The Con-Fluence Cons-of-the-Month: September Edition

With shows like San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), Star Wars Celebration and Fan Expo Canada in the rear view mirror, the summer is coming to a close and September brings us a few of the best shows of the year. This month the con map takes us all over the country, as we find the best of the best!

Here are my top five cons of September, 2012:

5. MorrisonCon: Las Vegas, NV (September 28^th-30^th)

Leading off for my picks of September is an extremely unique con that is bursting onto the scene for the very first time. MorrisonCon is the new Grant Morrison and friends show that is billing itself as a bit more of a party or an “experience” than a traditional con. With an extremely small (and powerful!) line-up MorrisonCon is giving attendees unprecedented access to the stars in a much more unique atmosphere. That beings said, the high ticket price to get in the door has been a criticism from some. Regardless, we’ll see if the show is worth the price of admission when this new wave show hits Vegas at the end of the month. For more information visit http://morrisoncon.com/

4. Las Vegas Comic Expo: Las Vegas, NV (September 28^th-30^th)

While many cities across the country yearn for a con to come their way, Las Vegaswill have two comic conventions going on simultaneously. While MorrisonCon is opening its doors for a very pricey and unique experience, the Las Vegas Comic Expo will be opening its doors to a more conventional, and in many ways preferential, convention experience. With a large and diverse guest list, this is the quintessential comic-con. I expect to see a large variety of old and new comics to accompany a line-up of “must see” creators. For more information visit http://lasvegascomicexpo.com/

 

3. Baltimore Comic-Con: Baltimore, MD (September 8^th-9^th)

Similar to the Las Vegas Comic Expo, Baltimore Comic-Con bills itself as a true comic convention. With a rich history of successful shows, Baltimoreis able to attract a guest list that rivals some of the best in America. Once again the Baltimore Comic-Con will bring out the heavy hitters as the likes of Stan Lee, Neal Adams, Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Mark Waid and a ton more will make the city their home for the weekend. This show really is paradise for comic fanboys. For more information visit http://baltimorecomiccon.com/

 

2. DragonCon: Atlanta, GA (August 31^st –September 3^rd)

I’ll be honest, I’ve thought about my ranking of this show for the last several months. It has a strong history and is a consistently great show. That being said, I ultimately decided to give the top spot to a different show and that rationale is included below. With that in mind, I cannot overstate what a tremendous product DragonCon puts out for their shows. There are only a handful of shows in all of Americathat rival it and it is truly a spectacle to behold. In addition to a great guest list and strong programming, there is probably no better cosplay show in the nation (including SDCC!). The passion for the con scene is very evident at this show and it definitely should be on everyone’s “bucket list” on conventions. Like Fan Expo Canada, this is definitely a show that I would make an 8-10 hour drive to attend and am considering the flight out for in 2013. For more information visit http://www.dragoncon.org/

 

The Con-Fluence Pick of the Month:

 

1. Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo: Los Angeles, CA (September 15^th -16^th):

I’ll admit it was a very difficult choice for this month’s number one spot. With all of the great things that consistently go on at DragonCon, it is difficult to go out on a limb for a show that is only in its sophomore season. That being said, I’ve not seen a con bust onto the scene with this type of momentum before. Having been the person that predicted Comikaze would rival SDCC in nearly every facet within 10 years, I can’t go against them now and expect anything less than total shock and awesomeness. After seeing the production they put on last year with only three people on staff, it is hard to imagine what this year’s show will be like with not only a year of maturity under their belt, but the addition of Stan Lee to the team. The Comikaze team knows there’s a lot of pressure on this year’s show and they plan to deliver. I could go on and on about plans I’ve heard thus far, but I think there are so many surprises in store for the next few weeks that I’m going to just say keep an eye on their website and be ready for anything: http://comikazeexpo.com/

 

As always, I hope this list gives you an idea of the best on the con-scene this month. Make sure to check back frequently for more info on the best of everything CON, and make sure to follow me on Twitter for updates on these shows and more: @The_Con_Fluence.