Thousands of cosplayers, families crowd Broadbeach for Supanova Superhero Parade 2019

Once again hundreds have donned their costumes and turned out to Broadbeach for the Supanova Superhero Parade — but for one family, the decision of what to cosplay came easy.

WHEN it was time to decide on a costume for this year’s Superhero Parade father-of-three Shane Bryer didn’t even have to think.

The Brisbane dad and avid-cosplayer joined the rest of his family as superheroes The Incredibles to greet thousands in the Gold Coast-exclusive event.

There was a bit of added excitement as they donned the fan-favourite outfits this time around — this is the first time the entire family has joined the parade.

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The Superhero Parade at Broadbeach as Part of Super Nova. Pic Mike Batterham

“My kids and I cosplayed as The Incredibles a few years ago when it was just me, my son and my daughter,” he said.

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“We’ve been trying to convince my wife to join in with us and then this year with having another son, it was like, ‘The Incredibles would be perfect, we’ve got exactly the right amount of people’.”

Pictured during the Superhero parade at Broadbeach as Part of Super Nova. Pic Mike Batterham

“I’ve got a long list of costume requests from (the kids) which is tough because I’ve got a long list of costumes for myself too. We normally decide together and look at what things we can do together as a family.”

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Not in costume, but this officer enjoyed the parade. Pic Mike Batterham

His eldest children Corbin, 6, and Chloe, 4, are no strangers to the parade, in previous years coming as superheroes, Ninja Turtles and Dora the Explorer characters.

This is the parade’s seventh year and organisers say it’s the biggest yet, with more than 10,000 lining the streets of Broadbeach to watch.

Last year’s Superhero Parade saw a crowd of around 9000.

Sarah Styles and Lou Peac in Mad Max. Pic Mike Batterham

Leading the charge were legendary Australian actors and Mad Max stars Steve Bisley and Hugh Keays-Byrne, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the original film.

They were joined by Hot Wheels Race Cars, Star Wars fanatics 501st Legion, and several Gold Coast charities.

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Vrrrrrrrooooommm vrrrrrooooommm. Pic Mike Batterham

Broadbeach Alliance’s Partnerships Manager Lou McGregor said the event is a “once in a year” opportunity for cosplayers and spectators alike.
“We’re currently in conversation with Supanova to work out where it’s going to go next because it has grown so significantly in the last couple years,” she said.

“People have an opportunity to be involved, it is for the community and it is for those cosplayers who want to be in the parade. So those people come back year after year.

“We mix up the different people that we have (in the parade) too … so you’ve got some things for the newer fans and some things for people that have been around a long time.”

But the Superhero Parade isn’t just a chance to dress up — for Lou Peac, 24, and her friends it’s a chance to feel empowered.

Ms Peac, who has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, has been in a wheelchair for the last four years, and joined the parade with friend Sarah Styles and her son Oscar, 20, who share the disorder.

“I’ve always wanted to (cosplay) but I’ve never had the means to do it, but Sarah really pushed me to do it this time and I’m so glad she did,” she said.

“Seeing kids faces light up makes me so happy, especially young kids that have disabilities themselves and see us as inspiration.
“It really makes me feel empowered to do more … it makes me want to get out there and do more, prove that we can.”

More than 25,000 passed through the Gold Coast Convention Centre over the three day convention,

“We’re a few percentage points down (in numbers) but that’s just one of those things … the natural ebbing and flowing of people,” founder and Event Director Daniel Zachariou said.

“For the size of the Gold Coast it’s probably the best represented convention on our calendar annually in proportion to the population.”

Pictured during the Superhero parade at Broadbeach as Part of Super Nova. Pic Mike Batterham

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Pictured during the Superhero parade at Broadbeach as Part of Super Nova. Pic Mike Batterham

STAR WARS — Renae Gordon from 501st Legion