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By Spencer Ellsworth Nick Roche got his start as a comics artist at IDW Publishing, illustrating and soon writing the company’s incarnation of
Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Anime Conji, Breath Of Bones, Calgary Comic Book & Entertainment Expo, Comics, Dark Delicacies, entertainment, Fan Expo Vancouver, Gaslight IV:The Expedition, hellboy, Kingdom Con, Kraken Con, Norwescon, Sabukon, Sakura Con, wondercon
Things To Do On The West Coast In April If You Like Comics
By Michele Brittany, a West Coast Bleeding Cool Correspondent
There are some huge cons taking place in the month of April! Here's a quick listing of events for the month stretching from Calgary to San Diego and several places in between. What events are you planning to attend?
British Columbia
FanExpo is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. It boasts being the Canada's largest comicon and is being held April 18 – 20th at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. There are still ticket packages available at their website including a coupon allowing kids 12 and under in free (you have to print the coupon). Only same day tickets for sale at the box office.
Calgary Comic Book & Entertainment Expo is being held April 25 – 27th at the BMO Centre. There are Friday and Sunday passes still available, but note separate passes are sold for kids. Weekend and Saturday passes are sold out and there are no onsite sales. Featured events include Aliens Exposed with several of the franchise's stars including Sigourney Weaver and Lance Henriksen.
California
Hellboy: The First 20 Years Book Signing, Burbank, April 5. Dark Delicacies hosts a book signing with Mike Mignola, starting at 2 PM. The hardcover is available for $19.99.
Breath of Bones: A Tale of the Golem Book Signing, Burbank, April 5. Dark Delicacies hosts a book signing with writer Steve Niles, started at 2 PM. The hardcover is available for $14.99.
Kraken Con, Oakland Convention Center, Sunday, April 6. This one-day con focuses on "anime, cartoons and comics with a heavy emphasis on whimsy, imagination and the creative process." The show runs from 9AM to 6 PM and costs $15 (online or at the door).
WonderCon, April 18th – 20th at the Anaheim Convention Center. I reported last month that badges were not being sold at the door and fortunately if you haven't purchased a ticket, there are still Sunday-only passes available online for $15 ($8 for teens, military, and seniors). This is one of the Southern California con events not to be missed and I recommend it highly!
Anime Conji, San Diego's Sheraton Hotel & Marina, April 18 – 20. In it's fifth year, the con features the best of Japanese anime, culture and entertainment by bringing together cosplayers, gamers, and fans. Special guests, karaoke, gaming, dances, of course an artist alley, and more are some of the featured events. Three-day badges run $40 for adults and cheaper for kids. Discounted group rates are available and one-day passes available at the con only. Please note that if you have a military ID, you will need to purchase your badge at the con to get the discount. Doors open daily at 9 AM.
Kingdom-con, San Diego, April 24 – 27. Held at the San Diego Crowne Plaza, if you are into gaming, this is the con for you! Competitions, panels, LARPs, RGPs, card games as well as casual play fill this four-day event. Single day and four-day passes are available online. If money is a little tight, the con is looking for volunteers.
Nevada
It began as the Anime Day Vegas in 2011 and became Sabukon in 2013. In it's fourth year, this anime event is being held April 26 – 27 at the Alexis Park All Suite Resort in sunny Las Vegas. The con has lots to offer: masquerades, art contests, panels, and cosplay chess as well as plenty of dealers selling their wares and an artist alley. At the door passes for Saturday or Sunday cost $25, or for the weekend, $45.
Washington
Norwescon, running April 17 – 20 at the Sea-Tac is the premiere Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention for the Pacific Northwest. Now in its 37th year, it will be held at the Double Tree by Hilton Seattle Airport, which is offering special pricing for con-goers. The con's focus is primarily a literary one however a short list of other events include gaming, masquerades, fashion show, lazer tag and a zombie walk. Weekend passes ($75) and single-day passes ($35 – $45) are available at the door, but is subject to availability.
In it's 16th year, Sakura-Con is presented by Asia Northwest Cultural Education Association and is being held this year, April 18 – 20 at the Washington State Convention Center (same location as the Emerald City Comic-Con!). Boasting of over 100,000 square feet of anime goodness: exhibition halls full of gaming, cosplay, dances, art contests, vendors/exhibitors, and several industry guests. Pre-registration has closed so it's $65 at the door. Note: Children under 18 are required to have an attending registered adult with them.
Looking ahead to May…Get your tickets now for Gaslight IV: The Expedition, scheduled for May 2 – 4. Many of my steampunk friends have said how much fun this event is, especially since it's held in San Diego's Gaslight District. The weekend is packed with concerts, balls, a fashion show (gentlemen's apparel), panels and presentations, Victorian tea, and many other events. At the door weekend passes cost $60 as well as single day passes ranging from $10 to $35. Note that entrance to some of the premiere events have their own admission price.
See you next month with event listings for May!
Michele Brittany is an independent popular culture scholar and semi-professional photographer currently editing an upcoming anthology on the influence of James Bond on popular culture. She regularly posts reviews and analysis on the spy/espionage genre on her blog, Spyfi & Superspies.
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