Conventions
Kicking off Con Season with Fan Expo Portland

Kicking off Con Season with Fan Expo Portland

By Kevin Hoskinson
Entertainment Editor, Pastrami Nation

Every year, I look forward to the start of Comic Con season. For me, the season runs from the beginning of March when we attend Emerald City Comic Con and ends in September when we check out Rose City Comic Con in Portland. This year, the season started early as I attended Fan Expo for the first time, and it was an interesting experience. Last year, we were supposed to go, but we were hit with a snowstorm. When it snows in Portland, it likes to leave a cute little layer of ice on the roads, making it difficult to get around. Needless to say, it wasn’t worth the risk, but this year, it was nothing but clear skies. It was still freezing cold, but it was a beautiful day for a bunch of nerds to get together to celebrate their favorite fandoms.

Those of you who know me know that I don’t use the word nerd in a derogatory way; quite the opposite, in fact. I’m a huge nerd, and nothing makes me happier than being surrounded by people just like me. Fan Expo Portland was a celebration of all things nerdy, and it felt good to be there. Much like Rose City Comic Con, it takes place at the Oregon Convention Center in the heart of The Rose City. It’s a big venue and is a great place to check out a show like this. There is so much space in the main hall for all of the vendors, artists, celebrity guests, and fans alike. One of the great things about the Convention Center is its easy navigation, and Fan Expo took advantage of that aspect. The way everything was set up, from security to purchasing tickets, was a seamless and straightforward experience. Walking around the show floor and finding the panel rooms was a piece of cake; I’m sure many were thankful for that.

Upon entering the venue, one of the first things I noticed was how smaller and more personal the event felt than others I had been to. The main show floor took up about three-quarters of the space available while also fitting in more than I had expected. Many vendors were selling their art and crafts, and a handful of comic book writers and artists were meeting fans and signing their favorite books. Local favorites were also in attendance, including Caesar the No Drama Llama, Portland Ghostbusters, and The Oregon Film Museum. There were plenty of snacks and goodies, including Copper Coast Confections featuring their delectable fudge and Belgian chocolates and Timbos Licorice Ropes with their amazingly fruity and chewy licorice. There was plenty to see and do if you weren’t there for panels or celebrity guests, but let’s be honest, the Fan Expo experience is all about the latter two things.

This year’s lineup didn’t disappoint when it came to celebrity guests. Some headliners were Jared Padalecki, and most of the Supernatural cast included Superman and Lois star Tyler Hoechlin, Temuera Morrison, Christopher Lloyd, and John Rhys-Davies. The voice cast of Hazbin Hotel, Helluva Boss, and One Piece were also in attendance, as was iconic video game actor Troy Baker. On the main stage, three generations of Supermen united (Dean Cain, Tyler Hoechlin, and Tom Welling) to discuss their time playing the Man Of Steel. Two of my favorite panels this weekend were the back-to-back ones by The Nacelle Company. Both featured company CEO Brian Volk-Weiss and special guests to discuss their new animated series Roboforce, the toy line releasing with it, and the new season of Netflix’s The Toys That Made Us.

I could only attend the event on Saturday, but I had fun covering the show. There was plenty of fantastic cosplay, and I made some new friends, which is always a perk of events like this. It’s a smaller show than the ones I’m used to, and the focus is on the fans of certain fandoms, which is the whole point of it. I love going to comic con to meet comic creators and discovering something new around every corner. There was plenty of that, but the main draw seemed to be the celebrity guests and the people who love them. The way they set everything up makes it feel more personal, and the guests are right there instead of hidden away in a far corner like most conventions, which was really cool. Overall, my first experience at Fan Expo Portland was great, and I look forward to visiting again in the future.

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