VENETIA TALBOTT TURNED several heads as she walked across the main floor at Stockton Arena on Saturday morning. She was dressed as Ursula from “The Little Mermaid,” in a black and purple dress with tentacles at the bottom.
It was Talbott’s first time cosplaying or even attending a comic convention like StocktonCon. She said she did it for her 13-year-old granddaughter, who dressed as a superhero, Spider-Gwen.
Thousands of comic-book and anime fans gathered at Stockton Arena for the second time this year for StocktonCon Summer Day 1.
“I’m here with my son and daughter and their children and they are all dressed up as superheroes,” Talbott said. “We are coming back tomorrow as Star Wars characters.”
Talbott’s son was dressed as Thor and her daughter as Hela, while her grandchildren portrayed different Spider-People.
While a wide variety of characters cosplayed at the event, those associated with Spider-Man – especially from “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” — turned out to be the dominant theme.
Max Perez, of Fremont, dresses as Spider-Man Noir during StocktonCon at Stockton Arena on July 8, 2023. “I’ve been attending StocktonCon for 10 years now,” Perez said. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Jose Pacheco cosplays as Pennywise from “It” during StocktonCon at Stockton Arena on July 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
A child looks at miniature toys on display during StocktonCon at Stockton Arena on July 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Amaya Marquez, dressed as Nezuko from “Demon Slayer,” looks at the merchandize on display during StocktonCon at Stockton Arena on July 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Johnny Yong Bosch, popular for his portrayal of Adam Park, the second on-screen Black Power Ranger, speaks on a panel during StocktonCon at Stockton Arena on July 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Veronica Taylor, voice actor of “Pokémon’s” Ash Ketchum, speaks with a fan during StocktonCon at Stockton Arena on July 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Power Rangers pose for a photo with Luffy (left) from “One Piece” during StocktonCon at Stockton Arena on July 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Lilly Goodman, of Stockton, cosplays as the May Queen from “Midsummer” during StocktonCon at Stockton Arena on July 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
Fans check out comic books at a comic book popup during StocktonCon at Stockton Arena on Saturday. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local) 
“America’s Got Talent” singer Freckled Zelda, also known as Rachel Wilson, poses for photos with a fan during StocktonCon at Stockton Arena on July 8, 2023. (Harika Maddala/Bay City News/Catchlight Local)
Max Perez, who cosplayed as Spider-Man Noir, drove up from Fremont to attend Day 1 of the event.
“I’ve been attending StocktonCon for 10 years now,” Perez said.
He said he comes because he enjoys cosplaying, which he picked up from his father and has been doing since the age of 10.
StocktonCon Summer had several special guests who attended the second day of the event Sunday. The list included actors Theo Rossi of “Luke Cage,” Patrick Fabian of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Better Call Saul,” Johnny Yong Bosch of “Power Rangers,” Tara Reid of “American Pie” and Veronica Taylor, who voiced Ash Ketchum in the “Pokemon” anime.
Harika Maddala is a photojournalist based in Stockton covering San Joaquin County for Bay City News Foundation and its nonprofit news site Local News Matters. They are a Report for America corps member and a CatchLight Local Fellow.
