Comicon Phoenix is a wonderful place. It’s essentially a four-day celebration of all things nerdy, from anime to science fiction; from Star Wars to Star Trek; from the supernatural to “Supernatural”. The convention was all-inclusive and very magical. Held at the Phoenix Convention Center, the building thronged with people, revelers oohing and aahing at each other’s costumes and the displays around them, ranging from a full-sized TARDIS to a LEGO display the size of a small car. In the exhibitor hall, small shops and stalls abound, full of vendors hawking their wares, posters and souvenirs, full-sized sharpened swords and a literal tower of t-shirts stretching to the ceiling.

Actors and authors from all over the world came to visit. The convention featured big names such as Diana Gabaldon, author of the “Outlander” series; actors like Christopher Lloyd, otherwise known as Doc Brown; Alexis Denisof of “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Avengers” fame; and even TV stars like Jim Beaver, who played Bobby Singer on “Supernatural.” They offered actor meet-and-greets, book signings, photo ops, and Q&A panels. Their booths were constantly mobbed by excited attendees, clamoring for attention.

The panels themselves were fascinating, ranging in topic from anime (“Figure Collecting for Noobs”), good old-fashioned comics (the famous/infamous “Marvel vs. DC”), costuming (“How to Geek Out Your Wedding”), and the ever-present science fiction (“Future of the Force”). A good deal of them were amateur panels, hosted by the convention but put on by simple fans. Four teenagers sorted their favorite TV shows into Houses in “Harry Potter and the Sorting of the Fandoms,” seven devoted fans hosted a youth Q&A panel as characters from Rick Riordan’s series, “The Heroes of Olympus,” four PBS execs took the time to play a public game of Dungeons and Dragons, answering questions as they went, and four myth geeks gave an introduction to magic and monsters in “Myth 101.”

When it came time for lunch, the con-goers headed to the food court, which boasted a wide selection of food from Mexican to Italian to Chinese; it was common to see Thor sitting against a wall and dining with the Grim Reaper and a Time Lord. After lunch, it was back to the Con. People stopped in the hallways to take pictures; indeed, one could spend the whole day just people-watching, admiring the incredible amount of time and effort people put into their costumes. The Dark Lord Sauron, in full-body armor and swinging a gigantic mace, posed with fans next to a man dressed as Loki of Asgard who looked surprisingly just like the real actor.

All in all, Comicon Phoenix is a must-see for any nerd, or even just someone with an interest in sci-fi or costumes. The event is open to everyone, and universally enjoyable. The next convention will be held June 2 to 5, 2016, and the Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest will be held at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale from Dec. 4 to 6. You can check their website, phoenixcomicon.com, for more information.