The legendary San Diego Comic-Con happened last weekend, but don't get too jealous, Chicago. We have our own annual comic convention, Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), which comes through town again from April 25-27, 2014 at McCormick Place. You have just over 9 months to get your body in-shape to slip into that spandex costume.
Thousands of Chicagoans and comic-enthusiasts from across the country converged on Chicago for the 3rd annual 3-day event which covered the latest and greatest from the worlds of comics, movies, television, toys, anime, manga, and video games. Bringing the best of popular culture to downtown Chicago, C2E2's show floor was packed with hundreds of exhibitors, panels and autograph sessions which gave fans a chance to interact with their favorite creators along with screening rooms featuring sneak peeks at films and television shows months before they hit either the big or small screen. The highlight of the weekend was easily when filmmaker, actor and writer Kevin Smith took over C2E2 with the sold out An Evening with Kevin Smith. Most known for the world he created in Clerks, and since expanded in Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Clerks II, in the comics world, he's penned stories for heroes including Spider-Man, Daredevil, and Batman. On television, he stars in his own reality television series, Comic Book Men on AMC.
Although we didn't get Jennifer Lawrence or entire cast members of upcoming blockbuster movies to make special appearances like the frenzy that is San Diego Comic-Con, we did get up close and personal with her costumes from The Hunger Games. The 12-piece collection featured costumes worn by various characters throughout the first film. The only major missing look was the red gown Katniss wore during her first interview which will be unveiled at the final leg of Comic Con in NYC this coming October.
C2E2 also featured a long list of autograph-worthy visitors (Felicia Day, R.L Stine, Julie Newmar among others), a pop-up tattoo parlor, an entire hall dedicated to board games and Quidditch for kids, plus hundreds of decked out attendees in every costume you could imagine. The best thing about the convention was meeting so many different people from all walks of life sharing their love of comics and movies -- it was a celebration of all things entertainment and what better weekend could you have surrounded by other enthusiastic lovers of pop culture?
