Fanaticon is an annual multi-genre, science-fiction, fantasy, comic book, anime, and gaming convention held in the southeastern area of Alabama. Its inaugural event was held on November 16, 2013, in Dothan, Alabama. Phillip Chalker, the event's organizer, is the owner of Fanatix Card and Game Shop and says that the idea came from a joke, but then took it a step further and held a Kickstarter campaign that generated the necessary revenue in about two hours. The first convention hosted a Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour Qualifier in which the winner received $1,000 in cash and prizes and a ticket to the next round of competition held in Spain. Fanaticon also hosts a costume contest of 100 average number of competitors. Fanaticon is committed to bringing a great family experience to the Wiregrass. Previous conventions 2013 Fanaticon Alpha had many notable guests and fans from a broad spectrum in the entertainment world. From the ranks of science-fiction writers was author, Jason Woodham, (Blaze: A Superhero Origin Story, Book One of The High-Born Epic, and What Warriors Will Stand). Coming from the comic's community was graphic novelist Brett Brooks (Dust Bunny). Fanaticon also had individuals from the film industry on hand, including filmmaker Joshua Sheik (Christian's Carol) and special effects make-up artist Matt Silva (The Walking Dead, The Book of Eli, SyFy's Face Off (TV series)), as featured panelists. Video game designer and founder of Square Peg Projekts, Daniel Alexander and DJ Tom Jones were also in attendance. Many costume groups attended the event as well. This included members of one of the largest Star Wars fan groups, the 501st Legion. The Alabama Ghostbusters; Enterprise's Boll Weevil Bruisers; the Society for Creative Anachronism, and Dagorhir were also groups associated with Fanaticon. The event had an attendance in excess of 400 individuals. 2014 On November 15–16, 2014, the second Fanaticon, Fanaticon Beta, was held in Enterprise, Alabama. Many guests from Fanaticon Alpha were present, including the 501st Legion, The Alabama Ghostbusters, artist Brett Brooks, author Jason Woodham, filmmaker Joshua Sheik, make-up FX artist Matt Silva from Face Off (TV Series), and the Fogwalkers. Many new guests participated, including artist Tran Nguyen, actress Sonya Thompson from The Walking Dead and Zombieland, Johnny Yong Bosch (who portrayed Adam Park in "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers"), Java Moody of Ebed Pictures, Jason Sheedy of Returnstyle Pictures, artist Jayson Kretzer, Inverse Press comic book publishers, and Columbia