More “Supernatural” Guests Added to Dragon*Con Guest List

Wow! Looks like Atlanta will be a city of angels, demons, and hunters this September, as four more stars from the television show “Supernatural” has been added to the guest list for Dragon*Con 2011.

In addition to earlier announcements of guests Misha Collins (Castiel the Angel) and Mark A. Sheppard (Crowley the Demon), the updated Dragon*Con lineup now includes Jim Beaver, Samantha Ferris, Julie McNiven and Christopher Heyerdahl.

Beaver has become one of the favorites in a fandom well known for an almost obsessive fixation with the two main stars/characters, Jared Padalecki (Sam Winchester) and Jensen Ackles (Dean Winchester). As fellow hunter Bobby Singer, he has become the father figure, reluctant hero, and pain-in-the-ass needed to keep the Winchesters on their toes and constantly thinking in a profession where a stray thought can easily get you killed.

As the tough-as-nails-with-a-heart-of-gold hunter Ellen Harvelle, Samantha Ferris has become one of the very few females on the show that the fans actually like. The Supernatural fandom is known for their extreme dislike of female characters that “take away” from the storyline involving the brothers; Ellen and her daughter Jo are exceptions. Both Harvelle’s were killed in action during the latter part of season 5, although we have seen Ellen return (in the season 6 episode “My Heart Will Go On”).

Julie McNiven’s Anna was the fallen angel; one of the first that Dean and Sam would encounter who’d convince the brothers that angels do indeed exist. Once an ally (and lover to Dean), she quickly changed sides once she regained her wings, going back in time to try to kill the brothers’ parents in a misguided attempt to prevent the Apocolypse. Needless to say, her character did not last much longer after that; no one survives for very long once the Winchesters have you on their hit-list.

Christopher Heyerdahl only appeared in three episodes in season 5, but made his mark known as the demon Alistair, who was responsible for Dean’s punishment/torture during his time trapped in Hell. Heyerdahl is also well-known for appearing on “Stargate Atlantis”, and he is one of the feared Volturi members in The Twilight Saga films, playing Volturi leader Marcus.

Dragon*Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film. Every Labor Day weekend, about 40,000 people crowd the streets and take over the hotels of downtown Atlanta to meet friends, celebrities, cosplay and totally geek out. Ticket information can be found on the official website.

You can read more about my experiences at Dragon*Cons past at this link.