19 photos from the first day of Planet Comicon. Happening this weekend in downtown KC
By The Kansas City Star and
Photos by Emily Curiel
These are strange times, but maybe not so strange that you wouldn’t be surprised if you saw Krampus or Wonder Woman walking down the street in downtown Kansas City.
If you do see those characters downtown this weekend, don’t fret, some kind of other-worldly portal has not opened up under Bartle Hall. It’s just Planet Comicon.
Planet Comicon Kansas City opened Friday afternoon at the Kansas City Convention Center. Thousands of fans who share a common love of the fantasy worlds that live on the pages of comic books and science fiction movies and television shows packed the sprawling facility to geek out over the plethora of pop culture on display there.
Many of the fans come dressed in elaborate costumes that pay tribute to their favorite fantasy characters. “Cosplay” is the term these die hard fans use to describe this type of role playing.
Along with vendors selling truckloads of toys and memorabilia tied to fans’ favorite shows and characters, the event is a place for fans to meet face to face with actors and illustrators who bring those characters to life.
The show continues through Sunday.
Here are photos from Friday’s session.
Victor Jameson cosplays as the character Mr. Scarletella while attending Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Visitors attend Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Maverick Villatoro, left, and his brother Nelson Villatoro play with lightsabers during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kayla Brown, of Columbia, Missouri, cosplaying as the character Te Fiti from the movie Moana, stands for a portrait during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Visitors in cosplay join in a conga line during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Backpacks featuring characters from Super Mario, Nintendo, and other franchises are displayed along racks at Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
A comic-styled robot from the Star Wars movie franchise is seen during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
A head bust of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is displayed alongside other busts at the Patrick Hart booth during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
A bust of Beetlejuice is displayed alongside other busts at the Patrick Hart booth during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Katie Lockwood cosplays as Wonder Woman during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Tim Gillam Jr., left, and Tim Gillam, dressed as Krampus, along with Riddick Ackerman, pose for a portrait during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Amber Rae of St. Joseph, Missouri, cosplays as Hela from the movie Thor: Ragnarok during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Eric Collins and his son, Alec Collins, cosplay during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Eric is dressed as a Star Trek character, while Alec cosplays as a Dalek from Doctor Who Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Amanda Fehlner cosplays as She-Ra, Princess of Power, during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Brenna Castor, cosplaying as Toad from the Super Mario Bros. franchise, stands for a portrait during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Jameson Brettmann cosplays as Pepsi Man during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Kyle Etter, cosplaying as a mecha version of the anime character Mico, looks at merchandise while attending Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
Erin Carpenter cosplays as the character Washi from Kubo and the Two Strings during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
A variety of comics from the Elite Comics booth are displayed on a rack during Planet Comicon at the Kansas City Convention Center on Friday, March 21, 2025. Emily Curiel ecuriel@kcstar.com
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Emily Curiel, is a visual journalist at The Star. With a broad scope of coverage, Curiel navigates subjects including breaking news, sports, features and long-form narratives. She is a first-generation graduate from San Francisco State University and a native of Los Angeles.
