Favor Fridays with Tony™: When God Favors You With a Place to Be Yourself: Comic Cons, Courage, and the Power of the “Final Girl”

There are places in this world where people feel like they must hide parts of who they are.

Places where interests are judged.Places where creativity is dismissed.Places where people are told to “tone it down.”

But every once in a while, God opens spaces where people can simply be themselves.

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.

Because this weekend, I have the honor of serving as emcee for Haywood Comic Con.

🎤 Haywood Comic Con 2026

This exciting event will take place at:

Wyatt Duke Armory, 221 Morgan StreetBrownsville, Tennessee

📅 Friday, March 13, 2026: 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

📅 Saturday, March 14, 2026: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

If you love:

• comic books

• superheroes

• pop culture

• cosplay

• artwork

• anime

• video games

• collectibles

• storytelling

Then comic conventions are the ultimate place to celebrate those passions.

People come dressed as their favorite characters. Artists showcase their work. Writers share stories. Fans meet creators.

And for a few beautiful hours, everyone gets permission to geek out without apology.

That’s not just entertainment.

That’s community.

And community is a form of favor.

The Favor of Shared Passion

One of the greatest human needs is belonging.

God created us for connection.

Genesis 2:18 reminds us:

“It is not good for the man to be alone.”

That truth applies far beyond relationships.

It applies to passions, creativity, and identity.

When people discover communities where their interests are understood, something powerful happens.

Confidence grows.

Friendships form.

Creativity multiplies.

Comic cons create that environment.

They remind people that the things that make them unique can also connect them to others.

Friday the 13th and Women of Horror

Today also happens to be Friday the 13th, a date famous in pop culture for horror movies, suspense, and supernatural storytelling.

But horror has given us something remarkable—especially when it comes to women.

The genre introduced the concept of the “final girl.”

The final girl is the woman who survives the horror.

She faces the monster.She refuses to give up.She outlasts the darkness.

Characters like Laurie Strode from the Halloween franchise and Sidney Prescott from Scream have become iconic examples.

These characters represent resilience.

They represent courage.

They represent survival.

And during Women’s History Month, it’s worth recognizing how these fictional heroines echo the real courage of women throughout history.

The Spiritual Meaning of the “Final Girl”

The final girl trope may come from horror movies, but it carries a deeper message.

She survives.

She refuses to surrender.

She confronts darkness head-on.

Scripture reflects that same theme repeatedly.

Psalm 23:4 declares:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

That is the language of a survivor.

The Bible is full of stories where individuals stand against overwhelming darkness.

David faced Goliath. Esther confronted a genocidal plot. Deborah led a nation in battle.

Like the final girls of horror films, these biblical figures endured terrifying circumstances.

But they did not fall.

They stood.

Why Stories Matter

Stories shape how we see courage.

Comic books, movies, and pop culture often present heroes confronting evil.

Superheroes battle villains. Final girls survive horror.Protagonists overcome impossible odds.

These stories resonate because they reflect something deeply human.

We want to believe that light can overcome darkness.

And Scripture tells us that belief is not fantasy.

John 1:5 says:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

That truth echoes across genres—from ancient Scripture to modern storytelling.

Comic Cons as Creative Sanctuaries

Comic conventions are more than events.

They are creative sanctuaries.

Artists display their work.Writers share their worlds. Fans celebrate the characters that inspired them.

People who might feel isolated in their everyday lives suddenly find thousands of people who share their passions.

For many fans, that moment is transformational.

It reminds them that their creativity matters.

That their imagination matters.

That their joy matters.

Sometimes the simple act of celebrating what you love becomes a powerful form of self-acceptance.

And that is a blessing.

The Joy of Cosplay

Cosplay—short for “costume play”—is one of the most vibrant parts of comic conventions.

Fans dress as their favorite characters:

Superheroes. Anime icons. Video game legends. Movie monsters. Sci-fi explorers.

Cosplay is art.

It requires creativity, craftsmanship, and confidence.

But it also represents something deeper.

It allows people to embody courage.

For a moment, someone can step into the boots of a hero.

And sometimes that experience reminds them that courage is not just something characters possess.

It’s something we can carry in our own lives.

Why Pop Culture Belongs in Spiritual Conversations

Some people treat faith and pop culture as if they exist in separate worlds.

But storytelling has always been one of the most powerful ways to explore truth.

Jesus Himself used stories—parables—to communicate spiritual lessons.

Stories reach people where arguments cannot.

When we watch heroes confront evil, we see reflections of the spiritual battle described in Scripture.

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world.”

That conflict between light and darkness is at the heart of countless stories.

And it is also at the heart of the Christian journey.

The Favor of Finding Your People

One of the most beautiful aspects of comic conventions is the opportunity to meet people who love the same things you love.

That might sound simple on the surface.

But it is actually deeply powerful.

Many fans spend most of their lives surrounded by people who don’t understand their interests. Someone might be the only person in their workplace who reads comics. Someone else might be the only person in their friend circle who loves anime. Another person may be passionate about cosplay, gaming, or horror films but rarely has the opportunity to share that passion with others.

Then they walk into a comic convention.

Suddenly, everything changes.

Instead of being the “only one,” they are surrounded by thousands of people who speak the same creative language.

People who understand the references. People who recognize the costumes. People who share the excitement.

Conversations start easily.

Friendships form quickly.

And strangers become community.

Comic conventions remind us of something deeply human:

We were created to celebrate life together.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 reminds us:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.”

That principle extends far beyond work.

It applies to joy as well.

Joy multiplies when it is shared.

Celebrating What You Love Without Apology

Another powerful element of comic conventions is the freedom to celebrate the things that bring you happiness.

Too often, people are made to feel embarrassed about their passions.

Adults are sometimes told they are “too old” for comics. Fans are teased for loving superheroes. Creative people are sometimes told their interests are childish.

Comic conventions flip that narrative completely.

At a con, those same passions are not only accepted—they are celebrated.

Artists display their work proudly.

Cosplayers show off costumes they spent months creating.

Collectors share rare issues and memorabilia.

Fans talk for hours about characters, storylines, and creative worlds that shaped their imagination.

There is something deeply affirming about standing in a room full of people who are excited about the same things you are excited about.

It reminds us that joy is not something we should hide.

It is something we should share.

Psalm 133:1 says:

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”

Unity does not always come through identical beliefs or backgrounds.

Sometimes unity simply comes from shared passion and mutual respect.

Comic conventions create that kind of unity.

Conventions as Community Builders

Over time, conventions do more than host events.

They build networks.

Artists meet collaborators.Writers meet readers.Creators meet mentors. Fans meet lifelong friends.

Many creators trace their careers back to a single convention conversation.

Many friendships that begin at a con last for decades.

Some even meet spouses at conventions.

It may seem surprising to some people, but comic conventions often become creative ecosystems where ideas grow, opportunities appear, and collaborations are born.

This is another reason events like Haywood Comic Con matter.

They bring together artists, writers, vendors, cosplayers, gamers, and fans from across the region and allow them to connect face-to-face.

In an age where so much communication happens through screens, those in-person connections are incredibly valuable.

Why Spaces Like This Matter

Spaces like comic conventions remind us that creativity deserves room to breathe.

They remind us that imagination is not trivial.

Stories inspire people.

Heroes encourage courage.

And communities built around shared passions create belonging.

When people gather to celebrate what they love, they rediscover something powerful:

Joy is contagious.

Excitement spreads.

And creativity multiplies.

That is part of the favor of comic conventions.

They create environments where joy, imagination, and community can flourish.

Women’s History Month and Courage

On this 13th day of Women’s History Month, the final girl trope offers a fascinating lens.

These characters are not passive.

They are fighters.

They survive when others fall.

They prove that courage is not defined by gender.

Throughout history, women have demonstrated that same resilience.

Women like:

• Harriet Tubman

• Sojourner Truth

• Ida B. Wells

• Rosa Parks

stood against injustice and refused to surrender.

Their courage was not fictional.

It was real.

And their stories continue to inspire generations.

A Prayer for Courage and Creativity

God,

Thank You for the gift of imagination.Thank You for the communities that allow people to celebrate their passions.

Bless the creators who bring stories to life.Bless the fans who find joy and connection through storytelling.

And give us courage—like the heroes we admire—to stand against darkness in our own lives.

Amen.

Closing Reflection — and an Invitation

Comic conventions remind us that storytelling is powerful.

They bring together artists, writers, dreamers, and fans who share a love for worlds where courage triumphs over darkness.

This weekend, I’m honored to serve as emcee for Haywood Comic Con in Brownsville, Tennessee.

If you’re nearby, come celebrate creativity, community, and imagination with us.

And if you enjoy stories where light confronts darkness, where heroes rise, and where spiritual battles shape destinies, those themes live at the heart of my S.O.L.A.D.™: Soldiers of Light Against Darkness™ novel series.

These books explore the eternal struggle between good and evil—and the courage required to stand for the light.

You can find signed copies and more at:

👉 www.tyronetonyreedjr.com/the-shop

Favor isn’t just about success.

Sometimes favor is simply finding a place where you can be who God created you to be.