The 14th Annual Lexington Comic & Toy Convention gave the opportunity for fans to see their favorite voice actor, comic book artist or actor.

Held from March 26-29, the convention at the Central Bank Center celebrated comics, TV shows and film through featuring celebrity meet-and-greets, vendors, fandom-specific foods and cosplayers.

Alan Pickler is a retired military veteran from the 134th Security Force squadron from Knoxville, Tennessee. Pickler was cosplaying as Scottish Deadpool from “Deadpool and Wolverine.”

Pickler said he used to work with nonprofit organizations like the Foundation 4 Heroes, based out of southern Maryland, to visit veterans’ homes, medical centers and hospitals. He now works at the children’s hospital in Knoxville.

“I never thought I could be a cosplayer,” Pickler said. “Once you get that one kid to smile at you or give you a big hug, you’re hooked.”

During the interview, several people walked up to Pickler to take pictures with him and to compliment his cosplay.

“I used to go to conventions, and I would see cosplayers,” Pickler said. “I would get a picture with them, and I never thought it would be me doing it.” 

Pickler said he loves seeing good artists and celebrities at the convention and wants to come back again.

“I’m always amazed and in utter awe of the craft that some of these folks can do,” Pickler said. “I wish I had a tenth of the talent they do.”

One of those artists at the convention included Ashley Phan, a UK sophomore product design major, who has been vending at markets in Louisville, Kentucky, for over a year. 

Phan said she came to the convention to branch out her company to other places, like Lexington.

Phan said her business includes mostly crocheted plushes, but has recently been making buttons, key chains and polymer clay charms. 

“I really like the community here,” Phan said. “It’s nice to see everyone’s costumes and just express themselves in such a wonderful way.”

Shiloh Maggard, from Flatwoods, Kentucky, is a drag queen who cosplayed as Princess Daisy. Maggard, or Hissy Fit, her drag name, said drag could be anything under the sun.

Maggard said she loves to cosplay as Daisy because to her, she is a badass. Maggard also said her old roommate from college hated Daisy, so she does it to spite her roommate a little.

“With states trying to ban public performances of drag, it’s important,” Maggard said. “It’s an art form even if people understand it or not.”

Lillian Shirel, a master’s student in dietetics and nutrition at UK, and Jack Charlton, a UK alumnus, were cosplaying together as Bill Cipher and Grunkle Stan from the TV show “Gravity Falls.” Both of them made and thrifted their outfits together.

“I think that this is a safe place, and that can be lacking in modern times,” Charlton said. “It’s nice to see that all are welcomed and congealed in one space.”

Shirel had been going to the convention for over five years, but this was Charlton’s first time. They both said they were excited to see all of their favorite fandoms together.

Shirel said she saw someone cosplaying as a character from “Rain World,” a survival platform video game they both loved and connected over.

“Being able to meet this guy who had this very common interest that was so niche was a big part of how we got into our relationship,” Shirel said.