A long time ago, at a comic expo far far away… Well actually its less than a week away and the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo is a lot closer than you think. Happening April 24 and 25, it’s the one weekend where every geek and nerd in Calgary will leave their parents basement join forces and invade the BMO Round Up Centre @ Stampede Park. It’s the one weekend where Calgarians can come out and see their favorite sci-fi, fantasy, horror, gaming and animation stars in person. It’s also a place where people can get great deals on gaming, comics and collectibles. And with the Expo being bigger and better than ever this year, it’s my dream weekend.
So what can you expect this year at the Comic Expo?:
Media Guests
Star Trek – Check! Star Wars – Check! Twilight – CHECK! This year the expo has got it all, and it really is where the expo shines. Over the past 4 years the guests have become more famous – and this year they have Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy, as well as Brent Spiner (Data on Star Trek:TNG), Malcom McDowell (A Clockwork Orange), Chris Claremont (X-Men), and Sid Haig (House of 1000 Corpses). A full list of guests are available on the Calgary Expo website.
Costumes
Have you ever wanted to don your own pair of leotards and fight crime? Think what you got to win the Costume Contest? Then step up and sew up the greatest character costume you can imagine – originality is highly recommended! While I don’t think I’ll be dressing up myself, I have to confess that I will enjoy seeing everyone else in their favourite character costumes.
The Artwork
Some of the greatest artists and animators of our time have graced the presence of the CCE. The artist alley provides a large area for freelance and amateur artists to show their work, and each artist can contribute to the annual CCE Artbook. While I have never been a big art connoisseur, after attending the CCE 4 years in a row I look forward to the artwork by both the local and international artists each year. Check out the full list of artists on the website.
Presentations
Panel discussion. Round table. Presentation. Call it what you want, but it’s the information every fan and want-to-be artists are looking for. Most of the media guests will participate in at least one panel, and if you’re a budding artist or game designer there are sessions that can help you jump start your career in art and media. For a full list presentations visit the website.
The Deals
So after beating the crowd to see Leonard Nimoy do the Vulcan Salute, you might wonder what else there is to do? It’s time to go shopping! Pretty much every comic and collectible from here to the 5th moon of Endor is at the CCE. It’s a great place to find that one book or that fits your collection, and a giant wave of nostalgia will come over you when you find out just how many games and toys you can find. And yes, even the original Final Fantasy NES cartridge your mom threw out can be found at the Comic Expo.
Don’t let the name fool you, it’s not just about Comics. There’s plenty of stuff for everyone in the family to enjoy, so be sure to check out the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo this upcoming weekend. Calgary Things will be there live covering the event on Twitter and through this blog so be sure to follow us and check back for updates.
