Pop culture and commerce co-mingle at Comic Convention • St Pete Catalyst

You can snap a photo with Potsie or Ralph Malph for $70 each. A thumbs-up grinner with the Fonz, however, will set you back $95.

Celebrity “photo ops” have always been an option at the Tampa Bay Comic Convention, which returns to the Tampa Convention Center for its annual visit Friday through Sunday (it’s now officially titled the Tampa Bay Comic & Pop Culture Convention).

These costs are in addition to event admission (single-day tickets start at $35).

This year’s crop of celebrities – including Happy Days cast members Anson Williams, Don Most and Henry Winkler – are, as always, movie and TV veterans, some of whom are still working, with voice actors from anime and other cartoons.

Other name guests include British actor John Rhys-Davies (from the Indiana Jones movies and The Lord of the Rings), Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, Short Cuts), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), bodybuilder/actor Lou Ferrigno, NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and former children’s TV star Steve Burns (Blue’s Clues).

With regard to cost, Rhys-Davies, at $120 per photo, is the event VIP.

At a panel discussion, 2024: “Lord of the Rings” stars Elijah Wood, left, and Andy Serkis.

Autographs ($25-$100+) are cash only at the site; photos can be purchased in advance (at this link, which also has the full appearance schedule). Each photo op (NOT with your phone or camera) includes a glossy 8″ x 10″ print and a downloadable digital version. Up to four people can be in each photo with the famous person.

Event producers have said they expect perhaps 40,000 visitors over the three days. They’re not all, of course, coming over to take pricey photos with celebrities.

The Tampa convention, now in its 25th year, includes a massive vendors market, with everything from vintage comic books to cosplay costumes and supplies; appearances by well-known comic book and manga artists; numerous panel discussions, some of which include celebrities); a cosplay contest; and screenings of anime and other animated favorites.

The full weekend schedule is here; all ticket options are available at this link.