There’s no better cure for the winter blues than the costumes, creations and community of the Toronto ComiCON. Toronto ComiCON, presented by Fan Expo Canada (the people who take my money every summer) was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre last weekend, and hosted vendors and guests that both comic and anime enthusiasts could enjoy. Guests, including local artists Leonard Kirk (X-factor) and Agnes Garbowska (My Little Pony) signed comics and artwork for fans while the cast of Evil Dead: The Musical entertained the crowd to promote their show. Fanboys and fangirls dressed up as their favourite characters and shopped for the perfect item to make their collections complete.
I’ve been going to conventions for nearly ten years and am usually skeptical of the single-day shows. The guests and vendors tend to be the same, and they usually focus on back issues (old single issue comics) and expensive collectibles that I covet but cannot afford. This convention surprised me. It had all that and more. The vendors’ area was massive and had everything from recently released action figures (one of my many weaknesses) to handmade fandom Christmas decorations. Artist Alley was filled with small press, self-publishers, and indie artists. I was surprised how few I recognized from previous cons.
Most importantly, a feeling of community was alive and well in the halls of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre’s South Building. As one attendee stated, “There is no judgement here.” Similarly to Fan Expo or San Diego Comic Con, people felt comfortable enough to dress up and express themselves. Boundaries like gender and age are easily blurred on a convention floor. Women can dress as men. Men can dress as women. People can (and do) dress as animals if they want to. Anything goes, and when I asked attendees “Why do you come to conventions?” the response was overwhelmingly the same -Camaraderie. Conventions are places where you can meet people who automatically have one thing in common with you. You may not like the same superhero or watch the same show, but you understand the devotion that others have for it. I have friends that I talk to regularly that I met sitting in line at a convention. We’re not strangers. In my experience, geeks always find each other.
The Toronto ComiCON was a great way to spend a chilly December afternoon and a wonderful place to network and make some new friends. If you’re interested in attending a convention, but are hesitant because of the crowds and scale of the summer convention scene, you may want to dip your toe into the water by heading to one of these smaller cons. You can have a great experience for a reasonable price and see what all the fuss is about. Fan Expo’s next convention is in March. I can’t wait to see you there.
Let us know why you do/do not go to conventions in the comments or @FreshPrintMag!