C2E2 2013

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!

There was a large crowd, but it neve felt crowded. Here’s a view of some of the floor:

And here’s Artist’s Alley:

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:

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:

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:

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!

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!

This next one floored me, and I came really close to buying it:

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!

Another almost buy…

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.

Of course you had your Renassiance folks…

…your zombies…

…and the requisite cool car. 

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:

And of course you have your Deadpool:

I thought these two Disney princesses were not only well done, but a breath of fresh air.

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:

She-Hulk and her little Loki:

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.

But my favorite cosplay of the whole day was also probably the simplest:

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!