Best Comic Conventions?

[steak eyes]

I've never been to a comic convention before so I was wondering if anybody could help me out with a little info. What goes on activity wise? Which conventions have the most people dressing up as characters? Largest attendance? Hottest female attendance? Best locations? Any experiences anyone has had please share them and include the convention name & anything else that would be helpful in finding the next event. etc

[Troynos]

I've never been to a comic convention before so I was wondering if anybody could help me out with a little info. What goes on activity wise? Which conventions have the most people dressing up as characters? Largest attendance? Hottest female attendance? Best locations? Any experiences anyone has had please share them and include the convention name & anything else that would be helpful in finding the next event. etc

San Diego Comic Con
New York Comic Con
Baltimore Comic Con/Emerald City Comic Con
Wondercon

In that order for all the bullet points you mentioned.

Then there are lots of regional shows.

Wizard does a Wizardworld show in lots of cities: Boston, Toronto



The big shows have panels with the publishers, creators, etc.. The panel are basically "here's what we're doing" and then a Q&A. Lots of new stuff gets announced/shown. There are usually premieres/clips of different movies/shows.

The regional shows are much smaller. Few (if any) panels, no publisher presence. Those are your best oppotunities to really meet and talk with creators.

[BEAM]

I have to agree with Troy. SDCC is a mecca for nerds of all shapes and sizes. Although I think that con has become taken over by hollywood because geek culture is more mainstream than it was 10-15 years ago. I'd like to hit either SDCC or NYCC for a weekend before I'm old and grey.

I've been to a few Wizard World cons and they're fine. They haven't had one in Boston in years. They announce it but cancel it months ahead of time.

Being in New England we have a couple of great events. Boston Comic Con has grown over the last 4-5 years, pulling in some great comic creators. And SuperMegaFest in Framingham gets some decent B and C level personalities.

[Troynos]

New Hampshire also has Granitecon which is growing.

I'll be at Wizardworld Boston in April.


The regional shows are also great for meeting the small press guys. You get more chance to talk with them.

Same with the creators. There aren't as many people and they aren't stuck to schedules like normally are in the big shows (publisher panels, publisher booth signings, etc..). So finding them in artist alley, you get a better chance of talking with them.

[Cdt Weasel]

When I hit the baltimore con a few years ago I wasn't too impressed, perhaps it was an off year or has improved. Are you only interested in comic conventions or would other geek type shows, toy, sci-fi, star wars etc interest you? Any con that gets national attention will have a large turnout and lare amount of cosplay. Local cons will be more subdued.

[steak eyes]

@ Cdt Weasel I'm def interested in more than comic conventions. I like all of the suff you mentioned.

@Troynos- Thanks man! I appreciate the recomendations

[Shipshape1983]

I've only been to 3.

Big Apple Con in NY

Emerald City Comiccon in Seattle

and Crypticon in Seattle.

[BEAM]

New Hampshire also has Granitecon which is growing.

I'll be at Wizardworld Boston in April.


The guys at Double Midnight comics seem like good guys. They do a good job with Granitecon. I'd like to see them get some bigger name guests.

There was a good small show in Nashua but it folded some years ago. I met Eric Powell, David Finch and Michael Lark at that show in separate years.

Boston Comic Con is in April, not Wizard World. It has no affiliation with Wizard, which has tried to put a show on in October but has failed the last couple years. The BCC is spearheaded in part by the guys at Bedrock Comics, IIRC.

[jogunwarrior]

As a comic self puclisher I've been to several midwest comic conventions. Some of my favorites are:

Kansas City's PlanetComicon, which is not too big you get lost, but Kansas City is a hub of great Comic talent such as Jason Aaron, and B Clay Moore. You really have a chance to chat with your favorite creators, and there are some great vendors.

Minneapolis FallCon (or Springcon). The folks that run this show really do a great job with it, and they take really good care of their guests which keeps them coming back for more. this is like a smaller more Comic Centric version of WW Chicago.

[Troynos]

The guys at Double Midnight comics seem like good guys. They do a good job with Granitecon. I'd like to see them get some bigger name guests.

There was a good small show in Nashua but it folded some years ago. I met Eric Powell, David Finch and Michael Lark at that show in separate years.

Boston Comic Con is in April, not Wizard World. It has no affiliation with Wizard, which has tried to put a show on in October but has failed the last couple years. The BCC is spearheaded in part by the guys at Bedrock Comics, IIRC.

Double Midnight is one of my local stores. They are good guys there.

I keep getting Wizard World Boston and Boston Comic-Con confused.

I'll be at whichever one is in April, lol

[lazlo76]

Living here in Los Angeles California:

There's one called The Los Angeles Comic Book & Sci-Fi Convention which I've been going for the past 15 years because it's so close to me and it's where I've been able to fill entire gaps in my collections, it used to be a monthly thing but now it's mostly 6 times a year that it's held.

And there's also one called Frank & Sons in City Of Industry held every Wednesday and Saturday, it's a smaller convention but admission is free.

[Joe Fan 1]

I've never been to a comic convention before so I was wondering if anybody could help me out with a little info. What goes on activity wise? Which conventions have the most people dressing up as characters? Largest attendance? Hottest female attendance? Best locations? Any experiences anyone has had please share them and include the convention name & anything else that would be helpful in finding the next event. etc

@ Cdt Weasel I'm def interested in more than comic conventions. I like all of the suff you mentioned.

@Troynos- Thanks man! I appreciate the recomendations

If you're interested in a smattering of things from comics, role playing, robot battles, anime, cosplay and sci-fi to anything goes; then I might suggest DragonCon in Atlanta. I believe it is the largest convention in the Southeast and is quite popular. There are a lot of cosplayers there as well as celebrities and plenty of comic artists. I have their link below if you're interested.

Welcome to Dragon*Con! - Welcome to Dragon*Con! (http://www.dragoncon.org/)