Cannon Community Center travels to Albuquerque Comic Expo
Share
Tweet
U.S. Air Force photo U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mike Gruber, 27th Special Operations Force Support Squadron food apprentice, mulls over art by illustrator James O’Barr June 28, 2014 at the Albuquerque Comic Expo in Albuquerque. The Community Center at Cannon Air Force Base coordinated the trip to the expo.
link _
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
The Community Center at Cannon Air Force Base is more than the base’s home for opportunities to get creative, relax and meet with friends — it’s a gathering space for like-minded people. For one weekend, that space expanded all the way out to Albuquerque.
Early on Saturday, June 28, several regulars of the Community Center packed into a van on a Community Center-sponsored trip to the Albuquerque Comic Expo.
ACE, a convention centered on comic books, pop culture and entertainment, attracted a contingent of enthusiasts from across Cannon — airmen from the flight kitchen to the flightline signed up for the road trip and overnight stay in Albuquerque.
The morning of the drive, the van’s atmosphere was raucous, especially considering the trip’s 6 a.m. departure time — and the fact that many of the van’s passengers were awake until only hours before the trip.
Rifling through a backpack jammed between his knees, an Airman more interested in catching a few hours of shut-eye than catching up on last night’s gaming conquests turned to the riders behind him.
“Who wants a comic?” called Airman 1st Class Tin Phan, 27th Special Operations Medical Operations Squadron medical technician, sounding for all the world like an auctioneer. “I’ve got Batman; I’ve got Aquaman; I’ve got Red Hood.”
After a bit of jostling for the Batman, Phan sunk low into his seat, his eyes closed and a nearly imperceptible smirk still twisting his features. A hush fell over the vehicle as true fans of the world of comics absorbed themselves in tales of superheroes.
link U.S. Air Force photo
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Mike Gruber, 27th Special Operations Force Support Squadron food apprentice, mulls over art by illustrator James O’Barr June 28, 2014 at the Albuquerque Comic Expo in Albuquerque. The Community Center at Cannon Air Force Base coordinated the trip to the expo.
Hours later at the expo itself, the group fanned out, stocking up on merchandise, meeting local independent illustrators, and enjoying the sense of community that the event encouraged.
Much like the Community Center on base, the comic expo provided an escape from the everyday and a creative outlet where attendees could join with others who shared their passions. Whether dressing up in costume, attending panels or meeting new people at “Sci-Fi speed dating,” every airman on the trip found a connection at the event.
The trip to ACE is just one in a long list of activities offered by the Community Center, which is operational in spite of ongoing renovations. For information on upcoming events, visit the Community Center’s website at http://www.cannonforce.com/community-center.html.
