PHOTO BY CLIFF ADAMS
Cosplayers dressed as Star Wars characters pose for photographs during StealthCon on Saturday in the Elliott Student Union Ballroom.

By CLIFF ADAMS
Reporter

(WARRENSBURG, Mo., digitalBURG) — Cosplayers disguised as pop culture and video game characters packed the Elliott Student Union ballroom to partake in the inaugural StealthCon comic con event last weekend. Celebrity guests from television, film and video games were among the main attractions.

PHOTO BY CLIFF ADAMS
Illustrator Bradley Voth draws an original piece of artwork for a customer at StealthCon on Saturday in the Union Ballroom.

Members of the United States Air Force’s 509th Force Support Squadron organized the two-day event, hosted Feb. 13-14, which brought 1,750 attendees on the UCM campus. Vendors and artists sold a variety of items, including original artwork, comics and costumes.

“We were seeing that our airmen really enjoyed these events, but they had to drive to Kansas City, St. Louis or further,” said Joshua Bailey, host of the StealthCon. “We wanted to partner with the community and bring it to the airmen locally. UCM and the students have been very supportive, so it was a no-brainer to choose the student union here.”

Event organizers loaded the schedule with celebrity panels, art and cosplay contests, as well as tabletop gaming. Celebrity guests included Ernie Hudson of “Ghostbusters” fame, Katrina Law from “Arrow,” Casper Van Dien of “Starship Troopers,” “Tomb Raider” voice actress Camilla Luddington and “Power Ranger” David Yost.

“Ernie Hudson is one of our really big stars,” Bailey said. “We also have many special cosplay guests at the event, such as Brittney Baldwin, Ultra Girls Cosplay and Amy the Alchemist.”

Many patrons created and wore their own costumes to the event.

PHOTO BY CLIFF ADAMS
Tony Ackerman, owner of Cos Props, talks with a patron at his booth during StealthCon on Saturday in the Union Ballroom.

“I’m a crossover between Pyramid Head from ‘Silent Hill’ and Big Daddy from ‘Bioshock,'” said a cosplayer who identified himself as Sora. “I saw a picture of it in Google Images, and someone drew my costume. I was like, ‘I want it!’ So, I made it.”

Warrensburg native Tony Ackerman was among the vendors selling wares in the Union ballroom. Ackerman, owner of Cos Props Special Effects Studio, creates wearable costumes for film and personal use.

“I make a lot of stuff for people that come to (comic cons),” Ackerman said. “I actually went here when it was (Central Missouri State University). I just happen to be here, so StealthCon heard about me through my contacts in the industry and invited me.”

Sora said he has regularly attended comic cons since 2009.

“StealthCon is a new con and I like to check out new cons,” he said. “New cons are always good. I like to see how they prosper.”