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Loki, Minecraft Steve, Link, a Halo marine, Castiel from Supernatural, and others invaded the SEL Event Center in Pullman for the first ever Pac Con Palouse last Saturday.

At least, fans dressed up as the characters did.

The convention attracted people of all ages with tables featuring artists selling their work and even drawing pieces on the spot by request. Vendors, panels, and a Cosplay costume contest were also part of the event.

Special guest Stephen Platt made his first visit to the Palouse for the convention after he said Mackessy contacted him on Facebook.

Platt used to draw comics in the margins of his homework. Now he said his resume boasts work with Marvel, music videos and storyboard art on movies such as Iron Man and Oblivion.

“I’m still the kid who draws superheroes,” Platt said. “I’ll always be that kid.”

He said the future holds more movies including the upcoming adaptation of dystopian novel Divergent, more comics and diapers as he cares for his new daughter.

Makeup Artist Jolene Cliffe was present, taking requests for horror makeup from attendees. Kassandra Conforth, a junior from Umatilla High School in Oregon, was one such attendee.

Conforth said she came to Pac Con Palouse with her anime club. “We wanted to find something fun to go to,” she said. “Personally, I like it and I got a cool makeover,” she added of the convention and her Steampunk makeup made of liquid latex and 3D gears.

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Tim Seeley met the organizer of Pac Con, Jake Mackessy, at a convention in Dubai last year and came out from Chicago for the event. Seeley has been a professional comic book artist for 13 years, writing and illustrating comic books such as Revival and Hack/Slash.

Local comic book artists Bill McGovern and Dan Salinas of Moscow are still developing their story “Shadows.” Salinas said he’s been drawing since he could hold a pencil and started drawing comics at the age of seven. Salinas and McGovern had the full script of the first issue available for guests to check out. McGovern said the next steps include solidifying the art, getting the characters down, and getting it on a computer.

Many of those in attendance were blown away by the turnout, especially for a first time event.

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“I think the turnout is amazing,” Sarah Johns said, adding, “You have to support stuff like this for it to come.”

Alix Shackelford is the Washington/Idaho state manager of the D20 Girls Project, a non-profit geared toward empowering female gamers. She said she has attended seven or eight conventions a year for the last three years.

“I figured (Pac Con Palouse) would be kinda successful here,” she said. “There’s the college and a whole untapped resource of nerds here.”

Pullman High School junior Jeremiah Cox said, “When I heard about this I was thrilled. If they could make this a yearly thing that lasts a couple days, that would be awesome.”

WSU senior psychology major Amanda Reitz took home $250 cash after winning 1^st place in the costume contest for her Silent Hill Nurse ensemble.

Many local businesses and organizations supported the convention. Transportation for vendors and VIPs was provided by College Cabs. Northwest Boxer Rescue sponsored a silent auction and Safari Pearl sponsored the costume contest.

“The response amongst the community has been amazing,” Mackessy said. He added that a Pac Con Palouse is definitely in the works for next year and will possibly be extended to a three day event but will probably not be held on Super Bowl weekend.

 “As long as you want a comic convention in Pullman, we’ll put one on,” he said.