Phoenix Fan Fusion 2022 highs, lows: Live alligator cosplay and a painful autograph fail

Phoenix Fan Fusion 2022 is in full swing.

After a three-year absence due to the pandemic, fans are gathering by the thousands at the Phoenix Convention Center downtown to celebrate their love of cosplay, anime, sci-fi, fantasy, comics, furry and other pop-culture fandoms.

Here's a selection of some of the best — and maybe less great — things we've spotted at the event. Fan Fusion runs through Sunday, May 29, so check back for updates.

And keep up with all the action at our Phoenix Fan Fusion 2022 live blog, with new posts all weekend long.

Phoenix Fan Fusion 2022: Live updates from Arizona's comic con

High: Meeting their favorite celebs made fans ‘cry happy tears’

Doug Jones is a “hugger.” Harvey Guillén, who made a fan “cry happy tears,” is “the nicest person ever.” Diane Guerrero is “so humble and caring.” Patrick Warburton is “such a genuinely nice guy in person.”

Throughout the weekend, Phoenix Fan Fusion attendees posted on social media about their autographed memorabilia and photos with celebrities, adding captions gushing about how friendly their favorite actors, authors and artists were in person.

Various fandoms showed their enthusiastic support for the people who portray their beloved characters, and the love was reciprocated.

"I am humbled by you. When I come out here, I see how my work affects people and why I do what I do,” Jones — star of the “Hellboy” and “Star Trek” franchises  — told fans at his panel on Sunday.

— KiMi Robinson

Low: 'It's like standing on the sun'

For most locals, the weather in downtown Phoenix this weekend was warm but nowhere near as bad as the summer temperatures that are headed our way soon.

For out-of-state visitors like vendor Brianna Garcia, who is a professional illustrator, the 100-degree weather was "like standing on the sun." That's according to a TikTok video she posted on Sunday, in which she reacts to being outside the convention while wearing a light cardigan.

"Love this con but I prefer my California weather," she captioned the 12-second clip.

— KiMi Robinson

Low: A ‘painful lesson’ — wait for the ink to dry

Many attendees got to meet the people who portray their favorite characters this weekend. But amid the glowing social media posts about how nice the celebrity guests were is @tekfighter’s tweet about learning a “painful lesson” regarding silver Sharpies.

The tweet included a picture of @tekfighter’s photo with “Star Trek: Voyager” stars Tim Russ and Kate Mulgrew. Russ’ signature in black Sharpie appears intact while Mulgrew's looks like an unfortunate paint smudge.

“RIP to my @TheKateMulgrew signature,” they wrote.

This couldn’t have been a cheap mistake: Mulgrew’s autographs cost $60 and photo ops were $70, according to the event program. Russ charged $20 for autographs and $40 for photos.

The takeaway: “Don't shove it in a sleeve right away,” as @tekfighter wrote.

— KiMi Robinson

Going to Phoenix Fan Fusion? Here's how to approach your favorite cosplayers

High: Chuck Norris was excited to meet his 'friends'

Actor and martial artist Chuck Norris was a late addition to the Phoenix Fan Fusion celebrity guest roster, but that didn't stop him from pulling out all stops for his fans.

Norris did a free meet-and-greet at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday. Similar autograph and photo ops can cost $100 or more, and he had done several earlier in the day, with long lines.

Dean Goodwin, a security officer, started telling people that Norris's late afternoon session would be free.

"This sort of thing isn't just unusual," Goodwin said. "It's unheard of. Right place, right time, I guess."

Why was Norris so keen on greeting his guests?

"These are my friends," Norris said, smiling.

"That's what brings me here, is my friends. Any money that we get from this goes to our Kickstart Kids," he said referring to his nonprofit that provides martial arts instruction for kids and teens.

— Sofia Krusmark

High: Look out for Alligator Loki

Watch out: Numerous Lokis are hanging around downtown Phoenix this weekend, but there’s one specific variant of the God of Mischief to look out for: Alligator Loki.

Belying its surely terrifying set of teeth, the large reptile’s real name is Baby, and the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary is to thank for this particular cosplay from “Loki," the Disney+ show that debuted last summer.

Hopefully this variant doesn’t do anything that causes a nexus event, prompting the Time Variance Authority to show up in Phoenix.

— KiMi Robinson

For subscribers: Everything to know about Gila monsters

Low: Hungry? It might be a while...

If you're thinking about grabbing food in the Phoenix Convention Center meal hall, think again.

Perhaps a woman walking through put it best: "Dang, people are hungry."

Phoenix Fan Fusion attendees are not allowed to bring food or beverages into the hall. If you don't want to buy food inside the convention center, you're allowed to leave to go find other options.

There are lots of place to eat within walking distance of the venue, and you may feel less squished by seeking them out. Here's our guide to bars and restaurants near the Phoenix Convention Center.

— Sofia Krusmark

High: A 'song of healing' for a 'Little Mermaid' fan

A man named Dalen Soto surprised everyone at a Phoenix Fan Fusion panel featuring Jodi Benson, best known as the voice of Ariel in Disney's "The Little Mermaid."

Soto, 38, was diagnosed with spinal muscular dystrophy at birth and has been unable to walk for his entire life, he said.

"I can't walk but even though I can't walk here on this Earth, I would like to walk and run, but I know that I believe in God and I will walk someday in heaven," Soto said to Benson during a Q&A session at the panel. "Your song 'Part of Your World' has given me strength that one day I'll walk in heaven. I was wondering if there was any way that you can sing a portion of that song?"

He moved Benson to tears, and everyone in the room whipped out their phones.

"I just want to say, Dalen, that you are incredible," Benson responded. "And you are the reason why I do what I do. You give people all around you a purpose and it's such a privilege to have met you. God has a purpose for you."

She ended the panel by singing a portion of "Part of Your World,' as Dalen requested.

"This is a song of healing for him," Benson told the gathering. "I hope it's like that for all of you."

She finished to a standing ovation.

— Sofia Krusmark

Cosplay: Fans talk about why it's so much more than just dressing up

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix Fan Fusion 2022: Highs and lows from the comic con