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| You could lose an eye if you're not careful! |
Billing itself as "the largest 3-day multi-fandom & pop culture convention in the upstate of South Carolina,"
MonsterCon was a 3-day July event in Greenville, SC, at the Furman University campus. Only in its second year, the offerings have expanded far beyond the horror genre despite the name. Thanks to the 501st
Carolina Garrison,
Talon Clan of the
Mandalorian Mercs and
Blue Ridge Base of the
Rebel Legion,
Star Wars had a respectable presence including a Mercs "jail & bail" detention cell, large display of helmets and props, and a Death Star trash compactor set by the industrious TK-5940.
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| Tragedy brings people together. |
Catching up with friends is a big part of attending conventions, and it was a great surprise to see my Georgia Garrison buddy
Michael Koske who now makes the rounds as a popular recurring zombie from AMC's
The Walking Dead.
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| Don't worry, his bark is worse than his bite. |
I just realized that I've already trooped more this year than the past two years combined. For a long time, my participation as a member of the
501st Legion had become relegated to "desk work." While I put in a ridiculous daily amount of Legion volunteer hours fielding inquiries, aggregating and posting social media content and working with the Public Relations team, the Legion's success as one of the world's most-recognized costuming communities is the result of one thing: the sheer number of
physical appearances at charity events,
Star Wars licensee promotions, and, of course, conventions. Getting back out to events in costume has really helped me reconnect with fans and fellow members---and it feels good to troop!
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| It's not the size of the gun...well, maybe it is. |
