CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- Marine Corps Community Services hosted the annual Comic Con Okinawa Oct. 17 aboard Camp Foster.
Comic Con is a convention celebrating pop-culture and comics where attendees dress up as their favorite characters and enter costume contests, and also features movie viewings and panel discussions featuring special guests.
This year’s Comic Con Okinawa was an open-gate event, which allowed Okinawa residents to come aboard Camp Foster and participate in the festivities.
The convention had over 10,600 Okinawa residents and Status of Forces Agreement personnel attended the convention according to Tom Noble, the chief business officer with MCCS.
The convention featured zombie makeup artists, game tournaments and panel discussions. One of the panel discussions featured voice actors from the popular animated series, “Dragon Ball Z.”
“The outpouring of love in Okinawa is way more than anywhere else,” said Justin Cook, the voice a multitude of DBZ characters, such as Dende and Super Buu. “You guys are fantastic.”
During the panel, the audience participated in a Kamehameha contest, as well as having their questions answered. The Kamehameha is one of the signature moves of the DBZ character Goku.
“The “Kamehameha” contest was probably one of my favorite parts of Comic Con Okinawa,” said Cook, an Austin, Texas native.
The convention was staffed by volunteers who ran booths, escorted the guest speakers and performed other miscellaneous tasks.
“Volunteering at Comic Con Okinawa was a lot of work but also a lot of fun,” said Lance Cpl. Johnwilson Navarro, a clerk with Facilities Maintenance, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan.
“It was cool seeing all the different costumes and characters walking around,” said Navarro, a Georgia native. “I saw Marines and Okinawa residents laughing together and talking about different costumes. It was really awesome seeing that interaction.”
According to Cook, having so many fans come out and show their support means a lot to the voice actors.
“It’s rare you sign at a place where you have to thank almost every body for protecting us for so long,” said Cook. “It’s a great feeling to have.”