I’ve heard a lot of great things about Fan Expo Boston (formerly Boston Comic Con), so you can imagine how excited I was to finally attend!
Held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) in the heart of Massachusetts, thousands of comic book and pop culture fans gathered from August 10-12, 2018 to celebrate every kind of fandom you can name – from Back To The Future to anime, Star Wars to Overwatch, and even cosplaying & comic book tattoo artists!
I was completely amazed by the magnitude of this con! With over 200 vendors, there was a little something for every kind of collector. Here are some booths that stood out to me, but be sure to check out my full gallery on Facebook and my video at the end of this post!
Re-Petes features one of a kind furniture that incorporates all of your favorite toys! He demonstrated that not only is it a great way to temporarily display your statues, figures, and prop replicas, but it also allows you to remove & repose them too!
Take a look above at some of the great large scale figures (i.e. NECA, Marvel, etc.) and even a repainted Kenner Millennium Falcon!
Then there’s Ashley at Plantcycled who had these fantastic Pokemon terrariums in the shape of Pokeballs!
You could customize any Pokeball with the buckets & buckets of mini Pokemon she had at the show, and the Pokeballs even come in different sizes! Gotta catch ’em all!
Corgli & Co. is a vendor I happily stumbled upon at the con – and, I mean, look at those great prints!
Not only is Corgli great art but he’s also a webtoon! Join him & his silly friends and collect some prints, stickers, buttons, and notepads while you’re at it!
And lastly, 3D Printing by Muckychris with his amazing 3D printed statues, lightswitch covers, and keychains, as well as his creative t-shirts & stickers!
This time, Chris brought along one of his 3D printers so that you can witness the fascinating process of developing his cool creations. It’s always great to see the new products he comes up with!
With hundreds of other vendors, it’s impossible to buy everything you like (be sure to budget before your next comic con) but you need to be sure to save enough for the special guests too! In fact, Fan Expo Boston brought in over 100 comic artists as well as 25 celebrity guests.
The biggest draw this year was the Back To The Future reunion with Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Tom Wilson, and Lea Thompson! With a Friday night panel, photo ops, a screen accurate DeLorean, and autograph sessions, you can only imagine how many red puffer vests I saw!
Not only that, look at this growing stack of electric guitars and hover boards signed by the cast! These are being authenticated by one of the best in the industry, Beckett Authentication Services (as seen on History Channel’s Pawn Stars).
While I didn’t get a chance to meet the Back To The Future crew, I did get to see some others like legendary creator Jim Lee:
While at the con, I was able to chat with many attendees who have been faithful Boston Comic Con fans over the years. With this being only the second Fan Expo iteration of the con, a few fans expressed great gratitude that the show was able to get Jim Lee, who last appeared over 8 years ago.
Jim had 3 special engagement signings and a panel planned on Saturday. I attended the Ultimate Jim Lee CGC/CBCS Experience (Extremely Limited Quantities) which included a 16×22 Limited Edition Batman Lithograph signed by Jim, 3 CGC/CBCS witnessed autographs, a selfie, a commemorative ticket, and guaranteed seating at his panel.
Even though it was his birthday (Happy Birthday, Jim!), he was very patient and very kind – not rushed at all!
He even brought some rare prints and pages for sale, which would later be transferred to his booth downstairs. If you’re wondering what the difference was between the sessions, the one I attended only differs by the witnessed comic book grading (with additional submission fees). I can’t wait to get my books back!
I also got to meet Amy Jo Johnson (the original Pink Power Ranger) for a photo op and a few autographs. She was so great to her fans! I was able to get my San Diego Comic Con exclusive comic signed by her:
And I also got a few more comics signed by Rob Paulsen, Maurice LaMarche, and Creees HyunSung Lee!
It was so exciting to meet all of these different vendors and guests, but it wouldn’t be a complete trip to a comic con without swinging by some other iconic booths:
The 501st Legion New England Garrison really outdid themselves this year with a Mos Eisley Cantina recreation!
They had the bar scene, the Dejarik chess table, a life-size K-2SO, and even the iconic “Han shot first” booth with Greedo:
And of course, with a comic con you have to have comics and the DC Boutique did not disappoint! There was tons of apparel, comics, exclusives, and even freebies!
Another highlight was the Eastern Qualifier for Fan Expo’s very first Masters of Cosplay Grand Prix. Held in Toronto on September 1, 2018, the Masters of Cosplay Grand Prix will showcase the best cosplayers competing for the ultimate prize of $5,000. A job well done to all those who participated!
Be sure to check out the video at the end of this post because Fan Expo Boston is a comic con that isn’t to be missed!
It may seem overwhelming at first, but hopefully my preview gave you a little glimpse of what to expect at this amazing show. Remember to always plan ahead and ask questions in advance! But most importantly, always remember to enjoy and have a good time!
Check out Fan Expo Boston at their website and stay tuned for details on their 2019 comic con!
LesDudis 