This weekend was C2E2 here in Chicagoland, and the organizers were kind enough to grant me another press pass this year so I could share the experience with you! (Here’s my 2012 post.)
I attended on Friday this year and once again it was a fantastic time!
![C2E2 2013 Crowd 1](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-2.png)
There was a large crowd, but it neve felt crowded. Here’s a view of some of the floor:
![C2E2 2013 Crowd 2](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-3.png)
And here’s Artist’s Alley:
![C2E2 2013 Crowd 3](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-4.png)
I hit Artist’s Alley right away and was able to chat with My Little Pony writer Katie Cook before her line got too long:
![C2E2 2013 Katie Cook](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-5.png)
She did a small piece for my daughter and I picked up her first Gronk book. I should have picked up both volumes, as my daughter read the first cover to cover as soon as I handed it to her.
Next up was Super Dinosaur‘s Jason Howard:
![C2E2 2013 Jason Howard](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-6.png)
We chatted again about kids comics and I told him how much my son and I enjoyed reading SD together. A super nice guy!
I stopped by Amanda Conner’s table, and although the line was short and orderly (shorterly?), she didn’t have any new items to purchase. Ditto for J. Scott Campbell:
![C2E2 2013 J Scott Campbell](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-7.png)
I think he actually had a smallish sketchbook I don’t have, but I like his larger hardcover collections better.
See, I’m not a bring-a-box-of-comics-to-get-autographed guy, I’m more of a I-like-your-work-and-I-want-buy-something-neat guy, which is less common I suspect. Still, it was good to see fans and artists alike happy to see each other.
Then it was time for some C2E2 shopping!
![C2E2 2013 Back Issues](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-8.png)
I wasn’t really looking for any older comics, but goodness knows there were plenty. And lots and lots and lots of toys and collectables!
![C2E2 2013 Shopping](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-9.png)
This next one floored me, and I came really close to buying it:
![C2E2 2013 WILSON!!!](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-10.png)
I didn’t see much of a webcomic presence at C2E2 this year, but the Cyanide and Happiness guys were doing a brisk business. Good for them!
![C2E2 2013 Cyanide & Happiness](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-11.png)
Another almost buy…
![C2E2 2013 Super-Phone](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-12.png)
There was a lot of LEGO at this show too, but the prices were a bit high and I saw too many custom and post-keychain minifigs for my tastes. Still, I found an Avengers polybag that never made its way to the States.
![C2E2 2013 Minifigs](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-13.png)
Of course you had your Renassiance folks…
![C2E2 2013 Renaissance Fair](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-14.png)
…your zombies…
![C2E2 2013 Zombie Inflatable](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-15.png)
…and the requisite cool car.
![C2E2 2013 Speed Racer](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-16.png)
And finally, the cosplayers. Even on a Friday there was a lot to see!
There’s always a lot of Harley Quinns, but I gave this one high marks for carrying around what looked to be a really heavy hammer all day:
![C2E2 2013 Cosplay Harley Quinn](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-17.png)
And of course you have your Deadpool:
![C2E2 2013 Cosplay Deadpool](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-18.png)
I thought these two Disney princesses were not only well done, but a breath of fresh air.
![C2E2 2013 Cosplay Disney Princesses](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-19.png)
I found out after this pic that She-Ra and Dredd here weren’t together, but I’d like to think that maybe they might find a C2E2 love crossover:
![C2E2 2013 Cosplay She-Ra & Judge Dredd](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-20.png)
She-Hulk and her little Loki:
![C2E2 2013 Cosplay She-Hulk & Loki](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-21.png)
Thor here made a farting nose as I was taking this and made the Valkyrie laugh really hard. Wish I’d have been quicker on the camera to grab it.
![C2E2 2013 Cosplay Thor & Valkyrie](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-22.png)
But my favorite cosplay of the whole day was also probably the simplest:
![C2E2 2013 Cosplay Calvin & Hobbes](https://blog.andertoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/c2e2-2013-23.png)
So that’s it for this year. I wish I could’ve seen a panel or two, but I spent too much time tracking down a giant pink Kirby for my daughter. I’d promised myself I was going to get Felicia Day’s autograph too, but suspected I’d only be able to say “Felicia pretty” before looking at my feet and giggling.
Another great C2E2 and I can’t wait for next year!