Thursday, August 21, 2014

Where The Wild Things Still Are – 5 Reasons to Put ‘Attend a ComicCon’ on Your Bucket List



The Wild Ones....

A long time ago, in a land far, far away, you were a kid who lived in an alternate universe – a place where you could die a thousand times in an afternoon and still be home for dinner, where tooth-fairies were real and a towel tied around your neck made you a superhero.  But as you grew up, you may have convinced yourself that those things, that time, and that place weren't real. 

But at a sci-fi /comic convention, you get it all back.

For two, three, or four days, at a convention center near you, dragons fly, monsters rage and superheroes save the day, one snapshot at a time.  It’s a place of magic you will recognize and wonders you can still behold, a place where you can remember the best of what you once believed.  And as you try to remember how to dream again, no one will think you’re crazy because, once you’re inside those convention doors, there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of other people dreaming right along with you.  And if that’s not reason enough to take a peak inside your local sci-fi/comic convention, here’s five more.

1.  It’s Not All About Comics.  If you like sci-fi movies, anime, or just popular fiction on the big or small screen (exclusive TV show and movie sneak peaks, anyone?). You will find something to enjoy.
 
Game of Thrones Fan? These folks go to sci-fi conventions!
2. The Best Red Carpet in the World.  Milan doesn’t have a thing on the absolute spectacle of what you will see at a sci-fi convention or ComicCon, as it is often called.  The craftsmanship of the work is INSANE.  Some people spend all year working on their costumes and it shows.  This is just a sample of some of the spectacular feats of sweat, artistry and micro-fiber engineering that I’ve seen.

To see more pics, click here.

3. There is Something for Everyone – For the hard-core comic book geek, there are dealers who specialize in the rare, mint-condition collectibles.  For the parents who are only there because of their kids, you can find workshops and seminars on writing, art, story-telling and the impact of comics on culture that will blow your mind and pique your interest.  And for the little ones, Sunday is usually Kids’ Day, which can feature a costume parade, special meet & greets with superheroes and displays that kids can get at while parents take a break.


 
All Dressed Up and It's Not Even Halloween!

4. Find The Next Cool Thing.  If you like to get in on the goods before everyone else, sci-fi conventions pride themselves on featuring some of the best artists in a variety of fields, from hand-drawn art so detailed it will leave your mind spinning to the latest graphic and sci-fi novels by up and coming authors, you will find a cross-section of talent that is new, exciting and accessible.



Illustrator Extraordinaire Jason Lenox and I admiring the mad skills of Painter Extraordinaire Kyl El

5.  Step Out of Your Comfort Zone.  Let loose.  Put on a helmet.  Ask a complete stranger about their costume.  Try something different.  One of the absolute best things about comic/sci-fi conventions is that weird is normal and unconventional is expected.  It’s one of the only places I’ve ever been where you can wear your insides out and be celebrated for it.  This is not a place where you need to conform.  In fact, you are encouraged to bring your unique world view to the event, in the form of your favorite anti-hero costume or a t-shirt that simply says “Leave Me Alone!”  Whatever you want to do, whoever you want to be is fine with us.  Now where’s the last public place you went where you could say that was true?

 
Me in a helmet, just because....
If you decide to take the plunge, the only survival tip I would give to you is this – decide your crowd-tolerance level and plan accordingly.  If you don’t like crowds, early Thursdays and/or Sundays are going to be the days for you. If your middle name is pandemonium, then by all means, join the Saturday crush.  Either way, I hope to see you there! 

Still feeling angsty?  Ask me a question and I'll try to answer it below. :-)


* All pictures, except for the GoT folks, are my personal photos from New York ComicCon, AwesomeCon DC, Baltimore ComicCon and C2E2 in Chicago.

**I will be exhibiting at Baltimore ComicCon from September 5-7th and New York ComicCon October 9-12th.  Hope to see you there!