Ah, it’s almost that wonderful time of the year…no, not Christmas! The time for conventions approaches. And with society returning to normal a bit in the last few months, we may have our first real conventions in a long time. Understandably, all major comic conventions were canceled or taken to virtual settings last year for safety reasons. Thankfully, restrictions have loosened in California lately. That means we get our first in-person events in a while! If you haven’t heard, San Diego Comic-Con is holding a Special Edition event the weekend of Thanksgiving. However, they weren’t able to prepare for full-scale as they wanted. That said, LA Comic-Con has announced today that they will be returning to full-scale in-person events this year! They also have an impressive catalog of special guests and events ready. Let’s dive into what they’ve got for us.
LA Comic Con’s 6th Annual National Cosplay Championship
Besides the actual panels and merch, cosplay is easily one of the most popular parts of conventions. With things being virtual last year, many weren’t able to show off their skills and appreciation. Simply put, it’s a way for fans to connect on a personal level with the characters and media they love. Well, LA Comic-Con intends to bring this back in force. They are once again hosting the National Cosplay Championship this year. Cosplayers can participate at the Master, Journeyman, or Novice level. With so much pop culture content released in the last couple of years, it’s sure to be popular.
First-Ever West Hall Expansion
For those in the area, the LA Convention Center is known as a huge place. With multiple different halls, cons have been able to hold multiple different sets of pop culture all at the same time. This year, LA Comic-Con will expand into the West Hall of the Convention Center. This decision was made to give more room for booths and exhibits, as well as an e-sports arena to watch some competitive gaming. Special guests from the gaming and voice-actor community are also expected to make appearances at LA Comic-Con.
Special Guests Galore
What’s an LA Comic-Con without special guest appearances right? This event promises some big ones this year. One of which is Shazam’s own Zachary Levi! Also well-known as Flynn Rider from Tangled, the quirky actor will be getting a spotlight feature. The English cast of My Hero Academia is also expected to hold a panel, along with some of the voice cast of Spongebob Squarepants. A couple of members of The Mandalorian cast will be there, including the infamous Giancarlo Esposito (of Breaking Bad and Far Cry 6). There will even be some classic shows in attendance, such as Smallville and Boy Meets World. Oh, and did I mention the cast of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers?? As expected, there will also be a fair amount of artist and creator spotlights.
A convention, especially a big-time one like this or San Diego Comic-Con, can be quite daunting. If this is your first time going to a con, be sure to read our handy prep guide. LA Comic-Con is expected to be a tour de force this year. If you’re interested in going, the event will be from December 3-5, 2021 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Information and tickets can be found on their website. Above all, have fun! And see you there.
