Comicbook Conventions and the magic they create

There is a special magic that surrounds comicbook conventions, one that is hard to find elsewhere.

It does not matter whether you are talking about an internationally renown show such as the San Diego Comic Con which has pop culture professionals and fans invade San Diego, California every summer, or a smaller one day/weekend show such as Long Beach Comic Expo that comes to Long Beach, California every spring. These shows happen every weekend around the world often forcing a choice to be made on which show to attend when more than one occur on the same weekend close to where one is located.

The magic does not happen strictly on the convention show floor. You see it in the hall ways, the sidewalks, hotel lobbies and local restaurants. It even carries over to media, whether it is local and even international coverage on news shows or the choices networks make on what television shows and movies to air during the events.

Have you ever attended any other type of convention where complete strangers make instant connections with people they just met over a shared interest in a title, a character, a movie or a professional or star? I haven’t, but I can tell you of many such instances that have occurred during any number of comic book conventions that I have attended over the years.

One instance I can recall happened this past fall during Long Beach Comic Con, I was sitting in the hotel lobby bar having dinner and working on some photos/stories from that day at the show. At a table near me were several men discussing everything from Doctor Who to what a friend was going to be cosplaying as the next day. The energy, joy, laughter coming from their table had me smiling the entire time I was there. Outside these types of shows I would have never said a word to them as I didn’t know them, but these shows build such a sense of community that I didn’t hesitate to stop at their table on the way out to thank them and mention how wonderful it had been to be a bystander to their fun that evening. The next day I ran into one of the on the show floor, he was cosplaying a different character so I would not have recognized him. Not only did he stop me to chat for a moment but let me know where their other friend was who was also cosplaying so that I could get a photo of the two of the together.

There is the joy of being able to see professionals, whether they are writers, artists, actors, other, that have huge fan followings of their own turn into total fanboys/fangirls when another professional that they are a fan of stop by to chat with them. Having witnessed this numerous times I must confess that it takes them seem ore human. They aren’t just doing this to make a buck (hopefully they are managing to earn a living doing this) they are doing it because it is something they love. One of my favorite was always when Stan Lee would stop by the Top Cow booth to say hi to Bridget and Marc Silvestri. Marc’s smile was just like a little boy getting that perfect birthday or christmas present he had wished for all year long. FYI – This would happen anytime Stan would stop by the booth.

There are the friendship that you form, even if you are an introvert such as myself, that even years later and a world away you have that connection, that friend that will chat with you when you just need an ear. There is the community that has formed and support given from sources you might never expect when you least expect, but most need, such support. This can be as simple as a hug and encouraging word, to a tweet and even GoFundMe campaigns to help raise money for soebody going through a rough patch.

There is the magic of discovering a new artist, a new writer, a new title or show to follow just by walking around and/or talking to other people on and off the convention floor. The thrill of attending a panel and getting an unexpected surprise, whether it be a give-away at the panel, or as happened a couple years ago, being in Hall H at San Diego Comic Con the year that all the attendees in the hall were then all marched around back to where the Symphony was doing a Star Wars performance.

Now you may be thinking to yourself, yes but if it is San Diego Comic Con it is so hard to get show tickets. I won’t dispute that, it is what happens when a show grows not only so large but develops such a phenomenal international reputation. Did you know there are many opportunities to enjoy the pop culture extravaganza that is San Diego Comic Con outside the actual convention center? There are events throughout San Diego during the show, and not all of them are dependent on having a coveted SDCC badge.

But don’t give up, just because you may not have managed to snag a coveted ticket to San Diego Comic Con, doesn’t mean you don’t have other options to experience the magic in person yourself. Look at your city, state or desired vacation spot. Maybe you always wanted to travel to New York, perhaps you can time your trip to attend New York Comic Con, or on in Australia, Alaska, Germany, you name it you can probably find a show that happens near where you live or would love to travel to at some point during the year. Just because it is in Dubai instead of Boston, doesn’t not mean that there won’t be talent to see. Cosplay to admire, or perhaps to display yourself. Magic to experience.

I have yet to discover anything else that has the accessibility around the world for new and old fans to experience for themselves. So don’t hesitate to dip your toe in and check out a comic book convention for yourself. Most shows are more than just comic books these days, most cover a wide range of pop culture, with a few being truly comic book focused or perhaps Doctor Who or Star Wars etc. There is pretty much something for everybody if you just ask around. If you don’t know where to start, your local comic book store is a great source of information since usually the staff will be fanboys/fangirls themselves. So get out there and join in on the magic.