Photo Credit: Getty Images/Cindy Ord
San Diego Comic-Con International came early this year. And a lot of us are still recovering from that show!
But Comic-Con International is far from the only Comic Con. As the fan community has continued to expand, so too have the number of comic book conventions. It’s now rare to have a weekend in which there isn’t a Comic Con happening somewhere in America! Actually, it’s getting to the point where multiple conventions are happening on the same weekend.
Comic conventions have been around for decades, but they’ve always served as a hub for fans to come together with other people who share their passion. At a Comic Con, you can meet your favorite comic creator, pick up a back issues or purchase collectibles and make connections within the industry. Cosplay has also become a huge draw at conventions, as the skill and artistry of the costumes and the performers has greatly increased. There are now several professional cosplay artists who have become popular guests on the convention circuit!
Picking the right Comic Con to attend always comes down to a simple question: which part of your comic fandom is the most important to you? There are conventions with a heavy focus on pop culture celebrities, cosplay, and comic book industry news. There are also smaller shows which are more comic creator friendly that allow fans to have more one-on-one time with their favorite professionals.
CraveOnline has assembled a list of our most anticipated comic conventions for the rest of the year. But if you feel we’ve left one out, let us know in the comment section below!
Wizard World Comic Con Chicago 2015
Photo Credit: Marvel/Disney
August 20 to 23, 2015
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (Rosemont, IL)
Official Site
Notable Guests: Jeremy Renner (pictured above), Norman Reedus, Stephen Amell, Nathan Fillion, and Burt Reynolds.
Wizard World Comic Con Chicago used to be one of the biggest comic conventions of the year, second only to San Diego. While its status has declined, it is still one of the biggest Wizard World conventions of the year, with an impressive lineup of celebrity guests and comic creators.
Fan Expo 2015
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Vince Talotta
September 3 to 6, 2015
Metro Toronto Convention Center (Toronto, Canada)
Official Site
Notable Guests: John Cassaday, Mike Del Mundo, David & Meredith Finch, Charles Soule, and Ryan Stegman.
Our neighbors to the North play host to one of the biggest comic conventions in North America. Outside of New York Comic Con, Fan Expo is one of the few conventions that can provide a San Diego Comic-Con level experience.
Dragon*Con
Photo Credit: WireImage via Getty Images/Frank Mullen
September 4 to 7, 2015
Hyatt Regency (Atlanta, GA)
Official Site
Notable Guests: Art Adams, Amanda Conner, Peter David, Kelly Sue DeConnick, and Matt Fraction.
If you love cosplay, Dragon*Con is the convention to go to. So many people show up to DragonCon in costume that there’s actually a parade to celebrate it! It’s also a multi-genre convention, with several comic book creators and sci-fi guests.
HawaiiCon
Photo Credit: Hawaiicon.com
September 10 to 13, 2015
Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel (Kohala Coast, HI)
Official Site
Notable Guests: Jane Espenson, Dichen Lachman, Cree Summer, Steve Leialoha, Riki “Riddle” Lecotey, and BelleChere.
Beyond the allure of enjoying a Comic Con in Hawaii, HawaiiCon also caps off attendees at 1200, which makes it one of the most intimate conventions on the con circuit!
Long Beach Comic Con
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Albert L. Ortega
September 12 to 13, 2015
Long Beach Convention Center (Long Beach, CA)
Official Site
Notable Guests: Art Adams, Adam Kubert, Christos & Ruth Gage, Stuart & Kathy Immonen, and Mike Mayhew.
After relying on local talent for years, Long Beach Comic Con has really upped its game this year with several A-list comic creators from across the country.
Alamo City Comic Con
Photo Credit: Stan Lee’s Pow Entertainment
September 11 to 13, 2015
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center (San Antonio, Texas)
Official Site
Notable Guests: Stan Lee (pictured above), Brett Booth, Chad Hardin, John Layman, Humberto Ramos, and Paul Renaud.
Alamo City Comic Con is a smaller show on a weekend with two other comic conventions. However, the guest lineup is very impressive.
Baltimore Comic-Con
Photo Credit: Baltimore Comic-Con Facebook Page
September 25 to 27, 2015
The Baltimore Convention Center (Baltimore, MD)
Official Site
Notable Guests: Cliff Chiang, Frank Cho, Darwyn Cooke, Francesco Francavilla, J.G. Jones, and Barry Kitson.
As one of the most comic book creator friendly cons in the country, Baltimore Comic-Con is an excellent opportunity to purchase artwork from some of the best artists in the industry.
New York Comic Con 2015
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Neilson Barnard
October 8 to 11, 2015
The Jacob Javits Center (New York, New York)
Official Site
Notable Guests: Olivier Coipel, Todd McFarlane, Amy Reeder, Dan Slott, Scott Snyder, and Brian K. Vaughan.
New York Comic Con is San Diego Comic-Con’s biggest rival in terms of scale, comic creator guests and performers from some of the top genre TV shows and movies. Some of the attendance figures from New York Comic Con 2014 suggest that this con has already surpassed San Diego’s signature convention…
