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SALT LAKE CITY — Connor Flinders and Cody Moss stared with wide eyes and even wider smiles as they perused the vast nerdy expo hall Thursday when they spotted a co-worker and called out in surprise.
"It's comic con. Where else would I be?" Austin Baird responded happily, hurrying over to ask the duo what they thought of their inaugural Salt Lake Comic Con event.
As they chatted, the three laughed as they realized they had all taken vacation time for Utah's top pop culture and comic convention.
Baird has attended every Salt Lake Comic Con event since its first convention in 2013, coming back each time for bigger celebrities, new shopping options and an awesomely geeky atmosphere.
"There's so much going on here and all kinds of people," Baird said. "Everyone kind of shares the same interests, even if it's in different things. I've had fun every year I've been here. I wouldn't miss it."
In less than an hour browsing the convention floor, Flinders and Moss considered themselves among the event's faithful fandom.
"We've been here 30 minutes and we already think it's time and money well spent," said Flinders, marveling at the amount of costumed fans crowding the floor.
"We're going to do it right," added Moss, noting that the two bought their pricey VIP passes months ago after missing the last event. "This was on my bucket list. … This is probably one of the coolest things I've ever done."
Salt Lake Comic Con 2015 officially got underway Thursday morning at a news conference that doubled as a pep rally for real-life heroes and those from the comic book, sci-fi and fantasy worlds.
Chewbacca towered over members of the U.S. military.
Superman stood side by side with police officers, firefighters and EMTs.
And Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes proudly announced that he played Dungeons & Dragons as a kid.
"For a kid who grew up collecting comic books, playing D&D, polishing my Atari 2600 and sleeping with a lightsaber, this is a real honor to be here," Reyes told a swarm of fans — peppered with members of the media — at the Salt Palace Convention Center.
Joined onstage by Salt Lake Comic Con co-founders Dan Farr and Bryan Brandenburg, along with costumed and uniformed heroes, Reyes praised the efforts of those who help keep Utah a welcoming and safe place to live and visit.
"The costumed heroes you see up here are out in the community volunteering. They're at the hospitals with sick kids, and they're doing a lot of good out there," Reyes said.
"Even more so, I want to recognize the real-life heroes," he said, motioning to members of the military and law enforcement in attendance. "These are the heroes who run toward danger when we're running away. … These are the ones who go into the fray to protect us and our community and allow us to have things like Salt Lake Comic Con.
"There is nothing fantasy about the evil and the villains these heroes confront in their everyday work."
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Whether you're a hard-core comic mega fan or a voyeur attending for the people-watching, there's something at Salt Lake Comic Con for everyone. In between panels and contests, be sure to make your way over to Artists' Alley.Letting his geeky side show, Reyes also took onstage selfies with celebrity guests, including Richard Hatch, "Battlestar Galactica"; Scott Wilson, "The Walking Dead"; Walter Koenig, "Star Trek"; Marina Sirtis, "Star Trek: The Next Generation"; and Manu Bennett, "Arrow."
In just two years, Salt Lake Comic Con has surged in both size and appeal, becoming a contender among some of the top conventions of its kind nationwide and attracting some of the top celebrity names in film and TV.
The spotlight for Salt Lake Comic Con's third event is especially bright on cast members from Marvel's "Captain America" movie franchise, including the hero himself, Chris Evans; Sebastian Stan, who plays Bucky Barnes aka the Winter Soldier; Anthony Mackie, Cap's new sidekick, Falcon; and Hayley Atwell, Agent Peggy Carter.
The convention's massive main hall started to fill within minutes Thursday as fans streamed in for first chances at celebrity meet and greets, and coveted merchandise like exclusive Salt Lake Comic Con figurines from Funko Pop.
And the crowds continued to build through the afternoon.
McKenzie Waldron, of West Jordan, a Salt Lake Comic Con veteran, arrived early to secure autographs from some of her favorite stars. She blushed slightly at Sean Astin's teasing that rather than wearing something from "The Lord of the Rings" franchise he co-starred in, Waldron was dressed in a "Harry Potter"-themed T-shirt.
Waldron beamed as she held up autographed photos from Astin and twins James and Oliver Phelps, who played the mischievous Fred and George Weasley through seven "Harry Potter" films.
"They're very sweet," she said of the actors at the top of her celebrity wish list for the convention. "This is my thing. I'm a huge nerd, and I love it."
