The comic con calendar of 2026 is already in full swing. A vast array of expos and events being held all over North America ensures that pop-culture lovers and fandoms across the entire country will have the opportunity to indulge in their passions and hobbies sooner or later. This coming weekend, February 7–8, the people of Virginia will have a turn at embracing the divine sense of celebration and fun when Big Lick Comic Con rolls into the Berglund Center with a whole host of comic book creators and celebrity icons in attendance and a litany of outstanding panels on display for attendees to enjoy.
In fact, Big Lick Comic Con is presenting an incredible assembly of stars and events, given its somewhat smaller nature in the field of fan conventions. But what it lacks in sheer enormity, it will more than make up for with the access it provides to its headline guests and the sense of immersion and intimacy that quainter conventions capture. From reunions of the stars of some of the most iconic titles in film and television to Q&A sessions with the stars behind some of the most universally loved and acclaimed hits in pop culture, Big Lick Comic Con is guaranteed to be an unforgettable celebration of geekdom in all its glory.
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Twilight Reunion with Peter Facinelli & Kellan Lutz
18 years ago, there was no more iconic title than Twilight, with the film series breaking box office records as its tale of teen romance and supernatural fantasy became a cinematic phenomenon of great proportions and cultural significance. Based on Stephanie Meyer’s young adult novel series about the forbidden love story between Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), the films found an enormous fanbase on the back of their ensemble of characters, ranging from the villain Volturi coven to the Black family of werewolves spearheaded by Edward’s romantic rival Jacob (Taylor Lautner). However, the members of the Cullen family might’ve just been the biggest scene-stealers.
Lovers of the Twilight franchise are in for a treat at Big Lick Comic Con as two of the actors who played prominent members of the Cullen family are set to host a panel on Saturday afternoon. Starting at 3 pm, Peter Facinelli and Kellan Lutz—the actors behind Cullen family patriarch Carlisle and Edward’s temperamental and tough brother Emmett—will join Collider’s own Maggie Lovitt to reflect on the making of the movie series. The two will engage with fans as they share stories from the set and discuss Twilight’s impact on pop culture.
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Hey Sugah – Q&A with Lenore Zann, Rogue of the X-Men
It can be easy to overlook the lasting legacy a voice actor can have on a character and fanbase. Still, there have been several cases where a star’s vocals have become so entwined with a specific character or story that their work, the mere cadence of their uttering of certain words and phrases, becomes iconic. Lenore Zann is a prime example of this, with her performance as the X-Men hero Rogue across a variety of animated productions (and across multiple formats) through the 1990s and into the 2000s.
She first voiced the character in the animated TV classic X-Men: The Animated Series, becoming one of the integral elements of the show. Her nuanced and emotionally complex performance calls on her experiences in theater and radio to convey complex feelings with just her voice alone. Zann quickly cemented herself as the definitive voice of Rogue, reprising the role in a litany of Marvel video games in the ensuing years. She has recently returned to the character, voicing Rogue again in the Disney+ series X-Men ’97, which has earned critical acclaim and widespread fanfare as it serves as a revival of the original X-Men: The Animated Series. Given her history in the genre, Lenore Zann must be considered one of the most iconic voices in superhero entertainment, and every fan of the genre’s animated television series should make a point of attending her Q&A panel at 3 pm on Sunday, hosted by Maggie Lovitt.
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CHiPS Reunion with Erik Estrada & Larry Wilcox
Anyone who loves classic cop drama will be familiar with CHiPs. With the title standing for California Highway Patrol, the series ran for six seasons from 1977 to 1983, featuring a whopping 139 episodes. It follows motor patrolmen Francis Llewelyn “Ponch” Poncherello (Erik Estrada), a rambunctious and troublesome motor officer, and his straitlaced, by-the-book partner and probationary supervisor Jonathan Andrew Baker (Larry Wilcox). Presenting a light-hearted and fun-loving tone as it marries action, comedy, and camaraderie, the hit cop series stands as a formative title in the pantheon of crime entertainment on the small screen, anchored in the oddball dynamic of its two lead characters.
Attendees at Big Lick Comic Con will have the opportunity to see Ponch and Jon in action once again, with Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox doing a Q&A panel that is sure to mimic the iconic series’ sense of effervescent fun and exuberant excitement. Even younger people who aren’t necessarily familiar with CHiPs would be well-advised to make their way to the session to experience the personalities of two of television’s most iconic and important stars and revel in the stories they tell of working on the set of a huge hit series that helped usher in a new, more comical approach to crime television.
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Diedrich Bader Q&A
Through a career that started in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation back in 1989, Diedrich Bader has amassed a stunning catalog of credits in film, television, and animation. Fans are always won over not only by his commitment to his roles and the versatility he has showcased throughout his career, but by his passionate and authentic dedication to his craft as well. His Q&A session at Big Lick Comic Con at 1 pm on Sunday, hosted by Cannon Doll-X, will be one of the most enticing panels of the expo.
Bader will bring an air of friendliness and charm to the event. His stories of working on the sets of such iconic comedies as Napoleon Dynamite, Office Space, EuroTrip, and Balls of Fury (among many other great titles) are sure to be an engrossing celebration of some of the most beloved movies in recent decades. Likewise, his experiences on series like Star Trek: The Next Generation, 21 Jump Street, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Arrested Development through his prolific guest starring roles, as well as his voice work on animated shows like Batman: The Brave and the Bold, BoJack Horseman, and Gargoyles, will only bring about more great conversation topics.
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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fandom & Friends
One of the defining titles of pop-culture entertainment of the 1980s and ’90s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has become an enduring brand with its ability to always appeal to kids through its blend of quirkiness, comedy, and playful action while remaining a fun-filled phenomenon that adults love revisiting. While its longevity can’t be denied, there is still no doubt that the premise and characters reached the peak of their powers and popularity in the early ’90s. Indeed, the merchandising and animated TV spins on the comic book series reached a crescendo with the 1990 live-action movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
A lasting cultural icon, the movie remains a cherished gem of superhero wackiness, achieving a sense of entertaining irreverence and nostalgic purity. As such, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fandom & Friends” is set to be one of the biggest and best panels at Big Lick Comic Con, with the event scheduled to run from 1 pm on Saturday, hosted by Collider‘s Maggie Lovitt. The film’s stars, Judith Hoag and Ernie Reyes Jr., will reflect on the experiences and joy of making the 1990 movie while also acknowledging its long-standing impact on pop culture and the way it has been able to appeal to new generations.
