crew who created two of my favorite shows would be gracing Minnesota with their presence. Hazbin Hotel (Amazon Prime) and Helluva Boss (YouTube) were created by independent animator Vivienne Medrano and have taken the internet by storm with the shows’ unhinged chaos and remarkably heartfelt sincerity. I’ve been a fan of both shows since I watched Hazbin Hotel shortly after its January 2024 premiere, so meeting the creators and voice actors of the shows shaping my adult life was nothing short of an honor.

Cosplaying Angel Dust with Alex Brightman, Vivienne Medrano, Amir Talai, Blake Roman, Krystina Alabado and Joel Perez.

One’s budget can only go so far at a comic con as substantial as this one, but I reveled in the knowledge that I was breathing the same air as other influential actors like Hayden Christenson, Grant Gustin, the cast of Encanto, Wes Johnson, Josh Keaton, actors from Boy Meets World, Olivia Olson, Ian McDiarmid, Tom Kenny and countless others.

Cosplaying Charlie Morningstar with Erika Henningson and Stephanie Beatriz.

I spent the weekend cosplaying characters from the Hellaverse (the nickname for the universe in which Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss take place) and chatting with the actors. I was amazed by the genuine love the actors have for each other and for their work. Their passion, joy, and persistence in their creation of queer art was beyond inspirational. Being surrounded by those in my niche is the most precious experience, and I hope to carry the happiness of that community as long as I can.