Calgary artist helps comic fans slip into character

At this year's Calgary Expofans of SciFi, comic books and pop culture can get custom designed footwear, and puttheir favourites on their feet.

DesignerJordonBourgeault says he picked some of the most popular characters for his shoe designs.

Making a pair for Captain Kirk was a no-brainer.

"The idea is sort of someone maybe who is a huge fan and isbooked to go meet him and get something signed they will buy the shoes, potentially get them signed, and maybe William Shatnerwill see the shoes with his portrait I did on them." saidBourgeault.

Another top pick coming from the "biggest thing in nerd culture"Chewbacca.

"I would be dumb to not to do Star Wars shoes."

Bourgeaultairbrush painted 40 pairs of shoes by hand. He started by drawinga template on computer program, thencutting outa sticker-like stencil, and paintingover it.

He saysbecause the shoes are products ofhis own artwork and not mass-producedreprints, he's legally in the clear ro make the shoes.