you can see him

WWE legend John Cena enters the ring at Houston's Comicpalooza

John Cena is coming to Comicpalooza

Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Comicpalooza will feature WWE legend John Cena as a guest this year.

“We’re excited to bring actor, philanthropist, and one of WWE’s most esteemed wrestlers to Houston,” said Aimée McCurtain, chief strategy officer for Comicpalooza and a vice president of the Houston First Corporation. “John Cena’s impact in pop-culture extends beyond the wrestling ring with credits from comedy and action to fantasy and voice acting. We cannot wait to introduce him to his fans at Comicpalooza!”

The Doctor of Thuganomics has become the greatest breakout star of wrestling since Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. In addition to being a 16-time world champion, he has branched out into blockbuster movies such as The Suicide Squad and Barbie. Most recently, he starred in the Amazon comedy, Ricky Stanicki, and voiced his Peacemaker character in Mortal Kombat 1.

Though Comicpalooza spans the entire Memorial Day weekend, Cena will only be in attendance on Sunday, May 26.

Cena’s appearance helps cement professional wrestling as a legitimate part of the greater pop culture world at cons like Comicpalooza. Previously, the event has hosted legends like Scott Hall and Scott Steiner, as well as indie talent like Sexy Star.

Horror fans will also have a chance to rub elbows with icons. Comicpalooza has put together a Nightmare on Elm Street track featuring the original Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund. He is joined by two of his costars/victims from the 1984 film, Amanda Wyss (Tina) and Ronee Blakley (Marge). Englund is one of the most famous horror actors of the last century, having starred as Kreuger in eight films as well as appearing in 976-Evil, The Mangler, and Urban Legend. Like Cena, he has also appeared in NetherRealm fighting games, playing Dr. Jonathan Crane/The Scarecrow in Injustice 2.

Comicpalooza is the largest annual comic book and pop culture convention in the state, regularly seeing around 50,000 attendees over its three days. It hosts vendors, panels, guest stars, costume contests, and shows. This year will have the Friday Night Rave featuring anime DJs from Club Kaiju and Fight Club: Video Game Tournament in collaboration with Turnip Cafe and Kaboom! Comics.

With Houston and Dallas being hubs for the anime and voice acting scenes in America, Comicpalooza always hosts some of the biggest names in the industry. This year fans can meet Alex Organ (My Hero Academia), Megan Shipman (Attack on Titan), Natalie Van Sistine (One Piece), and Reagan Murdock (Chainsaw Man).

Tickets and more information can be found on Comicpalooza’s website.

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a beautiful mind

Houston Health Museum's new exhibit shines a light on dyslexia

Sarah Sudhoff created "The Reading Brain" in honor of her son.

Photo by Rose Tylinski

"The Reading Brain" replicates neuron activity in a dyslexic brian while reading

No, "The Reading Brain" isn't the title of a B-horror film from the 1960s. It's a brand new installation at the Houston Health Museum that explores dyslexia.

The piece was created by Houston-based artist Sarah Sudhoff, in partnership with Dr. Guinevere Eden, Director of the Center for the Study of Learning at Georgetown University. Hanging from the ceiling of the Health Museum, it uses light-up colored circles to represent the frontal lobe activity of a dyslexic person while reading. MRI scans of dyslexic brains formed the foundation of the light activity. Sudhoff's own son has dyslexia, and she had to adapt her homeschooling of him to account for his neurodivergence. As much as 20 percent of the American population is dyslexic.

"The Reading Brain" grew out of a similar exhibit at the DoSeum in San Antonio. "Beautiful Minds: Dyslexia and the Creative Advantage" challenged visitors to see dyslexia not as a learning disability but as simply a different way some human brains work. The exhibit featured videos, stories, and art work by dyslexic individuals that show how they succeed and create, as well as a selection of brain puzzles used to teach dyslexic people.

“Even though your brain works differently, it still lights up and is beautiful to watch, a wonderful machine you have. It just means you have to navigate and pivot a little differently,” Sudhoff said.

Sudhoff's innovative bridge between science and art is a permanent part of the Health Museum's MindWorks exhibit. Like "The Reading Brain," MindWorks maps out thinking processes through light and hands-on activities. The exhibit will close on January 5, meaning visitors have a very short time to see Sudhoff's piece.

The Health Museum is a hidden gem in Museum District located a block away from the Children's Museum. It houses a variety of exhibits about the human body, such as a giant plastic colon that kids love to run through. Since opening in 1969, the museum has helped Houstonians and visitors from around the world learn about the way the body works as well well as public health protocols. As the only Smithsonian Affiliate Museum in the Houston Museum District, it has a high educational pedigree despite it's colorful and often whimsical offerings.

houston health museum museum district museums

you can see him

WWE legend John Cena enters the ring at Houston's Comicpalooza

a beautiful mind

Houston Health Museum's new exhibit shines a light on dyslexia

Downtown Italian restaurant and Upper Kirby wine bar suddenly close

First look at new boutique hotel now welcoming guests in Montrose

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you *can* see him

WWE legend John Cena enters the ring at Houston's Comicpalooza

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a beautiful mind

Houston Health Museum's new exhibit shines a light on dyslexia

Downtown Italian restaurant and Upper Kirby wine bar suddenly close

First look at new boutique hotel now welcoming guests in Montrose

Texas Roadhouse plans first Houston-area outpost of its casual burger spot

you can see him

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