Too many writers give their characters a tragedy, mention it once or twice, and then act like the job is done. A dead parent. A lost love. A childhood betrayal. A friend who disappeared. A fire. A war. A mistake that cost somebody everything. All of that can be powerful material, but only if it continues to matter after the flashback ends.

Some heroes walk quietly into a hospital room wearing a cape, a mask, or a carefully crafted suit of armor—and in that moment, the world changes for someone who desperately needs hope. For a child battling illness…For a fan meeting their hero for the first time…For a crowd gathered at a convention celebrating the stories they love… Cosplayers bring imagination to life. There’s something magical about seeing a superhero step off the pages of a comic book and into the real w

Spaces where imagination is celebrated. Spaces where creativity flourishes. Spaces where people who might feel “different” in everyday life suddenly realize they are surrounded by thousands of people just like them. Comic conventions—better known as comic cons—are one of those spaces. And on this Friday the 13th, it feels especially fitting to talk about the favor of safe spaces for creativity, fandom, and joy.