The weekend has ended and the doors have closed behind the tenth annual Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo. From March 22nd to March 24th, tens of thousands of fans and creators gathered in celebration of their beloved hobbies, crafts and dreams. The event served as the kick-off to the 2019 convention season and in typical Chicago fashion the year was started with a range of special guests, signings, panels and announcements. I was honored to attend on behalf of Super Hero Speak as C2E2 shared with the massive crowd the very hearts of the comic, film, animation and video game communities.

McCormick Place, the host of the event, remains the largest convention center in the United States. The facility’s 2.6 million square feet never feel as small as they do on C2E2 weekend. Fans rub shoulders and politely strafe alongside cosplay enthusiasts, writers, artists, actors and other contributors of pop culture. The crowded arena never becomes unpleasant however, as young attendees and tenured guests share the same enthusiastic smiles as they overlook the show floor and shuffle into any number of the 173 meeting rooms. C2E2 sets the standard not only for the upcoming year of conventions but for the community as well. The rooms are filled with anticipation. The cheers and applause echo from the walls as seats are sold out and photographers flank the aisles.

DC Comics proved to be a huge a draw in 2019 as they shared plans for Detective Comics #1000. That monumental and must-own issue goes on sale this very week on March 27th. The Dark Knight also commemorated his 80th Anniversary with a C2E2 panel filled by the likes of Jason Fabok, George Perez, Marv Wolfman and other DC creators. There the writers, artists and attendees all reviewed their favorite Batman moments and discussed what big events might be lurking on the vigilante’s horizon. Expected to release this year, Geoff Johns’ “Three Jokers” storyline was cited by Fabok as a definitive Red Hood story. For Batman fans, that will surely be the most exciting release of 2019. In an apparent tandem with the convention, DC and Warner Brothers also shared early screenings of “Shazam!” at select theatres in the United States. The buzz generated by the blue brand became deafening as the weekend
stretched on.

Marvel would not let their own announcements go unheard. The media goliath is determined to continue the phenomenal stretch their comics and films provided in 2018. With “Captain Marvel” in theaters now and with “Endgame” coming out next month, they began the weekend with clear momentum behind them. After all, no characters were more prevalent on the cosplay floor than those showcased in “Spider- Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Miles Morales, Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Gwen could be picked out by the dozens. When the company’s comic announcements shined even brighter than their looming cinematic release, fans took notice. Thor’s “War of the Realms” event is shaping up nicely and was thoroughly detailed in its own panel. A few fans were even allowed to read the crossover’s first issue and they walked away with wonder clear on their faces. More than just that, Jonathan Hickman was also confirmed to be writing not one but two upcoming X-Men series. That announcement comes just after Marvel Studios’ acquisition of the X-Men’s cinematic properties and together they paint a vivid and hopeful future for fans of the long-standing mutant family.

Of course C2E2 captured the attention of the crowd with more than just comic news. Guests such as Ming Na Wen (Agents of SHIELD, Mulan) and David Tennant (Dr. Who, Jessica Jones) filled the main stage and shared stories of their humble beginnings and their favorite roles. Netherrealm Studios was invited and revealed both a new trailer and two new characters for the next video game installment of their Mortal Kombat franchise. Shudder, AMC and 20th Century Fox screened some of their upcomings films and television series. Most notable among these inclusions was Fox’s contribution, as they unveiled four of six fan films soon to be released in the Alien 40th Anniversary collection. Professional wrestling fans were included more this year than any other, as international stars like Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks sat down to talk about the next big wrestling company, AEW.

Cosplay was another international feature. Over the years C2E2 has become the home of the Crown Championships, where creators from all over the world come to demonstrate their artistry and their craftsmanship. It is the globe’s largest cosplay competition and rewards numbering in the thousands of dollars are extended to the category winners. 2019’s competition winner was “Cowbutt Crunchies,” one-half of a cosplay duo based out of Boston. Representatives from South Africa and Australia took 2nd and 3rd place respectively. It’s on the Crown stage that the dedication and passion of fans truly becomes apparent. These are members of the community who slave for weeks over fabric and foam to perfect designs inspired by their favorite facets of pop culture. The crowd is awed by these visual testaments. Each masterwork is an epicenter of the community’s tremorous love.

The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo is defined by that love as it thunders in the footfalls of the gathered fans. That storm peaks on Saturday afternoon as mobility slows and the crowd reaches its fullest point. Panels hit capacity sometimes an hour in advance of their starting times. Attendees head for the doors with arms full of convention merchandise and bags emptied of drinks and snacks. Members of each fandom are invited to take pictures with their favorite creators and to finally score that elusive signature on their 1980’s issue of the New Teen Titans. It’s a fast-paced and exhilarating annual tradition. Next year C2E2 will be hosted from February 28th to March 1st so bundle up but be sure to attend, as the announcements and celebrations are consistently exciting. Very rarely is love so loud and passion so plain.

Don’t forget to check out the latest episode of the podcast for a spoiler free review of SHAZAM: https://superherospeak.com/wp/299-captain-sparkle-fingers/