World of cosplay takes center stage at Santa Rosa Toy Con

One look at the real world and it makes perfect sense that hundreds of people would choose to spend a Saturday in the realm of fantasy - in some cases turning their backs on reality in favor of full-immersion make-believe.

Even with all the armor and fighting that pervades the fantasy world, it can be a more benevolent, welcoming place, and the throngs at Santa Rosa Toy Con are testament to its allure.

Thousands of people attended the third annual event at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds on Saturday. They came to browse tables filled with collectible toys, action figures and costume accessories for sale; meet and collect autographs from celebrity guests; and celebrate their affection for a particular pop culture world.

Billy Dee Williams, whose 50-plus-year acting career included turns as Lando Calrissian in two “Star Wars” films, proved a popular attraction, patiently signing autographs for hours despite the lack of air conditioning in the overheated room.

Fairfield resident Donald Wicks, who in his helmet and orange flight suit bore a remarkable resemblance to “Star Wars” X-wing pilot Jek Porkins, said meeting the actor proved “a wonderful experience, transcendental.”

The daylong event is one in a growing selection of conventions around the country catering to pop culture “fandoms” unified by their attachment to iconic films like “Star Wars,” cult TV heroes like “Doctor Who,” video games and the comic-book worlds that fuel them all.

One minute, you might see two ?Spider-Men high-fiving in the parking lot; in another, a replica R2-D2 robot weaving through a crowd; in yet a third, an impromptu swordfight among shoppers eying merchandise.

The events provide a chance to meet up with old friends, make new ones and, for those who are really invested, showcase creativity through elaborate costumery, makeup, props and role play, or “cosplay,” as it’s commonly known.

“You get to dress up as your favorite character and go hang out with a bunch of nerds, and it’s like being with family,” is how it was put by Carmichael resident Kazran Spasojevich - otherwise known as 10nant Cosplay, when, as was the case Saturday, he’s decked out as his favorite, the Doctor of “Doctor Who,” complete with a realistic TARDIS time and space travel contraption.

Though in the minority, it is these people who give the event so much life, with their attention to detail and authenticity.

A trio of Ghostbusters from the South Bay and Sacramento area parked their fully outfitted Ecto-1 mobile in the fairgrounds’ Grace Pavilion while they showed off custom-molded and equipped proton packs to passers-by.

Across the way, Daenerys Targaryen from “Game of Thrones” painted decorative markings across the back of her Khal Drogo.

A highly colorful Mad Hatter from “Alice in Wonderland” bummed a doughnut off a warrior from the Skyrim game.

“It’s great, because everybody has something they’re really proud of and they’re really into,” said the warrior, Windsor mom Nicole Betsill, 28, whose remarkable homemade costume featured textured craft foam manipulated to look like hammered iron and deeply grained wood. An arrow appeared to be embedded in her leg, poking out from a bandage wrapped around her knee.

Alex Hood, 20, of Santa Rosa sported a fuchsia wig and purple skirt fashioned after a character in a French animated show called “LoliRock,” in which three rock stars secretly are warriors protecting their home world, he said.

“Not a lot of people know the show, and I think they would like it,” he said.

James Brennon Smith, 9, of Cloverdale said his teenage sister turned him onto cosplay, and now he just loves looking for opportunities to dress up, choosing Saturday to wear a long black coat, black wig and his mom’s boots as a character named Death the Kid from a Japanese comic book series, or “manga,” titled “Soul Eater.”

“It’s just really fun to dress up as a character and act as someone else other than what you really live,” he said.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MaryCallahanB.