Anzhe Zhang 

Motor City Comic Con, Michigan’s biggest pop culture convention, returned in full force last week from May 13 to May 15 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, attracting excited cosplayers, movie aficionados, and gamers alike at the star-studded event that sees tens of thousands of visitors annually.

Highlights this year included the Christopher Reeve Legacy Reunion, which saw stars from the various “Superman” movies reunite, and a “Scream” reunion, featuring an appearance from Matthew Lillard.

Celebrities that made an appearance during the two-day event, which featured artist and vendors, talk panels, gaming, and more, included William Shatner (“Star Trek”), Danny Trejo (“Desperado,” “Heat”), and Taryn Manning (“Orange is the New Black”).

Other highlights included an anime reel of short films, autograph signing, and the hugely popular cosplay contest, which had 75 spots available.

“Sailor Moon,” “My Hero Academia,” and “Attack on Titan” were just a few of the anime and manga titles that saw creative cosplays from attendees at the event. Meanwhile, Harley Quinn, Loki, Batman, and characters from “Star Wars” served as some of the mainstays on the comic book and movies side.

Attendees also saw inventive and niche cosplays inspired by the likes of Tom Cruise, the web series “Critical Role,” and the video game “Animal Crossing.”

Motor City Comic Con is the longest-running popular culture convention in Michigan, first started in 1989 with an emphasis on comic books, the convention would go on towards becoming a state mecca for a broader arena of popular culture that included movies, anime and manga, and video games.

The event this year marks the first time Motor City Comic Con has returned to a normal schedule, following its 2020 cancellation and a downscaled, October-rescheduled 2021 event.