This year marked Awesome Con’s fifth year running, and its only been getting better and better every year. This was my third Awesome Con in attendance, but I have known about the convention since 2014, and it’s been wonderful knowing that there’s an actual comic book convention being held right in my backyard. Awesome Con has been steadily increasing the quality of guests and panels each year, catering from the youngest of nerds, to the ones young at heart.
Several additions to Awesome Con 2017 were the inclusion of a “mini” con, Future Con – a venture between Awesome Con and the Smithsonian Magazine, focusing on sci-fi, technology, and science; Pride Alley, a section of the convention floor dedicated to LGBTQ fans and creators, and Awesome Con Jr., another area of the exhibition floor catered to family-friendly events and programing for the younger crowd, featuring characters from Nickelodeon.
2017’s guest lineup included Awesome Con regular Phil Lamarr (Samurai Jack, Static Shock), Jon Barrowman (Doctor Who, Arrow), Kel Mitchell (Keenan & Kel), Wil Wheaton (Star Trek), David Tennant (Doctor Who, Jessica Jones), Felicia Day (The Guild), Jason David Frank (Power Rangers), Khary Payton (Teen Titans, The Walking Dead), and even the father of Marvel comics himself, Stan Lee.
Along with the stunning guest lineup, the con did hold a panel that was akin to something you might see at much bigger convention, like San Diego Comic-Con. It was only announced several days prior to the con that director Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) would be making an appearance for a Q&A Panel focusing on his new movie, Baby Driver. However, during the panel, it was revealed to the audience that Wright had brought along the first 5 minutes of Baby Driver, along with fancy Hollywood studio security in black suits walking around, making sure no one was recording the footage, though guests were informed beforehand to place phones and cameras away. Definitely reminiscent of SDCC’s Hall H. You can check out Part 1 and 2 of Wright’s panel below.
But of course, it wouldn’t be a con without the cosplays! So do enjoy some of the amazing cosplays I captured throughout the weekend!
