You didn’t have to wait until showtime to feel that Marvel magic on Thursday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
An hour before Marvel Universe Live! burst into action onstage, the antics of a legion of excited fans, many dressed as their favourite superheroes, was an entertaining sideshow in itself.
“I grew up as a big Peter Parker fan, a big Spider-Man fan. It really stoked me back in the day,” said Rory Gallacher, 38, a superfan whose brawny physique would turn the Hulk even greener with envy.
“This is like going to see a rock concert and a movie combined into one,” said Gallacher, who drove down from Nanaimo with his family to see the show. He would return to the Harbour City later that night with his wife, Anika, wearing his red Spider-Man suit; son Odin, 7, dressed as Captain America; and daughter Oriah, 11, costumed as Thor, complete with a homemade version of the Norse god’s mystical hammer.
“You get to see them in action, live and up front. Can’t wait.”
The high-octane spectacle, replete with pyrotechnics, dazzling lighting effects, aerial stunts, wirework, motocross, big screen action and cheesy dialogue, unites 25 of the comic book empire’s superheroes. The crime-fighters include Iron Man, Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Captain America, Spider-Man, Wolverine and Black Widow amid a quest to thwart the evil Loki’s plans to destroy the world using shards of the powerful Cosmic Cube.
The extravaganza attracted nearly 3,500 fans opening night, dominated by youngsters and tweens accompanied by parents passing down their own childhood enthusiasm for Marvel characters.
“It’s awesome being able to see their excitement for it too,” said comic book aficianado Justin Skidmore, 23, attending with his wife Julie and their sons Samuel, 7, dressed as Iron Man, and Lucas, 5, decked out in a yellow superhero suit as Wolverine. “When I heard this was coming, I knew we had to take them. There’d be no ifs, ands or buts.”
Even yellower, or so it seemed, was Andrea Chapman, abuzz with enthusiasm as she spread her wings as The Wasp. Her character, she explained to neophytes, was a founding member of The Avengers.
Chapman, 27, knows a thing or two about the Marvel world, being a member of Heroes Inc., the local troupe of volunteers who appear at fundraisers and other community events, often dressed as superheroes.
“I’m getting older, but I’m a big kid at heart, and this lets you be a big kid forever,” said Chapman, who didn’t skip a beat when asked to name her favourite Marvel character.
“Thor!” said Chapman, whose yellow boots and headset matched her wings that flapped furiously on the arena’s windswept outdoor square. “He’s a god, after all.”
For Stephen Perraton and his wife, Freya, bringing their family to Marvel Universe Live! was a way to celebrate their son Cal’s ninth birthday.
“He’s been collecting all the pieces for his costume and talking about it non-stop,” said Perraton, whose son fashioned his supervillain Doc Ock costume from duct tape and foam noodles.
Chris and Lisa McGregor also got into the act, sporting Marvel character T-shirts along with their children Tyler, 3; Hayden, 6; and Cassidy, 15.
The Colwood family, such fans they attended last Sunday’s Heroes Inc. West Shore Kids’ Day event in Langford, were pumped about seeing their favourite superheroes live, but haven’t yet seen The Avengers: Age of Ultron.
“They’re too young still,” Chris said with a smile, eyeing his boys.
“I haven’t quite convinced mom yet to allow that to happen.”
Marvel Universe Live! continues today with shows at 1 and 5 p.m.
