The first-ever Nampa comic con kicks off Friday, July 7, with thousands expected to attend.
From Spider Man to Velma, an array of iconic characters stopped by the Nampa Civic Center to take part in the first-ever Treasure Valley Comic Con.
"It's a very cool thing to come out and get past any social anxieties," said Alkali Layke, a local cosplayer. "that's what I love about cosplay."
While costumes aren't required, many chose to dress up as a favorite character from a video game, TV show or movie.
"Today I'm dressed as Bender from 'The Breakfast Club,'" said R.W. Martin, an actor and cosplayer from Vermont. "I do one of the Village People, I do Beavis, Fire Marshall Bill, Sheriff Rosco...so I have now become known as the man of 1,000 faces."
"It started when I made my own Halloween costumes and then I discovered comic cons and realized I could do this all of the time, so I kind of got carried away," said Chelsea Merritt.
Attendees say conventions like this one allow comic and pop culture lovers to network with others who share the same interests.
"The thing I like most about the [comic] cons is that I get to meet so many fans and see who the show touches and who appreciates it. You know, it's always fun watching people dress up...I've had people talk to me in a zombie language," said Cooper Andrews, actor on the popular TV series, "The Walking Dead."
Organizers say they expect anywhere from 3-6,000 people will attend the convention, which goes through Sunday.
