‘Buck Rogers,’ an Ewok and Merced’s fairgrounds
Merced-area fan boys and geek girls, rejoice. A comic book convention is headed to the Merced County Fairgrounds this weekend.
Colossus Con is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Fairgrounds, 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The offerings include all things pop culture – celebrity guests, cosplayers, artists, vendors and a classic 1980s arcade, according to organizers.
Perhaps the biggest names on the guest list are actors from “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” a TV show that ran from 1979 to 1981. Actors from the cult hit include Gil Gerard, who played the title character and was featured most recently in “The Nice Guys,” according to IMDb.com, an online database.
Felix Silla, who played robot Twiki on “Buck Rogers,” is also on the list. Silla has been in a number of science fiction and horror classics, though he’s usually in a suit or monster makeup. He played an Ewok in “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi,” for example, and a murderous child in “The Brood.”
Silla’s credits also include appearances in “Star Trek,” “Battelstar Galactica” and “Batman Returns.”
Organizers said they hope the “con,” what pop culture nerds call a convention, will be a “celebration of all things pop culture from comic books to movies to fantasy and sci-fi aimed to bring the community together, boost Merced’s image and give people an opportunity to get a comic con experience without breaking the bank and traveling to a bigger city.”
The convention could ‘boost Merced’s image and give people an opportunity to get a comic con experience without breaking the bank and traveling to a bigger city.’
Colossus Con organizers
Along with a number of other B-list celebrities who’ve appeared in everything from “Excalibur” and “Wonder Woman” to “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” comic book writers and artists are set to appear. Vendors also offer collectibles of all kinds, according to a news release.
Attendees will be able to meet local cosplayers (people who dress as their favorite pop culture characters) and fan clubs, and even learn light-saber fighting techniques.
The convention is appropriate for all ages, organizers said. Tickets available for $10 at www.colossuscon.com, or for $20 at the gate.
Thaddeus Miller: 209-385-2453, @thaddeusmiller
Colossus Con
Where: Fairgrounds, 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
When: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17
Cost: $10 online, $20 at the gate
More information: www.colossuscon.com
This story was originally published September 15, 2016 at 4:28 PM with the headline "‘Buck Rogers,’ an Ewok and Merced’s fairgrounds."