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Wizard World Comic Con draws thousands of 'big nerds'

Maddi Levine, 15, has been attending comic-book conventions since she was 10, but Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia was her biggest one yet. Dressed as Marvel Comics' Black Widow and eager to get an autograph from Captain America star Chris Evans, she said her favorite part of the festivities was the sense of community.

No web allowed, so like everyone else heading for  Wizard World at the Convention Center on Sunday, Spiderman had to take an escalator to get to the upper floors.
No web allowed, so like everyone else heading for Wizard World at the Convention Center on Sunday, Spiderman had to take an escalator to get to the upper floors.Read moreCurt Hudson / For The Inquirer

Maddi Levine, 15, has been attending comic-book conventions since she was 10, but Wizard World Comic Con Philadelphia was her biggest one yet. Dressed as Marvel Comics' Black Widow and eager to get an autograph from Captain America star Chris Evans, she said her favorite part of the festivities was the sense of community.

"[People here] might look intimidating because of their costumes, but everyone here is really just a big nerd," the Baltimore native said as crowds filed into the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Some had paid $90 for full four days; some $45 only for Sunday, the final day.

The convention drew tens of thousands of fans, many of them in costume as a wide range of comic-book and anime characters. After waiting in long lines, attendees arrived excited for photo-ops with celebrities, rows of comic-themed merchandise, costume contests, and more.

Greg Meyer, 55, a resident of Mays Landing, N.J., and a "huge X-Files fan," came to the convention Sunday looking forward to meeting David Duchovny, who played Fox Mulder on the sci-fi show.

For 5-year-old South Jersey resident Alaina Moore, dressed as Spider Girl, the main draw of the event was the super heroes. Her father, Jason Moore, 31, came dressed as the Marvel character Thor, a costume he says his daughter picked out for him. "She loves it," he said of the Philadelphia convention. "We've come here every year since she was 3."

Wizard World will host conventions in a number of cities in coming months, including Sacramento, Calif., Chicago, and Austin, Texas. Jerry Milani, public relations manager for the company, says comic cons have been growing in popularity in recent years. He said the demographics of the conventions themselves have also diversified, with more women and families attending.

For Robin Dannen, 45, who dressed as DC Comics' Robin, that rings true. Dannen, who drove to Philadelphia from her native Chancellor, S.D., has been attending conventions since she was 7. She goes to four or five a year.

Dannen said she sees more women at events today than she did when she was younger. "I used to be the only girl at the comic-book store," she remembered with a laugh. "I used to hide my comic books under my brother's bed."

Levine said she sees progress, but thinks there's still room for the comic-book community to become more inclusive. "I'll see a comic cover where the girl looks like a Barbie doll times three or something, and I do have a beef with that, because most people don't look like that," she said.

For now, Levine looks forward to attending more conventions. Comic books aren't the most popular hobby at her high school, she said, so "this really is kind of like a refuge."

Her father, Charlie Levine, 57, agreed. "I think everybody here respects each other for who they are and who they aren't," he said, adding: "Awesome people-watching - it's the ultimate Halloween party."

jchadha@philly.com

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