Superheroes, stormtroopers and story lovers gathered once again as OceanCon, Oceanside’s annual comic convention, returned for its eighth year last Sunday, transforming the Oceanside Library into a celebration of pop culture.
The daylong event drew 1,100 fans and cosplayers for an experience that blended fantasy and philanthropy. Outdoor attractions included a food truck, the Ghostbusters’ Ecto-1 vehicle and a life-size Lightning McQueen model car.
Inside, the activities included cosplay contests, Jedi training sessions, comic-art classes, Harry Potter wand-making, video game tournaments and a superhero makeup demonstration.
“It makes us feel overjoyed and warms our hearts that everyone loves the library as much as we love this community,” Michelle Samuel, the library’s assistant director, said. “Having events like this is what really brings us joy during moments like this.”
Janet Pearsall, president of the library’s board of trustees, echoed that sentiment, and noted that OceanCon has become one of the hamlet’s most anticipated events of the year.
“I just love watching the community come together and really enjoy themselves,” Pearsall said.
This year marked the first appearance at OceanCon by the Comic Book Depot, a shop in Wantagh. Sales associate Francis Imbergamo said the event was a perfect opportunity to connect with young readers.
“We knew we would have a lot of kids around,” Imbergamo said. “We actually just got a big shipment in from Marvel’s distributors, who have done a bunch of comics for Halloween, all $1 each.” He added that the Comic Book Depot regularly hosts reading programs, and offers discounts to encourage children to pick up books.
“We’re very big on reading here and trying to encourage kids to read,” Imbergamo said. “We’ve even seen them improve on their report cards.”
Beyond the comics, costumes and collectibles, OceanCon also spotlighted organizations that use fandom for good. Among them were members of the Saber Guild’s Endor Temple, an international, Lucasfilm-recognized charity group that combines “Star Wars”-style performance with community service.
Joseph Barone, director of the local Endor Temple chapter, said the group has a presence in both Nassau and Suffolk counties and has been operating for a decade.
“We play dress-up and entertain kids and adults for charity,” Barone said. “It’s very fun.”
Barone and his group host classes once a week, as well as choreographed lightsaber combat shows for kids and adults. The group often visits hospitals, including Cohen Children’s and St. Mary’s, to lift the spirits of young patients.
“It’s very hard when we go to visit hospitals, because a lot of kids aren’t mobile or verbal,” Barone said. “But when they see a character that’s usually only on TV or in cartoons, they light up. It’s incredibly fulfilling.”
Also in attendance was the 501st Legion, an international “Star Wars” costuming organization known for its screen-accurate villain costumes and its dedication to charity work.
Justin Weiss, a “commanding officer” for the group, noted that the 501st was the first “Star Wars” fan organization to be officially recognized by Lucasfilm about 27 years ago.
“We dress only as the villains of ‘Star Wars,’ with our motto being Bad guys doing good,” Weiss said. “Our biggest passion, of course, is raising money for charities, anything from autism to cerebral palsy. We love attending anything where we can help our communities, support a charity and spread our love of ‘Star Wars.’”
Weiss said that events like OceanCon are about more than pop culture — they’re about preserving and redefining the roles of libraries. “We’re here to support a local library, which is almost like an endangered species,” he said. “They’re reinventing themselves, and what better way to do it than through comics and sc-fi? It just brings people together.”
From its beginnings eight years ago, OceanCon has evolved into one of Oceanside’s best-known cultural events. For Samuel, Pearsall and the library team, the event’s success underscores what the library has always stood for: connection, creativity and community.
“OceanCon shows just how much magic happens when we bring people together,” Samuel said. “This is what community looks like.”
