Emerald City Comic Con 2024: The Strangers and Captain America Take On Seattle
By Kevin Hoskinson
Entertainment Editor
Emerald City Comic Con, one of the biggest (and wettest) pop culture events in the United States, celebrated its 21st birthday this year, and they celebrated the milestone in style. They expanded the main show by moving a big part of the con into its own building and had an impressive roster of incredible guests and panels this year. From the cast of Adventure Time to Lord Of The Rings to Captain America himself, there was something for everyone, and the fans came out in droves to celebrate. Add to that an incredible roster of amazing artists, writers, vendors, and cosplayers; you have a year of camaraderie, new friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime.
For the second year in a row, ECCC took place in the new Seattle Convention Center Summit Building, and they utilized every inch of it in a fantastic way. Even on the busiest day of the event, there was plenty of space to relax and get out of the crowds if needed. It’s a five-story building with two dedicated to the main show floors; the rest are used for panels, gaming events, LARPing, cosplay meetups, and much more. As mentioned earlier, they shook things up by moving the celebrity section of the con into the Arch building, a short walk away around the block. Here, you were able to find more vendors and your favorite celebrities signing autographs and taking photos with fans. This year featured Chris Evans, Christopher Lloyd, Christina Ricci, Mike Flannagan, the cast of Critical Role, Misha Collins, Dante Brosco, and Mae Whitman, just to name a few. This made the Summit building feel a bit bigger, but it came with a minor complaint. One of my favorite things about going to comic con is the surprises. A couple of years ago, we came across actor Brendan Wayne and talked to him about his time on The Mandalorian. Many people may not know about this other building and might miss out on meeting some cool people. It’s a small thing that didn’t take anything away from the experience overall.
One of the most fantastic things at this years show were the horror icons that made their presence known through some amazing conversations. Being a massive fan of Mike Flanagan, it was a dream come true to listen to him and his frequent collaborator and wife, Kate Siegel, discuss their past, present, and future projects. They offered incredible insight into the process and what it takes to make something truly terrifying. We also got a sneak peak and exclusive conversation regarding the upcoming film, “The Strangers: Chapter 1”. Star Madelaine Petsch and Producer Courtney Solomon were on hand to give the audience the scoop on the new movie which takes place in Oregon. Lionsgate had a booth on the main show floor selling merchandise from the movie and other fan favorites like “The Hunger Games” and “John Wick”. After the panel they even offered photo ops with the titular characters at the booth, which I gladly took part in.
Having been to quite a few comic cons over the years, ECCC is the one I look forward to every year. Being from Seattle, I always feel great coming home to experience the event. One wonderful thing about the city is its diverse population and focus on making sure everybody feels like they belong. The crew and attendees at the con are always so welcoming and make sure there is space for everyone also. Comic con’s generally have a very welcoming atmosphere but there is something special about The Emerald City. The Pride Room is one of my favorite aspects of being here. It’s a place where anybody can go, play video and board games, color, and chat with like-minded people. One thing I learned is that the murals and pictures that are colored in here are donated to LGBTQ+ shelters and communities in the area, which is very cool. I love the dedication to the community and the fact that they understand how important spaces like this are to so many people is amazing.
There is so much to take in at ECCC, and it’s nearly impossible to do all of it in one day. Everywhere you turn, there is something to look at or something to do. Around every corner is an artist you have never seen before or a writer you have never read. Discovery is a massive part of the experience and in order to take it all in it’s best to remember that. Some highlights for me this year were being able to chat with artists like Dawn McTeige, Lauren Moran, and Nick Robles and writers like Malique Harris and Elizabeth Stephens. It’s always fun chatting and nerding out with people in the industry, and they are always willing to share their knowledge and give advice to aspiring artists. Companies like Oni Press, Mad Cave Studios and IDW were on hand to talk about and show off their latest comics. And that’s just during the day! After the main show closed, they offered an array of after-hours events in which to partake. They put on a nerdy prom and an all ages concert featuring Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants!) and his amazing band. It was a good time for all.
ECCC is more than just an event, it’s an experience. It’s a bit redundant to say at this point but the crew at Reed Pop put on a wonderful show this year. They always go out of their way to ensure that everyone is having a great time, and this year was no different. Saturday was by far the busiest day but with the size of the Summit building there was plenty of space to get out of the crowds and take a breather. For their 21st year they knocked it out of the park and I’m excited to see what’s in store for next year.
