Star Trek, Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Doctor Who Fan Communities Attending New Orleans Comic Con

Fan communities representing the most fervent followers of blockbuster franchises like “Star Trek,” “Star Wars,” “Ghostbusters” and “Doctor Who” are among the groups that attendees will see roaming the Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con floor, Friday through Sunday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Cosplayers from these groups love to interact with fans, adding another level of fun and in many cases raising money for charity.

Some organizations that fans will enjoy meeting include:

· Adventure League of GEARS, a family-friendly Steampunk Performance Group based out of New Orleans, and a fan and homage group to the League of S.T.E.A.M which uses its talents and skills to help raise money for charities, and volunteer for charitable events.
· 501st Legion/Bast Alpha Garrison, the Louisiana chapter of the 501st Legion, featuring the "bad guys" from the Star Wars Universe. The 501st Legion has over 4000 members from all 50 states and 22 countries around the world.
· Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat, the official fan club for Anne Rice's “Vampire Lestat,” the Vampire Chronicles and the annual New Orleans Vampire Ball.
· Barony of Axemoor, the local chapter of the SCA, an international organization dedicated to researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-Century Europe.
· BayouCon, held in the heart of Southwest Louisiana, is Lake Charles’ original fan produced convention. BayouCon V will take place the last weekend of June 2013.
· Cast Aways Open Theatre Troupe, whose costumed volunteers perform at fairs, festivals, conventions, and charity events. They appear in parades and in films. New Orleans Comic Con attendees are welcomed to come and visit the Royal Court of Cast Aways and participate in the Quest for the King of the Realm.
· CoastCon, Mississippi's oldest and largest science fiction, fantasy and gaming convention. It is the main sponsored event of CoastCon, Inc., a non-profit literary organization run by a 10-member volunteer board who give their time during the year to develop events and gatherings to promote reading, education, fellowship, and of course science fiction, fantasy and gaming.
· CONtraflow, a fan convention held in the Greater New Orleans area. It focuses on science fiction, fantasy, comics, and related literary genres in any form, including but not limited to writing, visual arts, dramatic arts, and interactive fiction.
· CyPhaCon, Southwest Louisiana’s premier, family-friendly Anime, Gaming & Sci-Fi/Fantasy convention venue. With nearly 700 attendees in its second year, it includes expanded board and video game tourneys, anime panels, costuming & cosplay displays, Musical guests, fan produced panels and much more.
· Fans for Christ, for all believers in Christ who are also fans of comics, anime, fantasy, sci-fi, gaming, computers, costuming and cosplay.
· The Garou Nation, a national organization of networked “Live Action Werewolf: The Apocalypse” role-playing games that share a universe in White Wolf's original “World of Darkness” game setting. Its goal is to enhance and expand different chronicles across the country as a shared network that shares those experiences with friends and fellow players throughout the country.
· Geek Girls with Guns, officially Geek Endowment Krewe, a non profit organization that schedules fundraising events for children with special needs.
· The Greater New Orleans Krewe of the Living Dead, to glorify all things Zombie and call upon fans of the genre to join and rejoice in the persistent and exponential rise in popularity of the Living-Dead in pop culture that has now grown into an international phenomena.
· HMS Death Claw, part of the Royal Manticoran Navy based on best seller books from David Weber. The Death Claw is the flagship of 6th Sphinx Fleet which comprises of 10 states and Manitoba, Canada.
· Krewe du Who, over 375 strong and consists of fans of the New Series, Classic Series and All things “Doctor Who!” The open group members are fans of “Torchwood,” the “Sarah Jane Adventures”, “Big Finish Audio Dramas” and all “Whoniverse” related spin off media.
· Krewe of P.U.E.W.C, a new fantasy, horror and anime themed New Orleans Mardi Gras parade organization for the most happily insane Harry Potter wizards, Lord of the Rings hobbits, Dungeon & Dragon warriors, SCA fighters, Sailor Moons, Astro Boys, were-beasties, faeries, and the like.
· Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus, a parade organization for the most revelrous of Star Wars Freaks, Trekkies, Whovians, Mega-Geeks, Circuit Benders, Cryptozooligists, UFO Conspiracy Theorists, and all the rest of Super Nerdom.
· Louisiana Ghostbusters, a fan-based “Ghostbusters” franchise. As costumers and fans of “Ghostbusters,” LG represents an open costuming policy with movie-accurate props and wardrobe representing all aspects of the “Ghostbusters” series of movies, cartoons, games, and novels. As a service organization, the group directs money to charities, participates in fundraisers for charities, attends fund-raising events, and performs charitable acts and community service.
· Louisiana Science Fiction and Costume Festival, "The Unconventional Convention" April 20-22 at the Hampton Inn Port Allen, La. It includes fan films, panels, workshops, live entertainment, and a costume ball.
· Mind's Eye Society, founded in 1992, an international fan organization dedicated to White Wolf's “World of Darkness” in all its incarnations. One of the world's largest gaming fan communities, with thousands of members all over the globe, The Mind's Eye Society not only offers global “World of Darkness” roleplaying chronicles but also supports charity fundraising, community service activities and social events organized by its members.
· Mississippi Ghostbusters, a fan based Ghostbuster franchise that promotes acts of charity with our open based costuming that represents all forms of the Ghostbusting community, attending all manner of events to raise money for a various number of charities.
· Mobicon, Mobile, Alabama's annual 3 day science fiction, fantasy, gaming, anime, paranormal, horror, and comic convention. Always on the third full weekend in May; MOBICON XVI will be May 17-19, 2013, at the Ashbury Hotel & Suites.
· New Orleans Public Library, the premier cultural institution that celebrates and preserves the collective memory and living history of New Orleans, Louisiana and the world. NOPL fosters the future aspirations and democratic dreams of all.
· One World by Night, an organization dedicated to creating links between White Wolf's Mind's Eye Theatre LARP games around the world. By combining the various stories of member Chronicles, OWbN hopes to enhance the enjoyment of its members by expanding local plots to the world, truly creating a World of Darkness. OWbN currently stretches to over 100 chronicles in the US, Canada, Brazil, New Zealand, and Israel.
· Red Stick Rebellion Star Wars Collectors Club, a Star Wars collectors group based in Baton Rouge, La. Every month it has a different focus topic presented by individuals who have a great deal of knowledge in the area - plus they always have our regular general discussion, trading and lots of fun.
· Star Wars Museum, a nonprofit group of like-minded individuals working for a goal: To Build a Star Wars Themed Children’s Museum. Our Mission “To Inspire and Educate.
· Steampunk Americans, a group of Steampunk enthusiasts in New Orleans. NOLA is truly Victorian city where the ships still run on steam and the Absinthe flows like water. As one of the last bastions of the civilized world, this city still let citizens smoke tobacco in the taverns and openly drink in the glow of the gas streetlights.
· USS Corsair, which provides fans a way to meet each other, make friends, have fun, give back to their community, and show that the dream of Star Trek’s creator Gene Roddenberry can endure. In 2007, the club was awarded “Shakedown Mission of the Year” by its parent organization, Starfleet International and in 2010, it received the Regional Chapter of the Year Award.
· USS New Orleans, a Chapter with Starfleet: The International Star Trek Fan Association, currently located in the city of New Orleans and the outlying areas, founded in May 2010, five years after Hurricane Katrina destroyed its predecessor.
· Visual Art League, which wants to spread knowledge of the arts and encourage creativity throughout the community of the University of New Orleans, other neighboring colleges, and the city of New Orleans. The group also aspires to function as a real world platform for students to further develop their artistic endeavors and gain professional experience.

Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con features comics legend Stan Lee, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” star Eliza Dushku, Reservoir Dogs headliner Michael Madsen and WWE® Superstar CM Punk® at the top of a standout lineup of celebrities. They will be joined by an All-Star collection of well-known artists and a variety of activities, exhibitors and special attractions in the final event on Wizard World's 2012 calendar.

Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, produced by Wizard World, Inc. (WIZD.PK), will bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, comics, toys, video gaming, television, sci-fi, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Admission is free for kids 10 and under, and Sunday, December 2, is “Kids Day,” an array of programming specially designed for children.

Event hours are Friday, Nov. 30, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

For more on the 2012 Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/home-neworleans.html.

About Wizard World:
Wizard World produces Comic Cons and pop culture conventions across North America that celebrate graphic novels, comic books, movies, TV shows, gaming, technology, toys and social networking. The events often feature celebrities from movies and TV, artists and writers, and events such as premieres, gaming tournaments, panels, and costume contests.

The full event schedule can be found at www.wizardworld.com.

***** SAVE THE 2012-13 DATES *****
November 30 - December 2, 2012 – Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con
February 22-24, 2013 – Wizard World Portland Comic Con
May 30 - June 2, 2013 – Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 8-11, 2013 – Wizard World Chicago Comic Con
September 20-22, 2013 – Wizard World Ohio Comic Con
November 22-24, 2013 – Wizard World Austin Comic Con

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