Comic Con Revolution is a love letter to comic book enthusiasts by comic book enthusiasts.
“We came from working huge cons and met at Wizard World,” said Drew Seldin, co-founder of Comic Con Revolution, in a phone interview. “We were working cons all over the country, and we got the idea from asking ourselves, ‘How would I do this if I were in charge?’ and we built a show that represented that from guests, environment and location to create this family-friendly, affordable, and amazing convention.”
In 2017, Seldin and co-founders Mike Scigliano and James Ross produced the first Comic Con Revolution, which will return to the Ontario Convention Center for its eighth year on Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18.
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The trio didn’t just throw a dart at a U.S. map in their search for the perfect city to host their convention; they did some research. Seldin and his fellow comic-enthusiasts drew up a list of qualities they wished for their ideal city, mainly hoping to find one hungry for pop culture and comics.
When they landed in Ontario, they did some door-knocking at comic shops and talked to their owners and community to see if it was the right fit, and it was. The closest conventions to the Inland Empire were Los Angeles Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con, but a substantial number of residents were underserved when it came to comic-focused conventions.
“With respect to Ontario and the Inland Empire, it’s a tremendous community,” he said. “They love their pop culture, and the city has a building big enough to handle it, so all those things came together. It’s far enough away from L.A., and we’re certainly far enough away from San Diego. We built a comic con that has everything a big show can offer, from celebrities to top-tier talent, incredible paneling, but in a more intimate environment.”
Comic Con Revolution has been steadily growing and draws thousands of cosplaying fans, local residents, and others looking for a new comic convention experience. Here’s a look at some of this year’s most exciting programming and what to expect if you plan on attending.
Star-studded panels
Perhaps the most prominent panel this year will be the “Smallville” cast reunion from the CW show. The panel will be part of a Q&A hosted by Ming Chen where fans can ask cast members Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Erica Durance, John Schneider, and Michael Rosenbaum about behind-the-scenes stories and favorite memories from the show. There will also be a separate ticketed event for Smallville Nights, where Welling and Rosenbaum will reenact scenes from the series with the help of the audience. Those in attendance will also get a special souvenir from the duo.
Over the weekend, the cast of Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go! will also meet for a reunion, with appearances by Khary Payton (Cyborg), Greg Cipes (Beast Boy), Hynden Walch (Starfire), Scott Neville (Robin), and Tara Strong (Raven).
Other high-profile panels include one with the voices of “Halo” icons Master Chief (Steve Downes) and Cortana (Jen Taylor), a Q&A with actress Janet Varney, the voice of Korra from “The Legend of Korra,” the sequel to “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and a wrestling Q&A with Mickie James, Booker T and Mick Foley.
Cosplay Corner
It wouldn’t be a Comic Con without cosplayers, who dress up as their favorite characters from comic books and pop culture. The convention designates a specific section dubbed Cosplay Corner for everyone looking to dress the part.
“We love our cosplayers,” Seldin said. “They’re an intricate part of every show, and we have a big cosplay contest on Saturday night where we give cash prizes and trophies. Recently, we started giving out a kind of replica of the WWE Championship belt that’s got our logo on it. It’s a huge metal belt, and it’s no joke.”
Seldin encourages everyone who’s thinking of cosplaying to get into the spirit if they have an idea in the back of their mind they’d like to bring to life. If people aren’t quite sure how to approach cosplaying, several different workshops are being offered over the weekend, including the fundamentals like the subculture’s etiquette, how to craft a costume on a budget, and specialty courses where fans of “Star Wars” can learn how to master dressing like Wookiees, Twileks, Rodians and Gamorreans.
The co-founder said that Comic Con Revolution is more family-friendly when it comes to its cosplaying, and organizers ask participants to keep it as G-rated as possible. Some of Seldin’s favorite cosplays have been created by families working together to create something out of their imaginations and bonding in the process.
“I love seeing a family dress up,” he said. “It crosses generations, and I love seeing the kids’ cosplay contest. Any kid is going to need help constructing something so intricate, but I love seeing the passion and creativity they have.”
Artist Alley
The third pillar of Comic Con Revolution is the convention’s Artist Alley, which features over a hundred different tables showcasing original artwork and other collectibles from well-established artists to up-and-coming talent.
Seldin said that some people may not be familiar with how comic books have more recently impacted pop culture and led to the massive production of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the DC Universe, video games, and animated television shows. He encourages people to take time to see what the artists behind the pages have worked on and how others are shaping the future.
“If you’ve never been to a con, yes, you want to walk the main floor to see the celebrities and get some autographs, but you have to spend time in the Artist Alley because it’s the true backbone,” he said. “The name of our show is not Pop Culture Revolution or Come-Meet-A-Celebrity Revolution, it’s Comic Con Revolution. That’s where this industry began. So, even if you’re a frequent con-goer, you should go into the alley to meet the people who are really behind the comics. If you think about it, their work is still carrying over into today’s culture, and it’s amazing what they helped build.”
Comic Con Revolution
Where: The Ontario Convention Center, 2000 E Convention Center Way, Ontario,
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, May 17, and 10 a.m. Sunday, May 18.
Tickets: Advance adult weekend passes are $50-$60; single-day adult tickets are $35-$45; teen weekend passes (ages 13-17) are $40-$50; single-day teen tickets are $30-$45; children under 12 are free with an adult admission. All tickets can be purchased at comicconrevolution.com. Tickets will also be available at the door each day of the event, but will be sold at a higher price than advanced tickets.
