I’ve been attending Wizard World Chicago for three years straight and I can honestly say that the convention just keeps getting better and better. This year’s event was no exception.
It’s safe to say that Wizard World Chicago is one of the biggest events of the year in the Chicagoland area, at least in terms of popular culture (and for all us cool people). But Wizard World didn’t get to be one of the most popular events in Chicago without constantly striving to make each year better than the last.
Though there weren’t any major differences between last year’s event and this year’s, it’s the small details that really made this a stand-out year for Wizard World Chicago.
Local touches
Though it’s a large national convention company, Wizard World puts a lot of effort into making sure that each one of their events connects with the local community. From local vendors to local comic book shop owners sitting on panels throughout the weekend, Wizard World has really allowed for the Chicago culture to shine through.
To kick off the weekend, Wizard World held a ceremony called Heroes Honoring Heroes where a few famous convention guests (such as Ralph Macchio and Jason Mewes) honored individuals in the Rosemont Public Safety Department. Instead of focusing solely on convention-specific details, Wizard World took the time to interact with the community and give back to those who put their lives on the line every day. I’ve never seen an event like this at a convention before, but it was something I really enjoyed.
In addition to honoring firefighters, Wizard World gave back to the local Chicago community by featuring a blood drive on the premises. I feel bad that I didn’t donate (because I pass out just at the sight of needles, unfortunately), but I love the fact that they had a blood drive on the premise because con-goers are some of the most kind and generous people I’ve ever met!
The guests
Lately, Wizard World has had its finger on the pulse of popular culture. Last year, they hosted a fun Firefly reunion that made people go crazy on social media. It was definitely one of the highlights of the whole convention.
This year, they topped that event by not only bringing in the entire Daredevil cast but also the main cast of the Back to the Future series! Both of these panels boasted huge crowds and excited fans. In fact, I heard people talking about these guests and panels all weekend long, no matter where I was or what I was doing. People were so genuinely excited for the guests that Wizard World brought to Chicago, and that’s thanks in large part to the fact that Wizard World really knows their audience.
My absolute favorite guest this year was the amazing Jason Mewes. I just recently watched a bunch of Kevin Smith movies for the first time with fellow Hypable writer Karen Rought and pretty much fell in love with the guy. So to be able to meet him at this year’s Wizard World and have him take a few selfies of us was an amazing experience.
The panels
With great guests come great panels! No, but really. The panels at this year’s Wizard World Chicago were some of the best I’ve ever experienced. From a self-moderated panel with the hilarious Jason Mewes to an amazing panel with Queen Carrie Fisher that I never wanted to end, I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed panels as much as I did this year.
Not only did the convention have celebrity panels with some of the best talent from television and film, but also some great smaller panels with locals talking about things they love. My favorite non-celebrity panel was one titled “Did Suicide Squad Suck?” and featured a handful of comics enthusiasts discussing multiple aspects of the movie. It was so much fun that I wanted to jump in and join the discussion myself!
Also, it’s a small detail, but the lack of a Wizard World backdrop this year really made the panels feel more intimate. I totally understand that the backdrops are free promotion (what with people constantly taking photos at panels), but Wizard World classed up their panels this year by forgoing the backdrops and, in the case of the largest panel room, using a sharp Wizard World logo. It’s a small change, but it made the panels feel more relaxed and intimate, even with the large crowds!
Wizard World Chicago security
It wasn’t until this year’s Wizard World Chicago event that I realized how lacking in security conventions I’ve attended have been. Seriously though. For a lot of them, there aren’t even bag checks. This year, Wizard World set up security stations at all of the entrances to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, complete with bag checks and metal detectors.
Yes, it took a little longer to get into the convention itself (especially on the day it rained), but I found the wait to be totally worth it because the new security checks were extremely comforting. With all of the crazy things that have been happening around the world lately (especially in 2016, which has seriously been the worst), it’s really nice to have an extra sense of safety. Conventions should be fun and safe spaces for everyone so I’m happy that Wizard World has stepped up their security game. Their vigilance allowed us all to be who we wanted to be (Kim Possible characters, for example) without fear!
Wizard World Chicago is one of the best events of the year and this year was no exception. They always put on fantastic events that bring in the best guests as well as some great local flair. If there’s a Wizard World event going on near you, I definitely suggest you buy a ticket and check it out.
Have you ever attended a Wizard World event?
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