Long time readers know that there are few conventions I love as much as the Cincinnati Comic Expo. This flourishing Midwest con has long been a favourite destination of mine, and this year is no exception. And, I’m pleased to say, with an expanded show floor and an impressive line up of creatives and guests, this year’s con might very well be the best I’ve ever seen.
So let’s dive into my day one experience and get to the nitty gritty of what makes this con so special.
Right off the bat, if you’re planning on coming to this con you 100% need to do Friday. I know the hours are shorter (2 pm-8 pm for VIP and 3 pm-8 pm for general admission) but Friday is always my favourite day.
For one thing, the crowds are smaller, and for another the major celebs usually do Sat-Sun so you have a chance to scope out the floor and make a plan of attack for the weekend. And trust me, with how many people are going to show up the next day, you’ll want a plan in mind.
This year, clearly being aware of how cramped it was last year, the event organizers spread the con over a wider area, moving the entrance to the hallway and expanding the isles and show floor tremendously. The result was probably the most comfortable I have ever felt walking a show floor since COVID. Several vendors told me how much more spacious and open it felt this year, and how much easier it was to navigate the con. We’ll see today if the Saturday crush is mitigated to a Saturday gentle nudge!
Another real advantage to Friday is you can get in and get to creatives without having to fight the crowds. I spoke with several artists and had plenty of time to chat with some dynamite creators without having to push and shove my way to the tables.
One artist I was very excited to see again was Archie Comics artist and creative Jeff Shultz. Jeff has worked in Archie comics for a while, and whipped up an amazing Veronica Wonder Woman cover for me in a shockingly quick time. He also had a number of original pieces for very, very good prices, and so I was very happy to throw down a lot of cash on his table, and I walked away with several great new display pieces I can’t wait to post.
I also had a very nice conversation with creator and writer Ted Sikora of Hero Tomorrow Comics. He and I chatted about the history of the shared universe he and his team of writers and artists have put together and I have to say, it’s some pretty exciting stuff. I grabbed a big stack of their most recent offerings so rest assured I’ll be talking about them in an upcoming review.
Well designed, competently run, and overall brilliantly managed, the Cincinnati Comic Expo continues to be a must attend con for anyone in the Midwest. I’m heading back for Saturday to see the big crowds, and I’ll let you all know how it goes. Rest assured, if the rest of this weekend runs as well as Friday, one of the best in the Midwest may have gotten even better!
Onward to day two! Until then, stay safe!
