If the San Diego Comic-Con could be compared to a special occasion Michelin star dinner, the Colorado Springs Comic Con might be the equivalent of a wholesome plate of your favorite Mac ‘n Cheese at your friendly neighborhood restaurant. You won’t have to get a reservation way in advance, the sticker shock won’t knock you off your feet, and you most definitely will run into at least one or two known friendly faces by accident. I experienced my Saturday at CSCC 2019 just like that and loved every second of it. It was my first year attending and it will for sure not be my last. The location, a former Sears in a local mall, is quirky and makes for a comfortable and easy experience. There is lots to explore, with enough breathing room, and plenty of parking space close-by. And even with NDK being held on the same weekend in Denver, the attendee turnout seemed just about right to make it a great time for all.
The 2019 celebrity guest list, headlined by Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, and everyone’s favorite nightmare bringer, Robert Englund, was diverse. It included stars from many fan-favorite franchises, the “Walking Dead,” “Power Rangers,” and “Star Wars,” to name just a few. The lineup of featured creators, writers, and the Artist Alley was equally impressive. The Con offered a great mix of content for comic book and pop culture fanatics of all ages.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the artists, attractions, and vendor areas surprised me in the most positive way. CSCC was a good-sized nerdy shoppers paradise with anything from vintage toys to unique handmade jewelry, amazing art, and fantastic accessories. In addition to shopping your fan-heart out, there was much else to see and to do around the con grounds. Countless cosplayers were show-casting impressive outfits and cosplay skills. It was easy to see how much attendees loved to ask for pictures with those who came dressed up as their favorite characters.
The convention overall had an incredibly positive and friendly vibe, it felt like a true community event. I had the chance to talk to a few attendees and the most common reply when asking what they liked most about the Con was, “we just love the atmosphere”. Many appeared to be regulars who planned on coming back. Tim and Tom for example attended CSCC for the second year. They are both local and not only donned fantastic cosplay outfits but also said they loved the event for the great participation all around and it’s community aspect.
In addition to the vendors, the artists, and cosplayers, attractions included the A-Team Van, Jurassic Thunder, A Hellscream escape room, and free samples from a Slurpee truck. There were also a lot of additional exhibits to enjoy. The 501st Legion booth was one of those. In addition to bringing the Star Wars magic to life, it was one of the places to enter into a raffle to win a Secret Lab Gaming chair. Proceeds were going to the Magic Wheelchair Organization, a truly fantastic nonprofit that builds epic wheelchair costumes for young cosplayers at no cost to their families. One of these magical wheelchairs was given to Power Ranger Anthony during the Power Ranger Panel at CSCC. Events like this make it clear how much good there is amongst the fandom communities if people focus on bringing it forward.
Aside from the amazing atmosphere and the general buzz on the con grounds, the intimate panel room was another highlight. Yes, it could get a bit noisy as the area was only closed off by curtains, but it’s hard to beat the small setup. The panels felt like casual conversations and even in the last row, you didn’t miss a thing happening on stage. I had the pleasure of attending both, the Star Wars panel, and William Shatner’s captain’s log conversation.
As a mildly obsessed fan myself, it was hard to not grin throughout the whole “Star Wars” panel. It was just so much fun. The panelists Mark Dodson, Brian Herring, Mike Quinn, and Felix Silla did a fantastic job connecting with the audience. Every question sparked hilarious answers and heartwarming stories. Felix Silla shared that one of his favorite memories from working on “Star Wars” was throwing rocks at Stormtroopers. Mike Quinn said what most fans feel in their heart, that the experience just keeps on giving. “Star Wars” is not just pop culture, it is culture. Mark Dodson mentioned the wonderful atmosphere during filming and how George Lucas treated everyone on set just as great as the lead actors. Brian Herring reminded us that he was a giant fan himself when he first walked on set. He also told a story about a report card he received as a student, that (falsely) predicted his obsession with “Star Wars” would lead nowhere, so he should focus on his academics. This was met with much laughter from the audience.
The questions continued and were answered with a lot of enthusiasm, charm, and wit from the whole panel and a few fantastic voice expressions from Mark Dodson. The last question focused on why “Star Wars” generates such a big draw across generations. The conclusions from the panel were, “it’s exciting, a western in space, full of generational myth, and at its core a human story that connects with us on a personal level” – a perfect way to end a perfect panel.
The legendary William Shatner played in a league of his own. People had lined up early and the room was packed. He charmed the audience in no time by starting out with talking about one of his big passions, horse racing. This topic also sparked one of the most quotable lines of the event, “I’m Captain Kirk, I don’t wear a helmet”. Listening to his stories, it’s easy to see that he’s not just passionate about horses, he’s a true celebrity equestrian. He also just won a world championship at the Kentucky state fair with his horse Track Star. In addition to sharing his love for the sport, he recounted entertaining snippets from his acting career and mentioned his new show “UnXplained.”
An audience favorite moment was his account of the time when he and his co-stars on “Better Late Than Never” were confronted with fermented canned fish. I had not yet seen this episode and was laughing hard at his description of the scene. For those with a robust stomach, it is definitely worth a watch.
Taken together, my day at CSCC 2019 was pure fandom joy amongst a welcoming community. My only regret is missing out on the Cosplay Contest, which was held on Sunday. It’s definitely worth attending this friendly neighborhood con, even just for a day.
Written by AnotherGalaxyFarFarAway
