Yeseterday I went to C2E2, the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo at the McCormick Place. This was my first comic convention since Comic-Con in San Diego during Clarion. C2E2 certainly didn't compare in size, scope, or organization, but it was still a hell of a lot of fun. There was much cosplaying: a lot of Final Fantasy characters, more stormtroopers than you can shake a stick at, several steampunk kids, a seven-foot Chewbacca.
Our first panel was with China Mieville. He's been classified as a writer of the "New Weird," whatever that means, and some of his most famous books are Perdido Street Station, The Scar, and The City & the City. Mieville read from his latest, Embassytown, that'll be released in May, but was most interesting was the Q&A. In particular, someone asked a question about what drives Mieville to finish a novel; how does he work past the inevitable, "Gasp! I'm writing a novel and there's so much happening! Gasp!" phase. Mieville's response was that he "compartmentalizes scenes." In other words, he does is best not to think about what he's writing as a novel but as a series of scenes that will function that as a novel once completed. He also talked a lot about worldbuilding.
After the panel with China Mieville, we walked the Show Room. Vertigo, Dark Horse, Avatar, Archaia, Marvel, DC, and so many more. This was after lunch and C2E2 was jampacked. Eventually, I ended up purchasing two graphic novels from Archaia, Tumor and Robotix. It was a 2-for-1 deal I couldn't pass up. I also purchased a Thundercats t-shirt and my girlfriend bought a Cookie Monster t-shirt. Mandy, my sister, ended up with an uglydoll. Justin paid for the taxi to our car because the shuttle to and from the parking lot was nonexistent, several C2e2ers complaining they'd been standing outside, waiting for the shuttle for over an hour.
Whatever. It was still fun. Perhaps the greatest moment came when a fella dressed as Pikachu took the Rock Band stage to sing "Don't Stop Believin'" (quite shyly) while grasping an uglydolly tightly to his chest. Sent us home with a bang.
Boba Fett and I think that's Trinity from The Matrix. I'm not sure who the other girls are supposed to be, but if they are Little Bo Peep, one of them has a decapitated alien head on the end of her spike.
I think this one speaks for itself.
When I went to stand beside R2, it moved, man. Of its own accord!
And the best costume of the night goes to:
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