Fan Expo Canada 2014 Question

MagnusHanso

Hey folks,

My wife and I are seriously considering attending Fan Expo Canada for the first time this year. I'm looking for quick reviews/ thoughts of the convention, i.e. Is it well-organized, how easy is it to get into Q&As/ meet the celebrities, is there good comic shopping, etc. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Ryan

alienal

Hi there, I can give you some impressions of the 3 times I've gone before. (Actually, I am going again this year, but it's mostly because it's one of the few conventions I can go to due to my limited vacation time) Well-organized?: overall, yes! For me, I splurge and get the premium 4-day pass ($158 per person, including tax) and then I can bypass most of the long lines outside because there's a special entrance for those with a premium pass. The first year, they were a lot less organized but they seem to be getting better and better. And they do have information booths and the volunteers seem pretty well informed. Q&A's w/Celebrities?: it really depends what celebrities you want to meet. I met Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) from original Star Trek and the line wasn't long at all, but she was late so the line got longer and longer. BUT when I went to the George Takei/Nichelle Nichols panel, it was very hard to get in. I've heard the way to do things is to just get there an hour early. Good Comic Shopping?: I would say, yes, but maybe not as good as Heroes Con or a Wild Pig Sale (neither of which I've been to, but from what I hear on the show they are GREAT!). At Fan Expo, there are usually people selling 80's/90's comics 20 for $15 and last year there was a guy selling the same thing for $1 each. Pants and Murd found a guy who was selling really good (in condition and subject matter) 60's/70's comics at good prices but I didn't ever find him.

MagnusHanso

Thanks for the tips-- we've only ever been to the Pittsburgh Comicon (a yearly tradition), but the guest list at Fan Expo this year is making us really want to branch out, especially since it's only a three hour drive for us.

Hex

I have only attended the West Coast version of Fan Expo Canada. Over all a good experience, with the exception of the hour+ LOOOOOONNNNNNG line-ups to get in a couple of years ago (which has been rectified since). I found a one day pass was sufficient to cover the show floor, but the programming is good (and getting better every year), so if you want to attend panels and gawk at celebrities, then a multi-day pass will be for you. Lots of comic creators, many with little (or no line ups). I had a great conversation with Steve Epting last year and the awesome Immonens the year before. Also, I believe the Toronto show is much larger, so there will be more to see.

Go for it... Fan Expo is pretty damn good... and of course Canada is an awesome place to visit (yes, even Toronto).