C2E2 2020: A Weekend Of Escapist Fandom Delight

This past weekend, the McCormick Place in Chicago hosted the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo. For those who don’t know, this event, more affectionately known as C2E2, has been around since 2010. I myself have gone several years since its start and let me tell you, it keeps getting better each year.

If you’re not from the area, this convention is dedicated to all things that make geeks like me happy: comics, pop culture, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Each year the show floor is full of vendors selling everything from stickers to shirts to collectibles, there are artists, entertainment guests, and panels.

The Yard was the latest addition to the show floor, which ended up being my favorite spot this year because it gave my group a place to chill and not miss the action as there was live music and trivia along with other yard games like giant Jenga and a big Connect Four style game. Not only was there a beer stand, but when I went on Friday there was a wine tasting corner where I not only got to try Stephen Amell’s wine and Emily Bett Rickard’s wine, but got to chat with them for a few minutes while sampling. I still have not calmed down from that chance encounter.

This year the family headquarters had plenty of action all weekend long including R2 Builders, workshops so kids can learn new skills (playing with clay or making a puppet), an interactive zone including Quidditch lessons!, a LEGO freeplay area, and much more.

As usual, the convention goers were split with about half in cosplay while everyone else opted for comfortable clothing. There were the usual Harley Quinn, Joker, Batman cosplays, but this year there was a fantastic Game of Thrones group cosplay and the unique cosplays of Captain Obvious and Cousin Eddie. If you don’t already follow us on Twitter or Facebook, you should so you can check out the pictures there. 

A big draw for me each year is the panels: an hour dedicated to themed topics. This year Joe Hill, George Takei, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Savage, and more had their own panels. Other topics included horror authors of today, using comics in the classroom, writing for comics, I could go on. Unfortunately, the panels filled up quickly so of the ones I wanted to see, I was only able to attend the Farewell to Arrow panel featuring Stephen Amell and Emily Bett Rickards, but I enjoyed it so much I was okay with that being my only panel.

If you’re a geek and able to come out to the Chicago area, you should try to make it C2E2 one year. They’ve already set the dates for next year (end of March) so start planning your trip now. For more information on next year’s convention, be sure to follow them on Facebook.

Christina Ortega

Writer, bookworm, geek in too many fandoms to name, Indianapolis Colts and Chicago White Sox fan.