As Island FanCon enters its third year, it faces an uphill climb. Managing expectations will be tough. What exactly is it trying to be? The identity introduced from the get-go is obvious: help the City of Langford grow. When this event is sponsored by The Viking Group, that detail is hard to miss. And this year, they’re the first thing everyone spots when entering the arena.
When this event is one of the few gatherings still existing for Greater Victoria, geeks are noticing. As for comparing it alongside larger regional conventions in the Lower Mainland, anyone attempting to do so doesn’t really understand the difference between fan-run and corporate.
When this event’s cousins, Metro Con and Northern Fan Con, share the same vibe, expectations need to be lowered accordingly. And as the Island show is still shaping its identity, patience is required. Some attendees come looking for something similar to Fan Expo Vancouver, and honestly, that’s not what Island Fan Con is about. It’s not a full-scale show, and it was never meant to spotlight every geek operation in the municipality.
Although Everything Games had a demo last year and Kano had a presence to demo a new game, I was wondering if Matter3D might have a table. They’re the go-to for ordering 3D printing filament locally, especially when locals don’t want to pay what BC Hobbies and Island Plastics charge. At an average of $18 per roll of PLA versus $27, that’s a significant saving. They’ve grown a lot since setting up shop in the municipality. When cosplayers use a combination of 3D printing and foam crafting for their gear, having a booth to show how it’s made and where to source materials makes perfect sense.
In between the limited selection of nerdware and Funko Pops, Artist’s Alley and Makers Market define a lot of these shows these days. It’s only the super big conventions that offer proper representation from the likes of Dark Horse Comics or WETA Workshop.
Epic Games and BC Hobbies weren’t around because they chose to spend the weekend at Coastal Collector’s Market, which ran on Sunday and had a heavy focus on trading cards. Reports suggested other goods were few and far between. I’m sure the organizers of that event didn’t think the overlap mattered, given it took place in another part of Greater Victoria and drew a different type of crowd. It’ll take time for both events to find their footing without stepping on each other.
The strongest part of Island FanCon is the internationally known artists and local creators connecting with fans. That’s why these conventions exist. It’s less about what you can buy and more about who you can talk to. When I arrived, instead of making a beeline to the media guest area, I did a quick walk through to find where Artist’s Alley actually was. At Island Fan Con, it’s in the second building, not the first.
I also attended a storywriting panel by Michael Coleman, a Vancouver talent with a broad resume. He’s an actor in many Vancouver-produced television shows (including Stargate) and a voice-over artist for productions like Hellsing Ultimate. He broke down the fundamentals of screenwriting and got into some genuinely interesting territory, including how the classic three-act structure doesn’t always map cleanly onto a four-issue comic mini-series, and why the opening minutes of any story carry more weight than most writers give them credit for. He also revealed what essential gear is needed for those wanting to make movies, and said streaming and self-publishing is the future.
My own takeaways from the day were simple. I left with a print by Marvin Mariano (Ghost, 10th Muse) featuring a massive collection of well-known animated feline characters, and a liquid-core dice set from Bookwyrm Games with a cat design suspended inside.
Artist Hugh Rockwood was especially cool. He was also selling limited edition hardcover copies of Apocalypse 4 Vagabond, which I was tempted to pick up. The premise is right up my alley: fallen angels and how to survive this world where humanity is doomed. Unfortunately, I’d spent my cash on other goodies by the time I got to his table. At least I got good news: a paperback edition is coming. The bad news: there’s no release date attached to it yet. I will update when I get new information.
Guest-wise, Eric Roberts‘ presence is honestly on-brand for a convention still finding its footing. He’s as laid-back as others have described at other shows, and those people who stopped by for him were pleased. Other guests included Steven Ogg, Michael Bisping, Adassa, Ross Marquand, Raymond Cruz, Cesar Garcia, Ming Chen, and the Shoresy cast.
Guest appearances varied in relevance depending on individual interest, as they always do. For me, the strongest value of the show wasn’t in celebrity encounters but in the creative spaces and conversations happening across the floor. I never watched Shoresy, so personally I’d have been more impressed had there been a Beachcombers reunion. It’s an older series that today’s generation may have forgotten, but mixing the old with the new can do more to pull in crowds than another round of current TV faces.
Greater consistency in vendor curation helps. Last year, I sounded off on the overlap of vendors selling lightsabers. Organised fan groups add a layer of community energy that no vendor table can replicate. Panels and workshops are always worthwhile, but they’ll remain a mixed bag unless applicants are willing to diversify.
There’s also a need to take risks and do something fandom-oriented to draw people in. While I appreciated all the after hours events offered, they weren’t necessarily my cup of tea and passed. I’ve yet to see video game tournaments with the tried-and-true (Mario Kart, Street Fighter) being added to the mix. These are staples that practically run themselves, especially when good prizes are offered.
On Sunday morning, Adassa sang alongside talents from the PACE Musical Theatre Academy, and those who made it out for the mid-morning festivities got a memorable show.
Although Island FanCon still hasn’t settled into its final form, I’ll be tracking this event along with Coastal Collector’s Market. Its direction will depend on whether it’s a show run by locals for locals, or one stretching its wings to welcome young couples looking for an affordable municipality to live in. That’s why the Viking Group is essential for this event’s survival. But for others just curious, the best way to approach this show is not as a major fandom expo, but as a community-focused convention where nearly everyone knows your name.
There are plenty of returning anime favourites and new series coming to 
Romantic comedy meets giant monster chaos in 
Black Torch adapts 
What began as a series of short stories published online through Shōsetsuka ni Narō eventually became a manga and now an anime. It was originally a series of tales about a baby dragon raised by cats. Even as the felines would go about their business in the woods and elsewhere, some would soon be hunted and slain!
After dying in a tragic bus accident, overworked salaryman Arihito Atobe finds himself reincarnated in a fantasy world filled with labyrinths, monsters, and adventurers known as Seekers.
Based on the popular Korean web novel and manhwa, Tomb Raider King enters the anime arena with a premise that should immediately appeal to fans of regression and power-fantasy stories. In a world where mysterious tombs containing ancient relics suddenly appear, powerful organizations race to claim artifacts capable of granting extraordinary abilities.
When 
The National Film Board of Canada
Last week, 