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Louisiana's first 'nerd market' planned for Bossier City

AVC Conventions

Louisiana’s first comic con convention is coming to the Bossier Civic Center in Bossier City next month. Organizers expect more than 2,000 people will turn out dressed like their favorite movie and comic book characters – think Star Wars. They’re bound to find like-minded fans, according to Greg Hanks, owner of Mississippi-based AVC Conventions.

“You could call it like a nerd market,” Hanks said. “They’re more about movies, television and comic books. It runs the gamut of culture that relates to popular things.”

Hanks and his business partner have been going to comic con conventions for years. They put on their first one in Jackson, Mississippi, last summer. Convention goers can mix and mingle with illustrators who work on comic book characters, like Spider-Man.

Before Hanks scheduled the comic con in Bossier City he made a trip to Shreveport/Bossier to gauge interest in hosting such a convention here. He says there’s an appetite for these face-to-face gatherings even as people find their fan groups online.

“I grew up as a geeky, nerdy kid. I had my small group of friends who talked about comic books and what cartoons we were watching. It doesn’t matter how prevalent social media becomes, you still need that face-to-face interaction,” Hanks said.

The day-long event will bring together a diverse list of illustrators, vendors, artists and fan groups on Saturday, Feb. 21. More information is at Louisianacomiccon.com.

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.