Convention Review: C2E2 2018

Last year, I attended C2E2 and in my review, I said that I would not be going back unless there was “a killer guest list”. The traffic was awful. The city parking was scarce and too damn expensive. The convention was a massive money pit, from celebrities, creators, and vendors alike. Lines wound around corners and aisleways were so congested, navigating the huge floor was a challenge.

After attending this past weekend for the aforementioned guest list, I can confirm they have one solid thing going for them: consistency.

The last review was based on a categorical scoring system, but this time, I’ll just give my overall impression. I only attended on the busiest day, Saturday, so my scope is somewhat limited.

The traffic coming into the convention center was much better than last year, yet was still a giant hassle. Once again, my wife dropped me off on a street corner and I walked at least a half mile to the venue in order to avoid the massive traffic jam on the west side of McCormick’s South Building. I’m glad I cannot comment on convention parking because, truth be told, if Chicago as a whole is any indication it would be incredibly overpriced, far away, and hard to navigate. Probably the worst part about Chicago is car ownership and the struggles therein.

Well, that, and the history of violence in the city. Luckily, C2E2 has us covered. This year, C2E2 implemented security measures to ensure a safe convention experience for all attendees. Everyone entering the venue was required to pass through metal detectors, have their bags checked, and empty their pockets upon arrival. While this was a minor inconvenience, especially for cosplayers and those with heavy baggage, I was so happy to know ReedPop takes safety seriously and that the recent mass shootings have heightened security across the board. This is in addition to their ongoing campaign that “Cosplay is not Consent”, dissuading everyone from acting in a manner that demeans or demoralizes cosplayers. C2E2 is very respectful of its fans in this way, and in doing so the convention-goers can enjoy themselves with peace of mind.

They came out in full force on Saturday. This was both a great advantage and a great detriment to the expo as a whole. On the one hand, the cosplay game is on point! So many people dress up as superheroes, villains, cartoons, anime, Disney characters, movie icons, television personalities, and original creations that it’s hard to wrap your head around. I saw a guy dressed as the infinity gauntlet y’all. Not wearing it on his hand… as the ACTUAL GAUNTLET. Teams of cosplayers came out in pairs, trios, and whole ensembles as thousands of people yelled “Oh my god! Look, it’s Stryfe! Can I get a photo?” There were plenty more who dressed in nerd swag or just in a T-Shirt and jeans hoping to meet their favorite guests and shop for the best merchandise. I personally wore a Spider-Man suit, courtesy of Opposuits, that many complemented me on. (That review is coming in the next few days, so stay tuned!) The fans are amazing and always bring their “A” game.

On the other hand, because fans come out by the thousands, there is much to be desired in terms of personal space, navigation, and wait times. I was bumped around quite a bit, and I’m sure I did my fair share as well. On top of that, Saturday was National Beer Day, so the con was full of day drinkers and the air smelled of beer breath, which I didn’t enjoy. There was one cosplayer with an incredible set of extended wings, but every time he stopped for a photo, foot traffic ground to a halt. People had to duck underneath the wings to get by. It was crazy. I spent most of my time in artist alley, and while many tables were easily accessible and the creators were happy to sign for a donation to the Hero Initiative, several had long, winding lines that wrapped around into other areas and hallways. The autograph wall was even worse, as some people reported wait times exceeding an hour for signing sessions that only lasted two. The crowded nature leaves fans experiencing less and having to pick and choose which line to waste away in. And then, you end up spending $60 or more per person. It’s ten times worse than Disneyland, I swear.

Well, speaking of the guests, let’s touch on that. I would not have gone through the ordeal of going back to Chicago for another C2E2 had it not been for Alan Davis (ClanDestine, X-Men) coming all the way from the UK for the convention, along withhis first mate inker, Mark Farmer. As a giant Excalibur fan, I’ve wanted to meet him for years and I finally got my chance. His was the longest line I chose to wait in, and I was there for about an hour, but to me it was worth it (and in the end, that’s what really matters). As an added bonus, Chris Claremont was a last minute addition, so I got to visit him and have a chat about the upcoming X-Men Wedding Special. Other big names included Tom King, Brian Michael Bendis, Jim Lee, Mark Millar, Matt Kindt, Neal Adams, Skottie Young, and many, many more, although Rachelle Rosenberg (Nightcrawler colorist) and Gerry Duggan (Deadpool, Guardians of the Galaxy) were big draws for me. I got about 150 comics signed in one day, so I’d say it was a successful trip (that my back is still paying for). The high profile comic guests either had massive lines, comic premiums, or VIP tickets. Mark Millar had a whopping $175 package on the low end, which included only 3 comics and Bendis was only in panels and the Autographing area. I did see him on the exhibition floor though, so that was pretty cool.

As for other celebrities, they had a nice collection of stars from all over entertainment platforms. They had voice-over actors, movie stars, television regulars, authors, and all sorts of fan-favorites. I was most excited for Alan Tudyk (Firefly, Con Man) and R.L. Stine (Goosebumps, Man-Thing) but all the lines were so ridiculous I couldn’t justify waiting when my cheap ass can’t afford to get anything signed. I got some photos of Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes, This Is Us) from another line, but security quickly jumped on me for it. Good to know blurry phone photos from a hundred feet away are cause for intervention, but hour long lines are standard. Other guests included Dave Bautista, Veronica Roth, Tom Kenny, Yaya Han, Charlie Cox, Aaron Douglas, Khary Payton, David Yost, two Impractical Jokers, Henry Rollins, CM Punk, Svengoolie, and several CW superheroes- all of which had huge lines. If there is one thing C2E2 does right, it’s their ability to draw massive amounts of top talent, thus bringing in a huge following of fans. (There were several conventions nationwide on the weekend of April 6-8, so it’s nice that C2E2 had such an impressive line-up).

Lastly I’d like to talk vendors. Once again, the salespeople were over the top and a varied as the fans were. Shirts, toys, comics, art prints, and so much more were up for grabs all over the exhibition floor and the kegs were flowing at several different booths. Mutant soda teamed up with Deadpool 2 as an ad campaign, and they gave out free samples of all their flavors. All the big name comics publishers had booths, and I was surprised to see how prevalent Lion Forge was. Their con presence was huge! I caught up with Comics Experience (and Source Point Press) and Epic Reads and bought matching shirts for me and my wife from Hunter’s Den. I forgot a key comic at home, but was lucky enough to find it for practically cover price before seeing Alan Davis to sign it. Anything you could need or want in geek culture, you can find at a big convention like C2E2.

As for the cosplay competition, panels, after parties and the other two days of the Expo, I’ll have to decline comment. With so much to do in so little time, I couldn’t really do all the convention had to offer. That is a big problem I have with such massive conventions. Even if I had all three days, I doubt I’d be able to do everything I wanted or meet everyone or buy everything (if my empty wallet wasn’t a factor).

Also, I’d like to point out I did other things around Chicago while I was there and the city as a whole is just so big, expensive, and intimidating that I struggle to have a good time. Big conventions in smaller cities than Chicago tend to go better for me because they aren’t already so congested when the convention crowd hits. My 2013 experience at San Diego Comic-Con comes to mind, and having visited New York, I’m sure the same holds true there as well.

So, the final verdict: Around all the traffic and parking bullshit, tight crowds and long lines, high prices and sold out packages, I cannot deny that the guest line up is enough to draw out droves of fans from all over the midwest. It is a huge experience that is truly made great by both ReedPop and the attendees… if only there weren’t so many! Lol. Cosplay is wonderful and there is no shortage of cool stuff to buy while you are there. Just be prepared for all the extra expenses of the windy city. Finally, big kudos for implementing security checkpoints with metal detectors. If you like centralized comic culture, try a smaller convention (in my opinion), but if going all out is what you’re after, then C2E2 is for you!

Three out of five stars!

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Oh… and one more thing…

The father of modern comics, Stan Lee, has been a pop culture icon for over five decades. A sought after celebrity and poster boy for Marvel Comics, Stan is always a big name to bring the crowds out to conventions, but over the last few years he has become less of a bright light to the community and more like a candle being burned from both ends. At 95 years old, he is being carted from appearance to appearance as a cash cow for his handlers, who string people by for photos and illegible signatures from a dying man. Clearly, he is not well and has no desire to be there, so out of respect for the man and the legacy he created, I am asking you all to refrain from worsening the problem by participating in these events. I am personally boycotting events where he will be signing and asking conventions to NOT book him for these reasons. You don’t have to go to those extremes, but please, PLEASE don’t make matters worse than they already are by subjecting him to one more signature or photo op. Thank you.

For more on the elderly abuse of Stan Lee, CLICK HERE and stay tuned for the No Prize Podcast Stan Lee Special addressing the mistreatment of our hero.

Author Profile

Robert Anderegg

Robert joined Comic Crusaders in 2016 as contributor, but has been an active online voice through social media for almost ten years. His hobbies include reading and collecting comics, attending theme parks, making music, and driving his wife insane. Deadpool and Nightcrawler are his two favorite superheroes, and while his preference is Marvel, he dabbles in every major and indie label in the comics community. He graduated from UTPB in 2013 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and is currently seeking employment in that field. A southern boy at heart, he currently resides in the Midwest.