Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Welcome To My (Wizard) World 2014


Apparently the upcoming Wizard World Chicago Comic Con at the Donald E. Stephens Center in Rosemont has a winning lineup because the 4-day passes (it runs this Thursday through Sunday) have already sold out. This annual convention is a major attraction for self-professed nerds, proudly off-the-beaten-path types, sci-fi devotees, graphic novels readers, art lovers, and anyone who embraces the more adventurous paths of modern culture.

A mix of corporate and independent vendors hawk comic books, t shirts, action figures, and even some products most of us have probably never have seen before. In the huge marketplace dubbed Artists Alley, up-and-coming artists and writers compete for attention. Imagine if you were some high-powered financier from a counter-culture version of Shark Tank and could put up the funds for the worthy projects these salespeople have created. There’s also a fun, masquerade atmosphere as people dress up in superhero or villain costumes, and gladly pose for photos. Where else are you going to see Batman and Princess Leia sipping 32-oz. Cokes together?

Another good reason to check out Wizard World Chicago Comic Con is to meet celebrities, attend panels where they discuss their work, and pose for photos with them. This will be a particularly exciting event for Doctor Who fans since Matt Smith and Karen Gillan, The Doctor and Amy Pond, respectively, are among the guests. The timing is perfect for Gillan, who is not only a Doctor Who alum, but has a role in the current hit movie Guardians Of The Galaxy, and will star in the American sit-com Selfie starting this Fall. Plus, her English rom-com Not Another Happy Ending, is now available from Video On Demand here in the States.

In addition to the Doctor and Amy Pond reunion, John Barrowman, who was a regular on Doctor Who before going on to Torchwood and Arrow, is also on board. Unfortunately, Simon Helberg & Kunal Nayyar from The Big Bang Theory have canceled due to a scheduling conflict. Other guests include William Shatner from Star Trek; Patrick Stewart from X-Men and Star Trek The Next Generation; Nicole Beharie from Sleepy Hollow; James Marsters from Buffy The Vampire Hunter; supermodel Cheryl Tiegs; and comics mastermind Stan Lee.

A lot of the guests will only be at this event during specific times. Be sure to check the Wizard World Chicago Comic Con website for the complete schedule and ticket prices.

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