VOA标准英语2013--Comic Book Convention Brings Superheroes and Super Fans

 

Comic Book Convention Brings Superheroes and Super Fans

Acting² like superheroes or super-villains, or just showing off, comic fans dressed up as their favorite characters are having a good time at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Some enjoy the fantasy of the comic convention.

Edward Nigma says he and his wife came from "Gotham City," the fictional³ home of Batman.

Many take the fun seriously. It took more than four months for Dale Harvey to build this costume of a video game character.

“I get enjoyment⁴ out of creating it, building it with my friends, just having a good time seeing people’s reaction to it," said Harvey. "The most awesome⁵ thing for me is watching kids, young and old, have a good time seeing a character come to life.”

The event also offers an opportunity to make new friends.

Organizers say the "Awesome Con¹ DC" event drew more than 5,000 visitors for two days. Ben Penrod is the event coordinator⁶.

“These types of conventions are huge right now," said Penrod. "They have them in every city. This is only a fraction of the size of San Diego every year, or even the one in Baltimore.”

Penrod says mega hit superhero films based on comic books have helped fuel the conventions’ popularity.

“You had to read comic books to know The Avengers," he said. "Now The Avengers is the third highest-grossing film of all time. And people, everybody knows about it.”

The core of Awesome Con DC is about comics, but it embraces movies, TV and video games. 

Special events include independent filmmakers’ screenings and discussions. 

Celebrity⁷ guests like Phil LaMarr, who is best known for his voice acting in animated⁸ films, and Ernie Hudson, who was in the blockbuster movie Ghostbusters, help attract fans.

Fans also get to learn how to draw characters from some famous comic creators.

The costume contest is a big part of the fun.

And the impromptu⁹ duel¹⁰ between costumed characters is a bit of surprise entertainment for the spectators. The organizers and comic fans agree that Awesome Con DC will be an annual event and will grow bigger as other such conventions have in other cities. 

1 con   

n.反对的观点，反对者，反对票，肺病；vt.精读，学习，默记；adv.反对地，从反面；adj.欺诈的

参考例句：

• We must be fair and consider the reason pro and con.我们必须公平考虑赞成和反对的理由。
• The motion is adopted non con.因无人投反对票，协议被通过。

2 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

3 fictional   

adj.小说的，虚构的

参考例句：

• The names of the shops are entirely fictional.那些商店的名字完全是虚构的。
• The two authors represent the opposite poles of fictional genius.这两位作者代表了天才小说家两个极端。

4 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

5 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

6 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

7 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

8 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

9 impromptu   

adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地)

参考例句：

• The announcement was made in an impromptu press conference at the airport.这一宣布是在机场举行的临时新闻发布会上作出的。
• The children put on an impromptu concert for the visitors.孩子们为来访者即兴献上了一场音乐会。

10 duel   

n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争

参考例句：

• The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
• Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。