There’s a well-known, partly tongue-in-cheek saying, that every Torontonian knows: The City of Toronto sees two seasons – winter and construction.
With the gut-bursting pop culture excitement of this coming long weekend, I’m wondering if we can’t add a third season into the mix, even if it is a relatively short one! Canada’s largest and most anticipated pop culture experience that ranges from comic books to movies and television to anime to gaming to toys…and so much more… is finally back!
Fan Expo Canada 2017 is here!
After waiting through twelve months of winter and construction, the most eye-popping weekend of the year begins on Thursday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and runs through Sunday afternoon. And, of course, Biff Bam Pop! will be there!
Here, then, is our prelude to all the sights, sounds, symposiums, breakout sessions, photo-ops and merchandise you need to experience over the coming four days…
With an expectation of over 129,000 people in attendance this year, make sure you hydrate, wear comfy shoes, and follow us around the pop culture floor of Fan Expo Canada 2017!
At last!
We’re one sleep away from fun, frolics, sights and sounds of #FXC17…and searching the depths of your wallet for an extra few bucks to get that last, great, pop culture doo-dad (which generally tends to happens every single day of #FXC17).
No worries – beginning this Thursday morning, Biff Bam Pop! will be with you every step of the way with daily posts that highlight the comings and goings of Day 1 to Day 4 of Fan Expo Canada 2017.
That said, after months of following various twitter feeds and constantly visiting the Fan Expo Canada webpage, here’s a brief prelude of the things you’ll need to check out during the convention!
COMICS & TOYS & MORE
Comic books are my main attraction to pop culture conventions like these, and Fan Expo Canada has gone out of their way to make sure the 2017 edition of the con is the biggest and best yet. Here’s a short list of some popular people and events to check out that fall in line with everyone’s favourite literary pop culture medium – plus toys and such!
Shopping, Booths & Exhibitors
No matter what specific elements you came to see, the booths and exhibitors that make up Fan Expo Canada are the lifeblood that brought you here…and keep you coming back. There’s over 400,000 square feet of retail space here, complete with stuffed emojj, superhero pajamas, jewelry, hats and t-shirts, original artwork and prints, toys, comic books, art supplies, pop culture stamps and a whole lot more. If you can think it, it’s here. If you need to find it, you will!
All The Batmen
Well, it may be gender specific, but if you’re a fan of the Caped Crusader, this con has got your number! DC Comics is going through a big crossover story (or two) right now, and Batman is front in center. Luckily for Toronto, all of the writers and artists working on those books are here at one (long) table! These industry legends include: Jim Lee, Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Tom King, Jason Fabok & more! Look for meet-and-greets, panels and signing opportunities!
John Bolton
Let me just say that the legendary John Bolton is a fave artist of mine – and one of the reasons that I read comic books today! His serialized Marada the She Wolf in the pages of Epic Comics in the early to mid 1980’s was some of the first comic books that I ever read. You can read about that experience here. Hailing for England, Bolton rarely makes his way to this side of the pond, so it’s been great that Fan Expo Canada got him over here. Currently, he’s showcasing his latest work with co-attendee, Lovern Kindzierski, and their collaborative Shame trilogy, recently collected in an amazing hardcover. Look for their artist/writer table signings every day, and their breakout session on Saturday, and be sure to check out our exclusive interview with John Bolton this Thursday morning!
Thor: Ragnarok Costume Exhibit
November the 3rd’s most eagerly anticipated film is racing towards its cinematic release. Open all weekend long in the North Building, you’ll find the amazing costumes and props that make up the movie! It’s a Canadian exclusive showing!
Cosplay
It’s truly unbelievable how popular dressing up as your favourite Pikachu, manga or superhero character has become. And it’s truly outstanding how intricate those costumes are, created by fans who are, for all intents and purposes, amateurs at stitching, woodworking and metal-smithing! Cosplay, and photographing ourselves with all of these creative people, is the colour and awe that make Fan Expo Canada so fun! There’s a Cosplay Masquerade and a Kids Costume Contest happening this week. Look around – and snap those photos!
Speed Dating
Looking to share your heart with someone who loves The Sandman as much as you do? It doesn’t matter what your persuasion is, you can find it in the Fan Expo Canada Speed Dating forums! It’s on-site sign up only, so get there early! If you’re over 19, who know…you might just find the pop culture love of your life!
GAMING
Role-play, LARP, board games, cards, and video. Fan Expo Canada has all the games! Here are some features to check out:
Retro Arcade
Remember all of those coin-op, stand up, video games you used to play at the local billiard or arcade hall when you were a kid? Maybe not. Maybe you’re too young to remember – and that’s OK. Those places were full of smoke and shady characters anyway…but the games were the best there ever was! Asteroids. Spyhunter. Dig Dug. Wizards & Warriors. Ms. Pac-Man! Check them all out, every day of the Con, in Room 201 of the North Building!
Cards Against Humanity – Live
Who doesn’t love the black comedy of this card game? How about watching it play out in front out of you – live on stage! This particular program is suggested for those 18+, so you know it’s going to be devastatingly funny!
MOVIES & TELEVISION
Television and cinema stars are the biggest of the big attractions at Fan Expo Canada…and some of the celebrities the Con has got this year are the biggest names you could ask for! Check out Tim Curry and The Rocky Horror Picture Show Experience, visit the Doctor Who Escape Rooms 1, 2, 3, Celebrate Buffy’s 20th Anniversary and meet, greet and get photo-ops and signatures with actors Richard Dreyfuss (Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind), Anthony Daniels (C-3P0 of Star Wars fame), Kathleen Turner (Romancing the Stone), Matt Smith (Doctor Who), Meat Loaf (Rocky Horror Picture Show, Fight Club), Jason Issacs (Star Trek Discovery, Harry Potter) & many more!
You can scout ahead and discover and plan dozens of more attractions right here! See you at this very space for our Day 1 Fan Expo Canada 2017 Guide on Thursday morning!
Follow @JPFallavollita and @BiffBamPop for play-by-play, pics and info as they roam the rooms, booths and floors of #FXC17!
Fan Expo Canada runs from Thursday, August 31 to Sunday, September 3 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. For schedules, tickets and information, visit their web page at: www.fanexpocanada.com
Reblogged this on JP Fallavollita.