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The stereotype of geeks as mousy, shy wallflowers is total crap. Sci-fi and fantasy conventions can be as cutthroat as political debates, with quibbling Republicans and Democrats replaced by gamers, steampunks, and Trekkers. Forget healthcare and the economy: the important issue is who’s a better captain, Picard or Kirk?
The battle for nerd superiority will experience a temporary cease-fire when DarkCon 2012 creeps into the Phoenix Marriott Mesa. Costumers in Victorian corsets and goggles will break virtual bread with vampire LARPers and Jedi for a weekend of 24-hour gaming and events. “More and more people are crossing genre lines, especially with steampunk,” says convention chair Jeff Jennings. “There’s a ton of creativity involved and people love the gadgets.”
Other highlights include a steampunk poker tournament, pajama party, burlesque circus, and meet-and-greets with Ghostbusters actor Ernie Hudson and author Jacqueline Carey.
Jan. 12-15, 2 p.m., 2012
