Emerald City Comicon took place from March 2-5 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. Through utter coincidence, the Ebbtide was one of the many SCC presences at the event. Several students, as well as SCC librarians Lauren Bryant and Chloe Hornig, attended the convention.
Attendees were able to meet with a plethora of creators in Artist’s Alley and receive autographs and, if the lines were low, even get a chance to chat, discussing the industry, tips for starting out or just the finer points of why Iron Fist could beat Darth Vader in a fight.
The main show floor was littered with vendors selling comics, apparel, books and foam swords, often with reduced prices or “con(vention) deals.”
Perhaps the biggest draw were the panels. With guests ranging from Draco Malfoy and Eleven from “Stranger Things,” to comic industry icons like Matt Kindt and Stan Lee, the panels covered everything from industry secrets, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, previews of upcoming storylines and titles to the rise and continuing importance of portraying women, people of color and LGBTQIA individuals in fiction.
All four days of the event were sold out, speaking to a rise in mainstream appreciation for comics, graphic novels and other alternative storytelling media.
A common sight at the event was the deluge of dedicated fans who crafted detailed costumes to pay homage to beloved characters and stories. In recognition of their burgeoning art form, we present a selection of cosplayers here.
-Connor Tee
