2026 WNC Comic- Spring Edition or Finding Happiness Despite the Sad

 Hello Nerdy Friends,

This past Saturday was the WNC Comic Con Spring Edition. This is the first con of the year.

The Journey To: 

It was an early start. I was really groggy and still tired, a tiredness that hung over me all day. Fangirl and the Captain came and collected me. The day started with a bit of a mood killer. It was nothing world ending, but it was a bit depressing. So had to bring out my playlist I made for the day to try to cheer myself up. 

The Captain's skeleton Jack was my usual backseat companion while I had a breakfast of water and generic Honey Nut Cheerios. Rushed morning and maybe the thirty to hour wait I have to have before I can eat after taking my thyroid meds led to this.

The Con:

We arrived at the convention just a few minutes before it opened. So luckily not too long of a wait. 

 

The con seemed to be less populated this year and fewer people roaming in costumes. Fangirl insisted it was cause we were there so early, but we normally get there around con opening or within the first hour and there's usually people and costumes in heavy force. Plus I think I heard couple guys discussing the lack of people. It could be from the higher gas prices, I mean Fangirl and I are having to go to a nearer smaller ren faire this year cause of it. It's understandable, but it was a bit sad cause part of my fun is interacting with cosplayers.

 

 

 

But luckily there were a few costumed people there. Like this one from Predator: 

 

 

 I also met Team Rocket who were kind enough to pose for me, who were masked because of the allergies since the great pollening is upon us in WNC. 

 

As for our group:

I was of course Dean Winchester from Supernatural.

Fangirl was a Tabaxi.

The Captain didn't feel like cosplaying this time. 

 

While the people were in shorter supply there was still fun to be had with the vendors. Morgan's Comics was there, sadly Morganless cause she caught a cold from their baby. 

 

 

There was one booth ready to prepare Fresh Steamed Buns.

 

 

 

There was even this cute looks like crocheted weeping angel by Twisted Sisters. Of course there was also the anime cars.

I had some lovely vendor interactions one author described his work as contemporary fantasy like Supernatural, then he got a look at my cosplay. An artist was thrilled that I recognized the characters in his Doctor Who portraits cause apparently no one else had. 

 

 

 

Captain and I got a pic with the 501st Legion Carolina Garrison which they were happy to do as long as we weren't Rebel Sympathizers. *Whistling in my head*

 

 

With a farewell to Logan we headed out and down the street for our almost traditional Sonic meal. We weren't thew only one's with that idea the car next to us held con goers cause I saw the pink band on their wrist. 

 

Going home the little bit of good mood I had achieved gave way to melancholy again. It bites when the blues want to stay. Mental health is so fun.

 

 

The Haul:

 

 

First thing that morning Captain gave me a dragon egg with pretty dice within. Later Fangirl gifted me with this blue peeps bunny for the blue bunny army.

 

I got a White Power Ranger cord minder for my head phone I take out with me. I got a few stickers including my usual Supernatural ones. The one with the hearts with books is from Blossomlicious Boutique, that came with this cute orange bracelet as a free gift.

 

 

This con's pin I shot for Dean again and still came up empty. So I got Elvira. I feel like there's some fandom created universe she's Crowley's Cousin, and to clarify that Supernatural Crowley. If you get the play on actors I did there, your awesome.

 

 

The Conclusion: A Bit About This Week: 

 

I know this seems like such a downer of a post, but it happens sometimes things in life like that. I did manage some fun despite it all. My whole week's been topsy turvy: Sunday still felt off for part of the day, Monday managed over 1,000 words on my book, Tuesday gardened but didn't feel like writing, Wednesday worked to send photos to my computer, and Thursday headed to town to pick up items we forgot for Memorial Day.

 

Today has brought it's struggles like trying to write this when I don't feel like it in between my internet constantly going out, though Bob has mostly behaved ,and I watched The Happy Hobbit videos this morning.  That's life. Ups and downs, and I try not to sugarcoat it when it's down in my posts.

 

With this I leave you till hopefully next week. May the Memorial Day weekend treat you kind.

 

*Thrifty Geek* 

 

 

The Ballad of My Dean Winchester Costume

 Hello Geeky Friends,

This Saturday is the Spring WNC Comic Con, and I'm once more going as Dean Winchester. I told my Mom I just haven't had the mental capacity to get a new cosplay together yet this year so I'll wear Dean again. Then I realized what I said and I'm like that sounds kinda messed up. Then I thought about the show and was like actually that works. It's like some demon or angel going "Fine I'll wear the Dean vessel again!"

I also realized recently I hadn't talked about how my current cosplay came to be, so let's do that in honor of the upcoming convention.

 

The First Inkling of an Idea

The first time I ever broached the subject of doing any sort of Winchester cosplay was I think the day after Hillywood Productions announced they were making their Second Supernatural Parody. This may have been in 2017. If you haven't even seen the first parody then go watch the playlist that features both parodies and their associated videos! Fangirl and I were eating at this restaurant we have called Bogarts, and after telling her about the parody I told we should dress as the Winchesters, I mean we both love the show and it'd be easy cosplays to put together. It was discussed a bit and cropped up in my thoughts from time to time, but never acted on.

It All Happened Because of A Vest

Fast forward to 2024. It was a matter of weeks before Helene hit. For the last year I'd been working on doing an updated version of a Mad Hatteress costume I'd worn 9 years prior, but things came up like my Pop dying, not being able to find my hat, and not pushing my Mom to find it in the wake of my Dad's death. The costume was pushed back till that fall. The first weekend of September I was preparing for Ren Faire. At this point I had like five things left on the costume, a couple that were not necessary, when the final nail on the coffin so to speak happened. I was gonna wear my vest that I use for that costume for the faire. Apparently it'd been a few years since I used it and it no longer fit. I didn't have money buy or time to try to make one, or more likely get help making, so I decided to fall back on the 11th Doctor costume again. I was a little disappointed because while I love it, I'd wore is so many times since I debuted it in 2019, I wanted to throw new costumes in the mix.

So the Monday after the faire I'm at Goodwill, I'd found a CD "The Very Best of Meat Loaf" and was heading to checkout when I saw a jacket that reminded me of Dean. Then brilliance struck, I could go as Dean! It'd be easy to put together in a month and I'd recently added him to my potential cosplay ideas, so why not this year? The why not came a few weeks later when Helene hit and both my Fall conventions were canceled. This just gave me extra time to get it together, and the 2025 debut put it in align with the 20th Anniversary celebration.  

Let's Break It Down

The Red Shirt:

The first thing I got was the red shirt, I bought it the same day I decided to cosplay Dean, I started hunting the Goodwill for a good shirt in my size. I found this shirt that fits well in most places, but couldn't get buttoned up on me which is fine cause I was leaving it unbuttoned anyway. It was actually ironic the CD I bought and the shirt fit the theme well, plus that meat loaf CD had "Bat Out Of Hell" on it which I thinking is a fitting song title for the character.

 

The Samulet:

 

The one item I knew would be tricky, actually was the easiest to get. I did a search on Etsy and found FirePhoenixBeads who sent me five.I originally used an of string from a capsule machine necklace I had in my stash, but it broke after first con, so I bought some string from Dollar Tree to replace it.

 

 

 

 

The Knife:

   

 

The knife I already had on hand. Mom made it for my award winning Vampire Hunter costume. It's made out of an old lint brush handle, cardboard, and duct tape. I'm so happy to have a Mom who is willing to help her adult daughter with her cosplays.

 

The Undershirt:

 

I thought this would be the easiest, it ended up being a headache. Could not find a plain t- shirt in my size at the thrift stores, when finally I came across this Torrid shirt at a Mountain Projects Resale Store. 

 

 

I debated back and forth about it until the Captain said she thought it'd work. I figure it can be a faded shirt Dean has in his clothes. Unfortunately it's very thin so I have to wear a black tank top under it.

 

The Bag:

 

This was a tricky one, I always have to come up with bag ideas for characters, so I can hold my money and stuff at cons and events. I searched and found Dean used a duffle, but I didn't wanna lug something like that around, so I thought to do small army bag purse. This was proving to be difficult to do, then I settled on this Army Green Spencer Bag I found at the Goodwill I got the red shirt from. I'd actually passed on it when I saw it at first, then on a second trip I got it, I was getting desperate. It looked like something that'd been made of an old Army Bag, we actually had to repair it so looked more beat up.

 

 

The pins on the bag are convention purchases. The trio was from a previous WNC Comic Con, and pouty Sam was from the Spring WNC Comic Con I debuted Dean. I'd wanted to get a Dean, but they'd sold out.

Hair and Make Up:

The hairstyle I do is simply a low hanging bun so it stays out of my way in a "fight". Last year I used a plain black black hair tie, this year I'm holding it in place with a bobby pin, which has the dual purpose of being a tool just in case Dean needs to "pick a lock". When it comes to make up I don't do anything. No eye shadow or finger nail polish, I feel Dean would have words if I did.

So there you have it the ends and outs of my Dean costume. I hope you had fun today, perhaps maybe inspired you to cosplay. Have a good weekend and for my WNC Comic Con goers: I'll see you there.

*Thrifty Geek* 

 

 

 

Free Comic Book Day 2026

 Hey my Geeky Friends,

It's time for that Geekiest month of the year May. It has May the Fourth be with you, Towel and Geek Pride Day, there's always a convention, and it's my local geek store's anniversary. But first up was Saturday the 2nd with that great nerdy holiday of Free Comic Book Day! The day the comic book companies shower us with free stuff. I was so excited to be able to properly participate this year, last year I only was able to do the store anniversary celebration at Geek Mountain since Fangirl was down with her reproductive organs trying to unalive her. I had no ride to Asheville. So we made a triumphant return this year. So I shall tell the tale in pictures and words, including a poem.

 

Free Comic Book Day 2026 

Running on two grapes and cola

First stop is on the home turf at Geek Mountain

It's proprietor has forgotten his own store anniversary 

With a guitar pick and a pack of mystery dice

We journey on to the sound of geek

At Morgan's Comics a friendly face greets

Rambunctious people and small rule changes gives rise to anxiety

They line up at Comic Envy with butt crack showing

A mom with Jedi offers snacks to her fellow line people 

As we wait for our comic stories another one seems to be brewing

When a pizza patron mutters "It's a bonding experience and we get food out of it."

Once inside the store is a safe space 

For All are welcome

We take our lunch at our first Outback

With an enthusiastic waiter who loves his job

There I almost choke on Fettuccine Alfredo

In our visit to a thrifting realm

I start our visit by going back to the wrong car

In the bins I find the holy grail and Sci-Fi history

"The Hobbit" that has alluded me is collected

Half a coconut sits on a carpet of second hand treasures

If I had the second half I could make horse sounds

Their putting dice in skulls back home at Game Forge

Where the gaming tables are alive

We see a Dungeon Master carrying a huge dragon figure

Will there be a TPK tonight?

Heading toward the holler we take the bypass 

Where a biker joins our journey home

With headbanging music

Not my best poem, but I'm sure with more time and energy.

A More In Depth Look

So our first stop was at Geek Mountain our local nerdy shop to see what he was doing for his store's anniversary. I hadn't heard him mention anything in videos. It was low key compared to last year's shop anniversary weekend cause he forgot. His wife reminded him. So he was gonna do a little something on May the Fourth be with you for the anniversary. I just picked up a guitar pick while Fangirl got some stickers and dice. As Fangirl started the car Click-Clack Goblin (A Dice Tribute) by Twisted Game Songs was finishing its play. Fitting song given what Fangirl bought.

 

Our next stop was Morgan's Comics in West Asheville. There were comics aplenty, but unbeknownst to me they'd changed from doing 10 comics per person to 5 last year I think and I didn't know it. I mean thankfully I found out, but dang it got my anxiety further in a state. I know it's not a big deal, but tell my brain that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The people kinda already got me going. Now normally I'm good in nerdy masses, thank Chuck I didn't inherit Pop's Social Anxiety, but when we get in groups where people are darting around you cutting you off, yeah that's where I have issues. I mean every holiday season Walmart triggers me. Fangirl who doesn't like people right up in her space had to bug out quickly after getting her comics. I did have a nice chat with Birdie who works there before having to duck out myself. 

 

We headed to Merrimon Avenue to see the action at Comic Envy. There was a line and they only let so many in.

 

 

 

 

Fangirl and I took the opportunity to take a pic while Lobo guarded the gates in. 

   

  

I'm glad they implemented this limiting of people going in it was nice not to get squished in the store. 

Afterwards Fangirl and I took our first trip to Outback Steakhouse. The deep fried mushrooms were awesome. They have this Ranch that has a little kick to it, chief's kiss. My Queensland Chicken and Shrimp Alfredo dish was good as well:

 

 

 

We hit up the Goodwill Outlet, my first time in a year and 5 months. I found some books and magazines like a bunch of copies of Issac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. I also found the edition of The Hobbitt I'd been scoping on Pango books! Found some trinkets including the holy grail! I also saw some funny things like this humorously titled book:

I was hoping for it to be $5 or under and to my delight it was $4.45. I was a Thrifty Geek that day. All those book and things for that price. This is why I love the outlet above the retail Goodwill. 

 

We headed back to our home county for one last stop: Game Forge.

 

 

We were greeting by handfuls of little skulls some with dice in them. The game tables had a lot of action going on. As we were departing we saw a Dungeon Master carrying in a large dragon figure. I felt a TPK was on the horizon.

Heading home a motorcyclist passes us blaring music and I started head banging to it. Then went home and finished my lunch leftovers with my Mom, who was eating whatever she made.she made. We just talked about the day. A great way to end a good day.

The Haul

First there was the comics! Supernatural is my favorite. Can we laugh it was released on Sam Winchester's 43 birthday? I have to hold off on Dungeon Crawler Carl's because I'm currently reading the book and don't want spoiled. 

 

In the Goodwill haul I cleaned up book wise. My Mom was like "More books..."

My grail is perfect for the skull I bought at Game Forge!

Whew! FCBD was a tiring, but fun. I was glad everyone was well to go, a little anxiety but not enough to keep me down. I have to rest up now I have my first convention coming up the Spring WNC Comic Con. Hope you all have a good week! May the odds ever be in your favor.

*Thrifty Geek*