By Benjamin Ibarra
Blerdcon, short for “Black Nerd Convention,” held its 8th annual three-day convention in Arlington, Virginia, this weekend. A four-hour drive from NYC, the convention focuses on highlighting people of color, LGBT individuals, women, and those with disabilities who are into anime, comics, gaming, and sci-fi, said creator and founder Hilton George.
“Thrilla” was this year’s theme, celebrating the intersection of Black culture and the horror genre, fostering a deeper appreciation for this unique blend within the community. The convention’s promotional materials contained phrases like “ARE YEW SKERD?!”
Blerdcon 2025 was held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia, the same venue where the convention has been hosted since its founding in 2017 and is located across Arlington Memorial Bridge from Washington, D.C. Outside of the main entrance, many attendees were dressed in cosplay, “costume” and “play,” which is dressing up as a character from a movie, TV show, comic book, video game, or other media. Cosplayers could be found by themselves, in couples, or in groups posing for pictures. People were dressed up as Powerpuff Girls villains, Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Beetlejuice, Fall Out, and Yasuke, a real black samurai during the Sengoku period in Japan.
“One of the appeals of Blerdcon is that there is as much going on outside as there is inside,” said Lamani Brooks from Baltimore, Md. It’s important to come to Blerdcon because it’s a safe space for Black people to come and dress up how they want.”
The event runs all day and night and is a family-friendly convention that welcomes attendees of all ages. During the day, there were meetups like 2000s Disney Channel Cosplay, The Black Guy Dies First, BlerdxTrapHouse presents You’re Next parenting the next generation, Pokémon VGC Round 1 Begins, and K-Pop Hip Hop Dance Class.
Attendees were introduced to Iyanu: Child of Wonder, an upcoming animated series inspired by Nigerian culture and mythology that will air on Cartoon Network. The series centers on Iyanu, a teenage heroine who discovers her mystical powers and embarks on a journey to uncover the secrets of her past and the threats facing her homeland.
Outside of the bottom-floor ballroom, DJs played music for the 24-hour gaming area. The music spanned a wide range of genres, from old-school rap and hip-hop to contemporary trap, pop, reggae, dancehall, soca, reggaeton, soul, and K-pop/J-pop.
They had first-generation NES classic games like The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Mega Man. The middle of the gaming room had arcade cabinets with games like The Simpsons Arcade Game and PAC-MAN. During the day, you could see attendees playing in a “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Championship 2024” tournament on the main screen.
Celebrity guests this year included 10-time Grammy Award winner, singer, songwriter, rapper, and actress Janelle Monáe, who celebrated the 15th anniversary of her debut studio album ArchAndroid (2010) by announcing ArchAndroid, a graphic novel. A novel inspired by her album is about Cindi Mayweather living in the 28th century and realizing she is, in fact, ArchAndroid, a robot messiah meant to liberate the masses.
Cosplay Meetups are chances for people to showcase their creativity and fandom through costumes. Vendors throughout the grounds were selling merchandise of all kinds, including directly from Black artists themselves. If you didn’t bring your fandom fashion or geek-wear, you could find many options by visiting one of the vendors. You could buy gear like swords, props, accessories, backpacks, and much more.
Part of the event is a Food Truck Rally right outside the Hyatt Hotel. This included 21 food trucks like Southern Peach BBQ and Soul Food, Lavish Bubble Tea and Soft Serve, Cake Lady Desserts, Dogs on the Curb, and Grod Jerk Ribs and BBQ.
Inside, you could find the Citron Restaurant and Lounge, which serves as the main gathering spot for attendees to enjoy drinks, socialize, and take a break.
At night, they held events like Karaoke With Kingpon, which offered bonus points if you sang your song in cosplay. There was Black Bodies, Bold Pleasures: Reclaiming Our Sexuality, and the Day ‘N’ Night After Party. If you are more casual, they also have Late Night Coloring and Conversations, meant to provide a relaxing and serene setting for tranquility and connection.
There was a late-night horror showing curated by Dread Central. This year included a double feature of Benny Loves You, a plushie toy turned killer, and Uncle Peckerhead, showcasing a man-eating punk-rocker. Events ran all day and night from Friday until Sunday afternoon.
“It’s nice to be in the community with fellow nerds, and geek out about stuff that, depending on where you are, can be looked down upon,” said Trevor Pyne, from Brooklyn, NY. “But not here!”
