Contropolis is a brand new convention brought to you by the producers of Rhode Island Comic Con, starting with its inaugural event in Pennsylvania! From May 5-7, the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA was the home to the very first Contropolis PA. With over 50 special guests and nearly 150 vendors & artists, it was an action-packed weekend complete with panels, speed dating, lightsaber training, and even an after party!
Fans of Star Wars, Clerks, Wrestling, Pokemon, and others were able to meet a wide range of celebrities. Some notable guests from the weekend included Cary Elwes, Edward Furlong, Corey Feldman, Michael Biehn, and voice actors Grey Delisle, Steve Downes, and Loren Lester.
In addition to each day’s panel programming where you could not only hear from the special guests but have the opportunity to ask your own questions, most guests were available all weekend for meet & greets, autographing, and photo ops. Bring your favorite collectibles to get signed, or choose from a fine selection of table photos… or even find something new on the Contropolis Show Floor!
You can find a unique variety of merchandise for sale at Contropolis like hand-drawn copper art (Jackie’s Copper Creations, above), 3D printed items, custom shadow boxes, FiGPiNs, video games, action figures, lightsabers, and even LARP items from Merchant of Many Things. Not to mention all of the fan favorite products like art prints, Funko Pops, Lego mini figures, Pokemon cards, and tons of comic books:
Popular comic book vendors like Origin Comic, Groundbreaking Comics, and Pleasant View Comics were offering their best deals on single issues, signed comics, and even graded books. And with an Artist Alley that included names like Jae Lee, Alex Saviuk, Scott Hanna, Jim Salicrup, and Sam de la Rosa, you could utilize the services of JSA for autograph authentication or CBCS for witnessed signature slabbing.
Artist Alley was also filled with a number of local & indie artists and crafters who had fan art featuring all of the top franchises. Whether you’re looking for anime, Marvel, Nintendo, or a creator-owned original… it was all there! Feel free to pick up something pre-made or commission an original art piece to take home that very weekend! And we can’t forget about Ink Fusion offering the freshest tattoos on the spot!
Contropolis PA did not fail to deliver on the full “con experience”! On top of the hands-on shopping, there were many immersive experiences like a life-size Appa (above) from Avatar: The Last Airbender, Star Wars Saber Guild and Mid-Atlantic Droids & Prop Builders, an impressive anime-centric storefront by Gamers Heaven, and iconic car replicas (1966 Batmobile, the Munsters Car, Jurassic Park Jeep, Ghostbusters Ecto 1-M, Jetsons Spacecar, Monkeemobile, and K.I.T.T.). But just as you’d find at most conventions, the fans’ cosplay here was quite impressive, too!
Get lost in the magic as you feast your eyes on some of the best cosplay around! And with a contest held for both kids & adults, you’re bound to see a few cosplayers that will leave a lasting impression! But you’ll just have to check it all out for yourself… when Contropolis PA returns May 10-12, 2024! In the meantime, check out our full photo gallery and stay tuned on the official Contropolis PA website for upcoming announcements.
LesDudis 