There’s something in the air and water – or maybe it’s all the tech? We have an abundance of cons for comics, sci-fi and anime that bring thousands and thousands of fans together in the Pacific Northwest. We even get to the chance to see cool new exhibits (Yes, that’s Spidey swinging across Seattle! Big news below!) and celebrities ready to greet their devoted fans.
2018 will bring a major comic book experience along with anticipated events to bring out the geek in all of us. Even if you don’t know your Marvel from DC, Star Wars from Trek, Warcraft from Destiny or Sailor Moon from Pokemon – you can still be of part of the fun. Even if it’s just to see all those crazy costumes.
Mark your calendars. Here’s our geek guide for 2018 in the Pacific Northwest:
Heroes & Villains Fan Fest (January 13-14 The Oregon Convention Center) Two cons (Heroes & Villains Fan Fest and Walker Stalker) team up for one big cast of celebrities from Arrow, The Walking Dead, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Get your wish list ready for autographs, photo ops and panels packed with stars.
Emerald City Comic Con (March 1-4, Washington State Convention Center) THE BIG GREEN ONE – The HULK of Northwest Cons! The homegrown con blew up to become a global destination. You made ECCC Seattle Refined number one story of the year. The 2018 lineup includes stars of Stranger Things, American Gods, The Walking Dead, Back To The Future, Supernatural plus a huge list of comic book legends and fan-favorite creators. ECCC continues to expand its roster of literary guests. ECCC is a great place to get original work from local creators in the Artists Alley. Did we mention cosplay? ECCC is home of the Western Championships of Cosplay. These contenders are serious about their craft because someone could go on to compete in a global battle for cosplay dominance, big bucks and bragging rights.
NEW! Marvel Universe of Super Heroes Exhibition World Premiere (April at the Museum of Pop Culture) A celebration of the universe where Spider-Man swings, Hulk smashes, The Avengers Assemble & Guardians of the Galaxy beat the bad guys. MoPop is currently working on this – their biggest exhibition ever staged at their headquarters for all things pop. Fans will be able to see more than 300 artifacts from original comics, movie props and costumes in an immersive experience. It will debut in the Emerald City first before going on the road.
Sakura-Con (March 30th-April 1st, Washington State Convention Center) The three-day celebration of all things anime will return with cultural panels, gaming, cosplay chess, dances and even a library to check out classic Manga. Plus, there’s a Masquerade Ball
WizardWorld Portland (April 13-15 Oregon State Convention Center) The Wizard World tour brings a huge roster of stars to the Rose City including Captain America, Justice League film franchises.
Norwescon (March 29, April 1, Doubletree by Hilton, Seatac) Norwescon 41: Uncovering Mysteries is the theme of next year’s big regional celebration of science fiction with a list of authors already booked. While this is primarily a literary focused con fans can still enjoy seeing costuming, gaming, art exhibitions and more.
Geek Girl Con (October 27, 28 The Conference Center, Seattle) the celebration of women in science, technology, comics, arts and gaming was born from volunteers who wanted to create a more inclusive experience and way to inspire young women to pursue careers in tech, science and comics. The team creates a family friendly event with a focus on diversity and inclusiveness.
Rose City Comic Con (September 7-9, Oregon State Convention Center) Yes, Portland has at least 3 comic cons! What do you expect when two major comic book publishers and a host of comic writers and artists call this quirky city home? You could call RCCC the sister city con of ECCC. We’re excited to see what celebrities will be coming this year.
Kumoricon (October 26-28, Oregon Convention Center) Anime, culture and cosplay collide at this annual three-day celebration of Japanese anime.
Steamposium (October 26-28, Bell Harbor International Conference Center – Seattle) Know what Sky Pirate is? No worries. Steampunk is sub-genre of science fiction incorporating technology and aesthetics inspired by 19th-century steam engine machines. The sub-genre has blown up to influence popular fantasy films, show and even inspired boutiques in Seattle. Steamposium features panels, workshops, celebrity guests and even a burlesque show
Jet City Comic Show (November 3,4 Tacoma Convention Center) Hailed as a “back to basics” comic book show, Jet City is soaring by focusing buying and selling comics and cosplay.
Suit up as your favorite hero or villain, dig through your collectibles or just come as your are – there’s something for every level of fandom.
That’s your geek guide picks for 2018. Enjoy.
By Editor