Contestants wait their turn to be judged during the Ohana Comic Con cosplay contest in Yuba City on Jan. 24.

 

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - “Car! Car!” shouted Ziggy Star, alerting a band of costumed followers to clear a path in the back of the Yuba City Moose Lodge parking lot Saturday, Jan. 24.

For the past five years, Star and his wife, Elodia, have hosted two comic cons a year at the lodge, and this weekend’s turnout for their “world-famous” cosplay contest was so large organizers were forced to move it outdoors. Nearly 50 contestants entered, and with multiple categories and age groups, it seemed almost everyone walked away with a prize. Winnings included gift certificates valid only at the comic con that day, a strategy designed to boost vendor sales while giving fans memorabilia to take home.

“We used to put on baseball card shows 35 years ago,” Star said. “We were given a prophetic word right around the year 2000 and it said we would do the same thing but in the kingdom way, for we’re doing it more for the Lord now than we did before.”

Tony Michaels, left, and his business partner staff the Veteran Owned Comics booth during the Ohana Comic Con in Yuba City on Jan. 24. Michaels said the business raises money to support disabled veterans and connects with fellow veterans through shared comic culture.

Based in Turlock, Star launched the Ohana Comic Con brand there, drawing crowds of around 5,000 people. He and his wife now travel throughout California hosting comic cons nearly every weekend, averaging about 50 events per year.

Saturday’s event packed the Moose Lodge with toy vendors, local artists, sword makers and authors.

Joshua Millican, a Chico-based author fresh from Los Angeles, said events like these provide valuable exposure as well as steady sales.

“I’m one of only a few book writers or novelists who comes out to these things on the regular, but it can be very successful for me,” Millican said. “Today has been great. Anytime I can cover my table cost and gas cost, it’s gravy.”

Millican is best known for his “Teleportasm” book series, often described as “Goosebumps for adults,” as well as novelizations of cult classic horror films. His newest project, “Dopefoot,” a California spin on the classic Bigfoot folktale, is set for release later this summer, a story he hopes will resonate with a Northern California audience.

Based in Turlock, Star launched the Ohana Comic Con brand there, drawing crowds of around 5,000 people.

 

Nearby, Sacramento-based artist Branden Sanderson said he makes a point to attend the Yuba City Ohana Comic Con every year.

“It’s just so close. Whenever there’s one that’s close, I always try to get in,” Sanderson said. “I always have a good time coming to this one. I do pretty well. A lot of people like the artwork. I usually sell more prints than books.”

A full-time artist since 2023, Sanderson encourages young artists to keep practicing their craft, whether freehand or tracing.

“You need to learn bodies in motion,” Sanderson said. “One of my secret hacks for drawing, especially stuff like this, was to use Sports Illustrated magazines. Those types of things are what it is. Michael Jordan jumping is Spider-Man. A guy throwing a pitch, that’s Thor with his hammer. And it’s realistic. You see how the muscles connect and move, which is hard to figure out if you’re just drawing static images.”

A watercolor artist prepares and organizes prints for sale during the Ohana Comic Con at the Yuba City Moose Lodge on Jan. 24. The event featured a mix of local artists, toy vendors and independent creators.

For Jesse Diego, Saturday marked his second appearance at the Ohana Comic Con in Yuba City. He traveled from Hollister to showcase his work alongside his son, a graphic novelist based in Chico. A musician since the 1980s, Diego said the pair now collaborate on illustrated stories centered around original songs.

Another standout vendor was Veteran Owned Comics, soon to be rebranded as Grumpy Old Vet Comics, a veteran-owned business that raises money to support disabled veterans.

“While I was in the military, I collected a lot of comics as an escape, and I noticed it was a big thing in the vet community,” said Tony Michaels. “It kind of takes us back to that childhood innocence, before the military or life happened.”

Those interested in future events can visit ohanacomiccon.com. The next Ohana Comic Con is expected to return to the Yuba City Moose Lodge in July.

Sacramento-based artist Branden Sanderson sketches a custom comic book cover for a fan during the Ohana Comic Con at the Yuba City Moose Lodge. Sanderson, a full-time artist since 2023, said he makes a point to attend the Yuba City event each year.