Spring, Texas – Pop Culture Con returns March 14-15 at the Houston City Place Marriott at Springwood Village, featuring a 40th anniversary reunion of the cast Aliens (1986), celebrating panels, and a cosplay contest offering cash prizes.
Headlining the reunion are Michael Biehn, Mark Rolston, Jenette Goldstein, Ricco Ross, William Hope, Cynthia Scott and Carl Toop. Additional guests include Zach Galligan of Gremlins, Monster High creator Garret Sander, Marvel comic artist Mark Bagley and several well-known anime voice actors, including Vic Mignogna and Chuck Huber.
For co -founder Michelle McMichael, the event represents more than celebrity appearances.
“It’s escapism for a lot of us,” McMichael said. “You get to go into another world and engage in that world so you can kind of remove yourself from reality for a little bit.”
Born in Ghana and introduced to anime while attending boarding school, McMichael said the medium helped her through periods of stress and isolation. During the 1990s and early 2000s, she said being openly passionate about anime, especially as a minority, often meant feeling out of place.
“If you were really into anime, people would look at you weird,” says McMichael, “now the community has become so big. I wanted to continue to engage that.”
McMichael and her husband initially planned to open a comic book shop but instead decided to create a convention that would unite multiple fandoms in one space.
“As a small business owner, you’re the receptionist, the scheduler, the marketing department…you’re doing a lot,” says McMichael, it’s long days. We still have full-time jobs, so it became a five to two sometimes, it’s crazy but seeing it go from an idea to reality — that’s what makes it fulfilling.”
The convention drew about 1,000 attendees in its first year and 1,800 to 2,000 participants last year. Organizers are now hoping to reach 3,000 to 4,000 attendees this year.
Beyond celebrity guests, organizers emphasize community building. The event features a vendor hall, autographs and photo opportunities and a cosplay competition with cash prizes.
Pop Culture Con runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 14 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 15.
Two-day passes are $34.99, single-day tickets are $24.99 and children 12 and under are free with a paid adult.
For more information visit https://popculturecon.com
