Quad Cities Comic Con Draws Cosplayers And Families To Bend XPO Center In East Moline

A weekend of costumes, creativity, and connection

It is a good day to be a nerd in the Quad Cities. Vendors and attendees packed the Bend XPO Center in East Moline this weekend for the Quad Cities Comic Con, a celebration of pop culture, cosplay, and community.

The convention continues Sunday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to WQAD.

The work behind the costume

For many attendees, the costumes they wear represent months of labor. One cosplayer known online as @thats.so.cosplay arrived dressed as Glinda the Good Witch from the classic Wizard of Oz movie. She has been creating costumes for about 10 years.

"I would say the biggest challenge is just kind of finding the time that it takes to put into this. This was about 4 months' work, just hours and hours and hours of sewing," she said.

She said the reactions from children make the effort worthwhile.

"I just also love the experience of small children just absolutely lighting up when they get to meet, you know, a princess or a good witch," she said.

Couples, fandoms, and first costumes

The convention floor featured entire superhero teams. Nick Maher arrived dressed as Logan Howlett, better known as Wolverine from the X-Men franchise.

"I am cosplaying Logan Howlett, better known as the Wolverine. Feeling pretty tough right now," Maher said. "I'm just a huge Wolverine fan, so it's really cool to come out here and see everybody in their costumes, and I'm grateful to be here."

Maher's wife Jessica accompanied him. The couple has a history with the characters. They dressed as Rogue and Wolverine when he proposed to her in 2017.

"That Wolverine and I about 2017, we dressed up like Rogue and Wolverine but like different versions when he proposed to me," Jessica said.

First-time creators find their craft

Not every cosplayer is a veteran. Taylor Khangura dressed as Lord Farquaad from Shrek for the first costume she ever made. She also brought a handmade puppet of the Gingerbread Man.

"Some people really enjoy the makeup, the 5 o'clock shadow. A lot of the kids so far have liked the puppet," Khangura said.

Khangura sews her own costumes. She said the project took longer than expected but brought her personal satisfaction.

"The time it took to put it together was more than I expected, but I enjoy it, and it brought me some joy, so it was worth it," she said.

Advice for newcomers

For attendees considering trying cosplay themselves, the veteran cosplayers offered straightforward advice. Start small and follow your interests.

"Whatever you're excited about, just build from what you can do and what you know," Abbi said.

The Quad Cities Comic Con is one of the region's largest pop culture gatherings. It draws vendors, artists, and fans from across the Illinois Quad Cities and the Iowa side of the region.