Tag: Conventions

Victoria’s Phenomacon or Vancouver’s Geektopia – Oh, the Choices, the choices!

Two new conventions have popped up and they hope to make an impression. On Vancouver Island is Phenomacon and on the mainland is Geektopia.

Pacific Northwest Conventions and BigfootThe Canadian side of the Pacific Northwest is going to be busy with two brand-new one-day shows on July 6th. Phenomacon and Geektopia look great for what the organizers plan on to attract locals to attend than from all over the province, country or otherwise. It’s more about friends getting together to have fun and perhaps making new ones. Cosplay will be big for both because its the mainstay for many a show, and prizes are to be awarded.

When considering Anime Expo is also this weekend, even those who aren’t able to travel far to partake in some geekery can find something nearby instead and make it home the same day!

The following is a description of what to expect. Continue reading “Victoria’s Phenomacon or Vancouver’s Geektopia – Oh, the Choices, the choices!”

Emerald City Comic Con Top Picks in What to Do and Going Lyte?

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Emerald City Comic ConEmerald City Comic Con is the jewel of the Pacific Northwest pop culture scene, and this event will be big! Instead of adjoining buildings to host the many events happening, it’s spread out just a little. Folks coming to meet the many entertainment guests will have to walk a few blocks away to the Hyatt Regency Seattle hotel and back again. Not everyone knows of this change, and it may be to thin the crowds so congestion is not as bad.

Although tickets have sold out for most days, this year offers a breath of relief–more or less. Fans hoping to get a ticket last minute instead of buying from a scalper (still a problem with this event) can sign up at Lyte. Here, those unable to attend can sell.

When considering there are more than 150 comic book industry talents to ply their trade, the other third of the show deserves their own building. In the main venue, the Washington State Convention Center, the exhibitor’s hall and artists alley make up the heart and soul of this event. A few names to mention include Rob Liefeld (Deadpool), Bob Camp (Ren & Stimpy), Mike Grell (Green Arrow), Irene Koh (The Legend of Korra), Chris Roberson (iZombie), Tim Sale (Batman The Long Halloween). For a complete list, please visit this convention’s website here and the schedule is up. This event has a lot of panels to update fans on what’s coming and the meet and greets are special unto itself.

Continue reading “Emerald City Comic Con Top Picks in What to Do and Going Lyte?”

Fan Expo Vancouver 2018 Report

215d2-fanexpovancouverBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Anyone who enjoys reading comic books, meeting celebrities and shopping for geeky novelties will flock to events like Fan Expo Vancouver (FXV), no matter when or where it takes place. This year, they moved from their November slot to October mid-month, from Oct 12-14th and scaled it back. Those who have frequently been to this annual event noticed.

Instead of taking up two floors of the West Vancouver Convention Center, everything was packed into one space. As I have reported in previous articles, the East Building has SHUX, a closed to the public board game event. I could approach check-in and look yonder to know the layout was similar to FXV’s. And that’s to pack everything into one space instead of spreading it out. This event probably took up three-quarters of the main floor. On the map, the area dedicated to panels and sellers were smaller and I was glad to know I was not missing anything special. Attendees to this event were not here to shop, but rather play demos and new games; I could not spot card games like Magic the Gathering.

If I had to pick between two events the same weekend, my money is on Fan Expo.

Continue reading “Fan Expo Vancouver 2018 Report”

A Survivor’s Guide to Fan Expo Vancouver 2018, SHUX & Beyond

215d2-fanexpovancouverBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

This weekend, Fan Expo Vancouver and SHUX 2018 will be taking place at the Vancouver Convention Center, and the venue is going to be super packed! Finding parking will no doubt be a nightmare for those coming in on the day of, but for those who have their hotels booked, the hope is that they have enough space to accommodate the influx of fandom to the harbour. For those coming into the former event new, the following advice is offered:

For FEV: The lower level is the exhibition space. Level one (ground floor) and two will host panels, and if past experience is any indication, the escalators are one way only. People bouncing back and forth floors will have to exit the venue to enter by the west side, not east. Plenty of dining options exist on the east side. For a broader look into what’s available, please look at last year’s dining guide.

Continue reading “A Survivor’s Guide to Fan Expo Vancouver 2018, SHUX & Beyond”

All Eyes on Vancouver, Fan Expo and SHUX Oct 12-14th!

215d2-fanexpovancouverBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

In a month, Fan Expo Vancouver will take place, celebrating all things pop culture on October 12-14, 2018. Instead of The CW heavy focus from the previous two years, this take feels a touch Halloween-centric. Just announced is the original teenage vampire slayer, Buffy aka Kristy Swanson! Just as equally is Ron Perlman, the original cinematic Hellboy. Other media guests include Jason Momoa (Stargate: Atlantis), Lou Ferrigno (Incredible Hulk), Pom Klementieff (Guardians of the Galaxy), Michael Cudlitz (Walking Dead), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), Jaleel White (Sonic the Hedgehog) and Jason David Frank (Power Rangers).

In the voice talent front, Batman is coming! Kevin Conroy is the voice of the beloved hero in Batman: The Animated Series, and to name a few, joining him is Jeremy Shada (Adventure Time) and Charles Martinet (Super Mario). In the comic book world, Dave Dorman Chad Hardin and Mike Henderson are the featured guests!

Continue reading “All Eyes on Vancouver, Fan Expo and SHUX Oct 12-14th!”

[Seattle, WA] Sandy’s ACE Comic Con Journal — Was it … ?

ACE Comic Con

By Sandy Sheehan

It seemed like forever for ACE Comic Con Seattle to arrive, but arrive it did. I drove from Spokane, Washington to this city on Friday morning, unaware that my VIP seat assignment was determined by my check-in time rather than by when I purchased the package or stood in line before the panel. It started on Thursday. Needless to say, I was much further back than I thought. VIP seating was also only good for two of the Marvel Entertainment panels.

I am no stranger to conventions and have been to a variety, from Creation Conventions (Star Trek: The Next Generation and more recently Supernatural), city-specific shows such as Mid South Con in Memphis (where I used to live) and more recently Lilac City Comicon (Spokane) and Anglicon (Seattle). I even went to things that would be hard pressed to be called conventions, such as answering phones for the Arkansas PBS station where Jon Pertwee (3rd Doctor from Doctor Who) spoke to the volunteers as well as Paul Darrow (Blake’s 7). ACE was by far the largest one I have attended.

Continue reading “[Seattle, WA] Sandy’s ACE Comic Con Journal — Was it … ?”