C2E2 Take a peek at the biggest box office hits of the last decade, and you'll realize that comics have taken over the world. The same will be true April 6th through April 8th as comics take over Chicago's McCormick Place for the 9th annual Chicago Comic Con & Entertainment Expo, also known as C2E2. Last year, in part due to the first ever panel discussion featuring Stan Lee and Frank Miller on the same stage, C2E2 drew around 80,000 attendees, making it only a slightly smaller draw than well-known conventions in San Diego and New York. As an attendee of 2017's C2E2, let me explain why it's a fantastic experience. Cosplay The reason that every comic convention is guaranteed to be a fun experience is that around half of the attendees dress in costume, and you are encouraged to do the same. If you enjoy people watching at all, C2E2 is the pinnacle. Not only do casual fans arrive dressed as their favorite superhero or villain, professional cosplayers are in attendance that make the art of comic hero mimicry a career. The Crown Championship of Cosplay will take place at C2E2 on Saturday, April 7th, and a Global Champion of Cosplay will be crowned, along with a prize of $10,000. The Floor McCormick Place offers an enormous amount of space, and C2E2 manages to fill it with an incredible array of vendors. Outside of tables featuring rare copies of highly sought after comics, you'll find a block of tables called Artist's Alley. Here, you'll have an opportunity to meet people that created the artwork for popular comics from the Marvel or DC universe and have them sign your copy. In addition, an area where the newest releases in video games and VR technology gives attendees an opportunity to unwind and escape. Celebrities C2E2 pulls celebrity guests from a broad spectrum of the pop culture universe. 2018's event will feature stars from the Guardians of the Galaxy blockbusters, The Walking Dead, Firefly, Daredevil, American Gods, and even the voice of Spongebob Squarepants. Panel discussions with celebrities and others with interesting insight into the world of pop culture and comics will take place throughout the entirety of the weekend, while photo-ops and autograph sessions will also be available. Family HQ One of the things that stuck out about C2E2 for me was the emphasis that they placed on making it an inclusive and family-friendly event. This year will feature a costume station for children so they can see what it's like to be their favorite Star Wars villain. The “Nerd Circus” is a group of acrobats that merge circus-style performances with cosplay that will perform in the Family HQ the entire weekend. Puppet performances will take place on Saturday and Sunday from the Noah Ginex Puppet Company. Saturday and Sunday will also feature Storytown Improv for children, improvised musical adventures that will sweep up kids and adults alike into the world of make-believe. C2E2 is a magical event that shows what is possible when people do not lose their sense of wonder. It is a celebration of those that fill our imaginations with new images and new ideas. In short, it is an event for everyone. http://www.c2e2.com/Tickets/Buy-Tickets/
