Superheroes, lightsabers, and dice rolls filled the Cascades Country Club as Tyler Comic Con returned, giving fans across East Texas a chance to celebrate their favorite corners of pop culture. “One of the reasons I do the event is to bring those types of people all together in the Tyler area and let them have some fun,” said showrunner Brett Mitchell. One of the attendees, Jona Anderson, has been coming to Tyler Comic Con with her friends for years. “It’s a fun thing that you and your friends can get together and do, and there’s no judgment,” Anderson said. “Everybody else is here to do the same thing and just nerd out.” This year, she and her friends dressed as the Dollface Group from Twisted Metal, a popular vehicular combat video game series. Anderson added that more attendees would make the event even better. “We just need more people to come. and dress up, have fun.” Tyler Comic Con has been bringing pop culture fans together since 2013. Originally a small, comic-focused gathering at Harvey Hall, the event was taken over by Mitchell in 2019, who expanded it into a full weekend celebration of movies, TV, video games, anime, cosplay, and independent creators. “I saw how people were doing comic cons and other events, and I realized the people that were there were the people that I could identify with,” Mitchell said. However, when Harvey Hall was torn down, Mitchell had to move the convention to a smaller venue, and attendance was further slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the new W. T. Conference Center offered more space, Mitchell said it was too expensive to use regularly, especially since he doesn’t have sponsors and covers the costs himself each year. “It’s a big event to put on, start to finish,” Mitchell said. “You have to bring in guests, secure a venue, get artists and vendors, advertise it, sell tickets. it’s a lot of work, especially doing it all on my own.” The weekend featured a mix of actors, voice talents, and industry figures. Guests included Carla Perez (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Susanna Malak (The Mandalorian), Christine Galey (first female R2-D2), and Barry Hanley (Star Wars and Marvel stuntman). Attendees also had the opportunity to meet comic creator Matt Cole, voice actors Josh Martin, Chris Rager, and David Ankrum, and cosplayer Damien Vex. Perez, best known for her role as Rita Repulsa on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, said she has been “heartwarmingly” welcomed by fans at Tyler Comic Con. “I love it,” she said. “People recognize me, the little kids or the older people that were kids back then recognized me.” Perez described her time on Power Rangers as a dream job, even though some days were long, often stretching 12 to 16 hours. “You go into work and you don’t feel like you’re working,” she said. “You just feel like playing all day and the day goes by quickly.” Debi Johnston, a Gladewater native and the creator behind Steele Legacy Comics, described her first time as a Comic Con vendor as both “therapeutic” and life-changing. After losing her brothers and parents within 99 days, Johnston leaned on her husband and her creative side to navigate the grief. “Comics literally saved my life,” she said. Holding her first printed comic, The Titan Anomaly, in her hands, she said, “This comic is not just a book. This is a story of perseverance. This is a story of overcoming. This is a story of survival.” Johnston said Tyler Comic Con gave her a space to share her work, connect with fans, and celebrate the freedom of self-expression. “I’ve made so many new friends. it’s a whole other world, just to be a part of something awesome.” The event continues Sunday with doors to the general public opening at 11 a. m. and closing at 5 p. m. at 4511 Briarwood Rd. in Tyler.
https://tylerpaper.com/2025/11/23/2025-tyler-comic-con-brings-superheroes-cosplay-and-comics-to-cascades-country-club/
2025 Tyler Comic Con brings superheroes, cosplay, and comics to Cascades Country Club
