Bell County Comic Con to Make Triumphant Return This August
Central Texas nerds rejoice!
After the COVID-19 pandemic put a kibosh on the festivities in 2020, the Bell County Comic Con is set to make a most triumphant return to the Bell County Expo Center August 7 and 8, 2021.
Save Big on Weekend Passes Today
Tickets for the 2021 Bell County Comic Con are on sale now, and we've got two fantastic deals for families and adults looking to get a discount on weekend passes.
Over at Seize the Deal, we've got Family Six-Packs of Weekend Passes, a $150 value, priced at $75.
We've also got Adult Weekend Passes valued at $75 for just $37.50.
What is the Bell County Comic Con?
The Bell County Comic Con is one of the biggest events in Central Texas. Since 2017, it's packed the Bell County Expo Center the first weekend of August, setting attendance records and drawing people from all over the world to Central Texas.
BCCC is a two-day celebration of all things comics, movies, nostalgia, sci-fi, anime, video games, and pretty much all things nerdy and fun.
Celebrity guests have included action stars Danny Trejo, Ernie Reyes Jr.,
Kevin Sorbo, and Sam J. Jones; classic sitcom stars Tim Reid, Karyn Parsons, and Daphne Maxwell-Reid; and beloved anime voice actors Max Mittleman, Caitlin Glass, and Elizabeth Maxwell. Bam Margera even made an appearance at last year's event, which was a dream come true for my generation.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman's attended as well, and the celebrity guests have been part of some great audience Q&A panels. (More on that below.)
Bell County Comic Con's Guests Aren't the Only Draw
What's great about the Bell County Comic Con is that it has something for everyone, and all who attend are welcome and encouraged to dress up as their favorite characters (cosplay for life!) and celebrate with other fans.
There are cosplay competitions for all ages groups, as well as panels for people who want to learn how to make their own costumes, armor, and accessories for bringing their favorite characters to life.
Seeing so many people in creative and resourceful cosplay may be my favorite part of the Bell County Comic Con. Comic book, anime, and video game fans are some of the most passionate people you'll ever meet, and it's so fun to see how creative and resourceful people can be when they decide to pay tribute to beloved characters at cons.
It's Not Just About Comics and Anime
Whatever your interests, you'll find something to love at the Bell County Comic Con. Past guests have included wrestlers and other athletes, plus actors from some of your favorite childhood movies and sitcoms.
Celebrity guests have sat in for fan Q&A sessions, with two big highlights in 2019 being the panels with Karyn Parsons and Daphne Maxwell-Reid of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Tim Reid of WKRP in Cincinnati.
Kevin Sorbo of Hercules and God's Not Dead fame was also a fantastic guest, and hosted a special fan panel and screening at the Beltonian Theatre as well as a panel about working outside the Hollywood system.
There's a car show each year, and gaming tables and booths are set up for video games, card games, and tabletop games.
Anime is Definitely Important, Though
My favorite panel at 2019's Bell County Comic Con featured Caitlin Glass and Elizabeth Maxwell of My Hero Academia. Not only were they insightful and fun guests, but the packed crowd of My Hero Academia fans brought so much infectious energy to the panel. It was so great to be there in person, but you can check out a video of the panel here. Definitely check out the panel with One-Punch Man voice actor Max Mittleman too.
Bell County Comic Con is Safe and Kid Friendly
The Bell County Comic Con is designed to be as inclusive as possible, and that means making families and kids feel safe and welcome. I've been fortunate enough to cover the con as a journalist each year, and as I've run around getting photos and talking to people, I've seen so many families having a great time.
The organizers and volunteers do a fantastic job making sure that the con is not only a safe environment for children, but one where they can feel like they're just as much a part of the event as the grownups. There are kid cosplay contests and special events, plus areas designed just for them. Their faces light up when they meet one of their favorite characters from Marvel, DC, or anime. It's really cool to see.
2021 Guests So Far
According to Bell County Comic Con mastermind Johnny Huang, more guest announcements for the 2021 con are coming soon.
However, there have been some 2021 guest announcements that we can all get excited about!
First up is someone who was a childhood crush of mine, and most likely one of yours if you were a kid in the early 90's - Lark Voorhies, AKA Lisa Turtle from Saved by the Bell.
My heart can't take it, guys.
Also visiting Belton for the Comic Con is Peter Dante - a frequent collaborator with Adam Sandler who you know from The Waterboy, Big Daddy, Little Nicky, 50 First Dates, The Wedding Singer, Grown Ups 2, Mr. Deeds, and the modern stoner/nerd classic Grandma's Boy.
Anime voice actors Eric Vale, Jason Liebrecht, and Leah Clark are going to be there too! All three voice characters for My Hero Academia, which is one of my favorite shows. The BNHA panel at the last con was fantastic, so I'm looking forward to as many UA alums and villains as possible showing up this year.
Watch the Bell County Comic Con guests page for more announcements.
I'm on the edge of my seat, to be quite honest. I've absolutely loved the panels at past cons, and it's great to be able to meet so many celebrities, comic industry and independent artists, and creators one-one-one.
Not only can you score autographs from some of your favorites, but you'll find yourself able to have a nice conversation with them too. As big as the Bell County Comic Con is, it still has a small town con feel that I've noticed makes the guests feel more relaxed and really open up to fans.
You Can Be Part of the Con as a Volunteer
It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and passion to make the Bell County Comic Con a place for families to have a great time sharing the things they love. The BCCC team welcomes all the help they can get, so they have a Volunteer section on their website with information on how you can be a part of their team.
Visit the Bell County Comic Con Volunteer Page for details, including the perks that come with the job.
See You There!
The Bell County Comic Con is my absolute favorite event of the year. I've been so fortunate to be able to cover it since its inception, and I really missed it last year. I'm glad Johnny and the BCCC crew did the right thing last summer to look out for everyone's health and safety, but I am so stoked to see the con coming back!
I'll see you there, fellow nerds.