The Las Vegas Comic Expo came and went a lot faster than I had expected. It seemed like I was hearing of it, then reading about it’s quick departure from Alexis Park Resort to the classic Riviera Hotel & Casino, living it for the weekend, then boom, it was done, but what a great time it was.
Despite being it’s first year, the Las Vegas Comic Expo had a great turnout, full of great artists in Artist Alley, and complete support of Exhibitors from all over the Southwest. The crowds of people were easy to navigate through in the larger, open expo hall of the Riviera, and there was just enough people to make it feel like a well established and supported convention, despite being it’s Freshman year. Plus it always helps to be right next door to the famous local eats, the Peppermill, which we ate at both days. It’s good alright, get off my case!
The guest list boasted by Las Vegas Comic Expo was quite impressive also, Scott Lobdell was added later and hosted a fantastic “New 52″ panel. The beautiful Tricia Helfer was on site, and I heard Thomas Jane was there also, although I never saw him, but heard rumors of some of his exploits and “you should have been there” moments. J. Scott Campbell was there both days signing autographs nonstop like a boss. The “Before Watchmen” group: Adam Hughes, JG Jones, and Len Wein had their terrific “Before Watchmen” panel and signed autographs after, but of course I only brought Ozymandias #1 and not my Comedian #1, so I looked like a complete jerk passing both Hughes and Jones to only have Wein sign my book, and was sure to boast loudly, ” Ozymandias is my favorite book.” to make the others jealous.
Expos and conventions are synonymous for cosplay, with Las Vegas Comic Expo being no exception. Key word, bewbs, well that and cleavage, and a lot of it. Cosplay aficionados Brieanna Brock and Riki Riddle, models Alexia Jean Grey, AZ Powergirl Cara Nicole, and Kat Sheridan paved the busty trail, with other great cosplayers both female and male following suit. Some of the cosplay was down right amazing, Bane and Batman looking like they jumped straight out of Dark Knight Rises, Thor screaming “For Asgard” everywhere, the Neon City Garrison of the 501st made sure no Jedi passed through the expo hall without interrogation, and a cute little female Dr. Who who I mistakenly said was the 11th? Dr. Who and she was obviously the 13th…? or whatever, her analyzer was broken and couldn’t figure out how I was so dastardly charming. Hhhm. You can see the entire cosplay gallery on our Facebook page here.
You’d think being at an expo that was everything art and comics I’d at least come home with arts and comics, think again, I actually left day one without a comic purchased to my name, instead, I left with three extremely hard to find 70′s exploitation films from the DVD Underground booth. I’m now the proud owner of Russ Meyer’s Faster Pussycat…Kill! Kill! (yes I understand Faster Pussycat is technically 1966, but let’s not split hairs here) and Super Vixens, along with The Wicked Warden from the Ilsa series. This isn’t to say there weren’t any good booths selling rare sought after books, quite the contrary, our own Cosmic Comics! had a wide open corner lot, Alternate Reality Comics weren’t too far away, and plenty of other exhibitors from California and Arizona brought some of their best graded, rarest, and newest comics to sell to the comic hungry convention goers. I admit some were charging “convention prices” for wares, but the possibility of finding that book you’ve been looking for forever, and discovering a diamond in the rough were also incredibly possible. We were so busy on Sunday that I didn’t do my shopping until about 30 minutes before the closing of the expo hall, and snagged the first run of Chew: Secret Agent Poyo, a few issues of Danger Girl/G.I. Joe, Rob Liefeld‘s Savage Hawkman #0, and a first run I, Vampire of the “New 52″ for 1/2 off. In some cases it pays to procrastinate, but who knows, maybe I missed the chance to grab a book I didn’t know I was looking for until I saw it…does that make sense?
In my eyes the Las Vegas Comic Expo was a huge success and I hope the team in charge felt it’s success also. It was large enough to fill two days, had a home town feel, and the ability to talk among nerd gods of comic books was amazing. The majority of the public reaction to the expo felt positive and with a few tweaks here and there, the Las Vegas Comic Expo could become a huge deal. Let’s hope for the best, but aim for having another great expo next year.
Burke
Back to the Farm.
Burke
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