Convention Calendars Ahoy!
Looking over the calendar for this year, I know of at least two conventions I'll be hitting: HeroesCon and Dragon*Con, with a strong "maybe" in the form of Outlantacon/GaylaxiCon. I wanted to take a second to work on my overall convention calendar in public, though, in part to toss around some links to other cons and in part to solicit suggestions from readers; I also want the chance to point out a couple of cons to which I know I won't be going but I seriously wish I were.
What cons are you attending this year? For Jason (or anyone else to whom it applies), at which conventions will you be presenting this year? I want to hear where you're going to get your geek on and why!
The Definites
First, Heroes Convention in Charlotte, NC, the first weekend of June. It's a relatively short drive for me and last year there were a ton of my very favorite folks. I got to meet Archie writer/artist Dan Parent; countless of the folks behind Boom! Studios' fantastic Cthulhu Tales; a whole slew of my favorite webcomics people, namely David Malki, r stevens, Brian Clevinger, Chris Hastings; and the wildly creative if perhaps politically distasteful Bill Willingham. Heck, I even saw 30 Rock's Scott Adsit playing fanboy, running around getting comics signed by his favorite creators. HeroesCon has panels and dealers and lots of fun things to do but it's also a more manageable experience than, say, a Dragon*Con, and it's much cheaper. I went for most of a day, I saw everything and everyone I wanted to see and then I left, driving home on back-country roads made all the more lovely by late Spring rather than crashing in a con hotel. If you're in the region it's not at all unreasonable to get there, get in and get back for under $50 if you're only going for a day. Nice. There was zero queer-specific content but there were plenty of creators there who are part of or friendly to our communities.
My other definite is Dragon*Con, Labor Day Weekend, for which I already have hotel reservations (walkable to the con this year, woot!) and maybe, fingers crossed, press credentials. I just re-read my mega-post about Dragon*Con 2010 and I was right: with enough time, one forgets all the cons about the con. I am super-stoked to go back. There's simply got to be another queer dance party. Surely they know the people will demand it.
The Maybe
My strong maybe is the specifically queer-focused Outlantacon, which is May 13-15 this year. It works with the rest of my travel schedule for Spring and they're playing host to Gaylaxicon, which appears to mean more panels and things. Outlantacon has been described to me by a regular attendee as smaller, closer-knit and way, way, way more relaxed and fun than any other con she attends. It sounds kind of like a gaming get-together that used to occur locally every year, and I'd like to experience that sort of atmosphere again. Their guest of honor this year is Amber Benson, one half of the lesbian power couple I so adored on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is a serious draw for me.
The If-Onlies
First on my list of oh-how-I-wish is BENT-CON, a queer mini-con that lasts one day in December. I can't even begin to justify going to LA for one day, though, and it conflicts with some other plans for that time of the year. Still, it looks like it's hella fun.
Second is definitely New York Comic Con, for which tickets go on sale Monday. Rubber Justice covered it here and made it sound like an absolute blast. No chance of making it up there this year, but some day - some day!
Third is probably Baltimore ComicCon, a more manageable drive and a city in which I have had only good experiences, plus old friends I never get to see anymore. Baltimore is a place where, every time I've been there, I've left wishing I could move there. I don't know why, and it's not just because of John Waters' movies, though they do help. Like NYCC, there's zero chance of me getting to Baltimore this year but perhaps next year I'll skip Dragon*Con to go to Baltimore? We'll see!
Klarion
Posted to Comics on 2 February 2011
· Comments (6)
Other stuff like this: calendar, conventions, DragonCon, HeroesCon
You are seriously tempting me with HeroesCon this year. Although it appears that Charlotte's Counter Burger is closed. *weeps*
We could ride together! Or we could take the train, which leaves from Durham and from Charlotte, each way, three times a day. :)
Amber Benson is also the kick ass creator of "Ghosts of Albion" RPG line, and voiced all the flash movies for it too.
Yay Amber Benson !!!
Wait, she was on Buffy and she designed an RPG? Awesome!
I'm going to Emerald City Comic Con (March) in Seattle and GeekGirlCon (October), also in Seattle.
I'm considering also going to Norwescon (Seattle) and WisCon (Madison, WI).
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