Benjamin Leatherman

A trio of geek girls partying after dark during last year's Phoenix Comicon.

If there are a few pieces of helpful advice we can impart to people attending Phoenix Comicon, which kicks off less than 24 hours from now, it's these tips: Drink plenty of fluids, take frequent opportunities to rest, and know your physical limits.

Not only will it help the body endure the hours of hiking to events at the Phoenix Convention Center and nearby hotels, but it will allow you enough energy to partake in any of the nightlife events or after-parties (both official and unofficial) that will occur over Comicon weekend. That includes the seven different events that will go down at places like the Hyatt and Renaissance, as well as at other nearby venues after the Exhibitor Hall closes at night.

See Also:
- 10 Must-See Events at Phoenix Comicon 2013
- Cara Nicole (a.k.a. AZ Powergirl) and Her Superheroine Cosplay
- Doctor Who and Torchwood's John Barrowman Talks Phoenix Comicon, the Face of Boe, and Chasing Down The Bionic Woman

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Jack Harkness and his special watch are on their way to Phoenix Comicon.

John Barrowman is one of Phoenix Comicon 2013's biggest celebrity gets. That's because Whovians everywhere love his portrayal of the sexy and sassy Jack Harkness on Doctor Who and its spin-off Torchwood.

Jackalope Ranch had some burning questions for Barrowman, who's scheduled to appear from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday, May 26, the Phoenix Convention Center. He responded with tales of chasing The Bionic Woman, his take on the Face of Boe, and 51st-century (non-existent) promiscuity.

See Also:
- John Barrowman (a.k.a. Captain Jack Harkness from Doctor Who and Torchwood) Is Coming to Phoenix Comicon
- 10 Must-See Events at Phoenix Comicon 2013
- Cara Nicole (a.k.a. AZ Powergirl) and Her Superheroine Cosplay

More »

Courtesy of Allen Amis/Anarchy Squared Creations

The Far East meets a galaxy far, far away: Allen Amis' Samurai Boba Fett armor that took seven months to build.

Some geeks slave over a killer cosplay outfit to wear at their hometown comic book convention. It earns them a variety of impressed stares, photo ops, and maybe some local notoriety. But when Valley prop maker/costume creator Allen Amis, who operates Anarchy Squared Creations, trotted out a full suit of samurai armor remixed with one of the sci-fi's most infamous rogues, it nabbed him worldwide acclaim and serious geek points across the Internet. Sites like i09, Neatorama, and others dug it hard.

Last year, the 40-something Chandler resident unveiled a Samurai Boba Fett costume at Phoenix Comicon that took him more than seven months and a couple thousand in change to construct. Given geekdom's unending groking of the Star Wars villain, it's no surprise what happened next.

See Also:
- 10 Must-See Events at Phoenix Comicon 2013
- Five Ideas for Star Wars Spin-Offs Disney Should Consider Making (and Four They Really Shouldn't)

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facebook.com/AZPowergirl

Cara Nicole as AZ Powergirl at one of the many comicons she attends each year.

If you've attended Phoenix Comicon at any point over the past couple years, it's likely you've seen Cara Nicole dressed in costume in the Exhibitor Hall, probably as her best-known alter ego AZ Powergirl.

Frankly, she's pretty hard to miss, even among the crowds of countless cosplayers that regularly attend the four-day event each year, as the statuesque blonde bombshell is fairly unforgettable when wearing the wowie-zowie red, white, and blue ensemble inspired by the DC Universe's Power Girl.

See Also:
- 10 Must-See Events at Phoenix Comicon 2013
- Vixens and Sexy Super-heroine Nerdettes of Phoenix Comicon 2012

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Art by Val Hochberg/Images courtesy of Phoenix Comicon.

Val Hochberg's epic depiction of Wonder Woman, which will appear on Phoenix Comicon's guest badge. See more Badge Art Contest winners via this slideshow.

Attention Phoenix Comicon fanatics: While there's still more than three weeks left to go until the event itself -- 24 long, agonizing days to be exact -- its organizers offered up a tasty appetizer earlier today to help whet your appetites and make the time pass more quickly.

This morning, the hard-working braintrust behind the annual comic book/pop culture megafest, which invades the Phoenix Convention Center over Memorial Day weekend, revealed the badge art for 2013. And, as in year's past, the pieces are amazing, amusing, and definitely easy on the eyes.

See Also:
- 10 Must-See Events at Phoenix Comicon 2013
- Five Life Lessons Learned from Phoenix Comicon 2012
- Phoenix Comicon Begins Voting For This Year's Badge Art Contest

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photo by Jamie Peachey

Robots, space, and ray guns are just a few words that can inevitably lead most sci-fi fans to geek out in adoration and obsession.

The aforementioned are -- not coincidentally, we presume -- part of what make up the intergalactic comedy web series "Voyage Trekkers," which centers on the self-described "worst starship crew in the Galactic Union" and will screen its season two premiere this Wednesday.

Co-creator, writer and director Nathan Blackwell took time out of his chaotic schedule (which includes still filming two episodes and editing about seven more for season two) to talk to us about what's different this season, why they wanted to write an eBook and give it away for free, plus what some of his favorite shows and movies are, besides "Voyage Trekkers," of course.

See Also:
- Five Ideas for Star Wars Spin-Offs Disney Should Consider Making (and Four They Really Shouldn't)
- Nathan Blackwell's Voyage Trekkers Returns for a Second Online Season

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teenormous.com

When Disney announced last week that plans are afoot to have a new Star Wars film in theatres every year starting in 2015, when the much-anticipated Episode VII is scheduled to hit the silver screen, we were both thrilled and disappointed at the same time.

As major Star Wars fans, we're automatically enthused whenever anything new is released in the blockbuster saga (Yes, even that animated Clone Wars flick). But sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. Take it from Mark "Luke Skywalker" Hamill himself, who once said, "I like ice cream too...I just don't want it every day."

See Also:
- Seven Rumors About Star Wars and the New Trilogy
- Five Reasons Why Star Wars Movies Will Be Better Under Walt Disney
- The Star Wars That I Used to Know (VIDEO)

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Benajmin Leatherman

The main exhibition hall at Phoenix Comicon 2012.

Exactly one month from now, 40,000 people will invade downtown Phoenix for one reason: to geek out as hard as possible during Phoenix Comicon.

During the annual Memorial Day weekend (Thursday, May 23, to Sunday, May 25) convergence of pop culture, sci-fi, fantasy, and (of course) comic books, there are plenty of things they'll be doing.

See Also:
- John Barrowman (a.k.a. Captain Jack Harkness from Doctor Who and Torchwood) Is Coming to Phoenix Comicon
- Five Life Lessons Learned from Phoenix Comicon 2012
- Best Geekfest - 2012: Phoenix Comicon

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Courtesy of Phoenix Comicon

Get ready, Whovians: Captain Jack Harkness is headed for Phoenix Comicon.

Rumors have been afoot that the über-geeks running Phoenix Comicon are arranging a guest appearance by one of the stars of rampantly popular British sci-fi show Doctor Who.

Turns out the scuttlebutt was, indeed, true as the event's organizers revealed over the weekend that American actor John Barrowman, known to Whovians throughout the universe as Captain Jack Harkness, will make a stop at Phoenix Comicon 2013 next month.

See Also:
Phoenix Comicon Announces First Wave of Guests for 2013
- Phoenix Comicon Announces Sci-Fi/Fantasy Sirens and Comic Book Legends as 2013 Guests
- Phoenix Comicon Begins Voting For This Year's Badge Art Contest

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John Domrzalski

Geeks of the Valley are certainly a most imaginative group, especially whenever Phoenix Comicon time approaches. In fact, we know many a sci-fi or fantasy die-hard who spend the 12 months or so between each year's event exhaustively prepping their elaborate costumes or intricate art to show off to their fellow enthusiasts.

And then there are the creative cats who submit their impressive-looking etchings and sketchings in droves to the Badge Art Contest every year in the hopes of having their efforts worn around the necks of every single person in attendance. The final round of the 2013 version of the competition began in earnest earlier this week as Phoenix Comicon organizers posted the finalists. And, as always, the entries are equal parts astounding, interesting, or flat-out fun.

See Also:
- Phoenix Comicon Kicks Off Its Annual Badge Art Contest
- Phoenix Comicon Announces First Wave of Guests for 2013
- Phoenix Comicon's 2012 Badge Art Contest Winners

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