Not Exactly A Comic Con
At least compared to last year, there was a markedly smaller comic book presence at Philadelphia Fan Expo this year. Whereas last year boasted some of the hottest names in comics, such as Donny Cates and Charles Soule, this year the pickings for contemporary creators were much more sparse.
Artist Alley, which was previously much more packed, felt noticeably sparser this time around. Furthermore, the actual number of comic book retailers was fairly minimal, though they did occupy a fairly prominent place on the showroom floor near the entrance.
Superior Comic News
While the focus of Fan Expo was not really on comics, that does not mean there was no comic news. At the convention, Marvel and Dan Slott announced that there would soon be a third volume of Superior Spider-Man. The first volume of Superior Spider-Man followed Doctor Octopus in the mind swapped body of Peter Parker as he set out to prove he could do the job better than Peter ever could.
Fans were incensed at this development initially, but have since embraced volume one of Superior Spider-Man, with many considering it one of the greatest Spider-Man stories ever told.
When I asked Slott at Fan Expo if the new volume of Superior would be taking the place of the adjective-free Spider-Man title, he acted coy and said he could not say one way or the other. He did, however, inform me that issue #31 of the current Amazing Spider-Man run would be an oversized issue with stories from numerous Spidey creators and would include two four-page stories from Slott. One would reveal major details about the new character Spider-Boy and the other would set up the new status quo for the third volume of Superior Spider-Man.
A Lot Of Community Engagement
One of the most notable features of this year's Philadelphia Fan Expo was the number of different breakout spaces for various communities. Gamers, cosplayers, local organizations, and more all had distinct spaces to engage in their chosen hobbies. This provided a lot of different groups with a plethora of opportunities to create unique, engaging programming that might not have happened otherwise.
Two particular areas that jumped out at me were the creator stage and the tattoo artist row. The former was used for several different workshops and dueling sketch battles, while the latter was always filled with patrons getting fresh ink. These spaces and others like them speak to the enduring value of these conventions and the unique opportunity they afford individuals to be their most authentic, nerdy selves.
Major Celebrities
Compared to the New York, San Diego, and Chicago comic conventions, Philadelphia Fan Expo is a much smaller affair. This makes the lineup of major celebrities who attended the event and the variety of fandoms they represent all the more impressive. Henry Winkler, Michael J Fox, Sam Raimi, Giancarlo Esposito, Kate Sackhoff, and Sean Astin are, but six of the host of major pop culture figures in attendance.
Phenomenal Programming
While I did not have the chance to attend as many panels as I would have liked, the few I was able to attend were incredible. Two particular standouts were "The History of Comics" by professional Historian Zachary Kelly and "Man of Schmear: The Secret History of Judaism And Comics" by Josh Steinhouse. As something of a comic book historian myself, I was amazed by how much knowledge was on display in these sessions and how much of it was new to me. Never forget that conventions are not just a great place for community, but personal enrichment and learning as well.
Conclusion
While Philadelphia Fan Expo was not exactly what I was expecting, it was still a great event more than worth the cost of admission. If, in roughly one year's time, you find yourself in a position to be able to attend, I would strongly encourage it.
