Salt Lake Comic Con 2015 may be over, but both fans and celebrities who attended the event are still celebrating the epic convention. Attendance is currently estimated at 180,000 making it one of the largest yearly fan events.
“Wow. … I’ve had the most amazing time at #SLCC15,” “Captain America” actor and Salt Lake Comic Con guest Chris Evans posted to his Twitter account Saturday night. “I’ve been to a few conventions before but I’ve never had the opportunity to interact with the fans on such a personal level. They shared some wonderful stories that I was honored to hear. I’m filled with a overwhelming sense of gratitude. Thank you to all of my loyal, sincere, loving and passionate fans from the very bottom of my heard. You’ve reminded me how gratuitously lucky I am.”
“Wow! This message from Chris Evans really touches my heart at such a deep level,” replied Salt Lake Comic Con co-founder Bryan Brandenburg on Facebook later that night. “I am so proud of what we accomplished together at Salt Lake Comic Con 2015 this weekend. Our fans, staff, family, guests, panelists, authors, artists, creators, vendors, community, the media and press and especially the 900 volunteers made this a historical weekend. We broke a Guinness World Record, we raised money to build a hospital, we hosted amazing people from around the planet, held the most attended convention in the state of Utah, had more than 25 percent of our attendees come from outside of the state, made new friends, laughed together, cried together, expanded our tribe and became family. I love Salt Lake Comic Con for its ability to bring together over 120,000 people in a place where everybody can be themselves. It is such an honor and privilege for Dan Farr and I together with all of you to be a part of something so big and so powerful.”
As Brandenburg mentioned, Salt Lake Comic Con’s Friday night attempt to break the world record for the largest gathering of comic book characters was close, but ultimately a resounding success.
“It was a nail biter, but with 1,784 it’s a new Guinness World Records titled for ‘Largest gathering of people dressed as comic book characters,’” said Guinness World Records Adjudicator Michael Empric in Salt Lake Comic Con’s press release regarding the successful record attempt.
“We’ve known all along that we have the best fans in the world and now it’s been officially certified by Guinness World Records,” Farr said in the release. “Salt Lake Comic Con 2015 has been so amazing for our guests, artists, panelists, authors, sponsors and fans. Beating this Guinness World Record was a fun way to celebrate and show the world what the fans of Salt Lake Comic Con can accomplish when we set our minds to it.”
Though the numbers were helped along by celebrity Manu Bennett’s appearance as Deathstroke, his character in “Arrow,” setting a new Guinness World Record wasn’t the only highlight of the event.
Other notable events included the Superhero Run Saturday morning with celebrity guest Sean Astin (“Rudy,” “The Goonies,” “The Lord of the Rings”) as well as the surprise appearance of Alan Tudyk (“Firefly,” “A Knight’s Tale,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) at his scheduled Saturday panel which was advertised to be over Skype.
Continuing the Captain America cast kudos was Anthony Mackie, who tweeted out to his followers Sunday night.
“Goodnite Salt Lake,” he said. “Thanks for an amazing experience! #SLCC15 was a reminder of how lucky I am to be The Falcon.”
Known for his vocal roles in shows such as “Futurama” and “Pinky and the Brain,” Maurice LaMarche also had some kind words regarding the weekend convention that he shared on Twitter.
“This just might be the very best con I’ve ever appeared at!” he posted. “Loving the Salt Lake City Fans!”
