The night before Denver Comic Con I sat on my hotel bed excitedly going through the list of panels happening over the weekend. I soon came across a panel about women in comics. I thought it had an interesting premise because it was about the history of women in comics as well as the women currently writing. The description seemed a little discombobulated, but I kept reading it and was relatively intrigued. Then I got to the bottom of the page. All of the names listed were male names. I thought maybe I was mistaken and though they were traditionally used as male names, maybe in this case they were representing women who would be on the panel. Nope. After further investigation I was sure that the Women in Comics panel consisted solely of men. “Well, think I’ll pass on that one” I said to my dad and then continued to read about science panels and Muppet panels and family panels.

Having a completely male panel about women in comics was a big mistake. No amount of explanations or apologies can change that. And the aftermath of this event could have been handled better as well, but that’s not what I want to talk about today. There have been several articles and discussions about this topic already and this is important! But I also strongly believe that it is important to talk about good steps that are being made and positive things that are happening. Having acknowledged that structuring the panel in this way was unacceptable, I want to address a big worry I have. I worry that the Women in Comics panel will overshadow all the great work that the Pop Culture Classroom did at Denver Comic Con 2015. On the day of the infamous panel, my Twitter was filled with people tweeting about the mistake and how disappointed they were. Again, this is an important discussion, but I wish I would have seen it side by side with a discussion about the great kid’s area that Pop Culture Classroom set up in the center of the Con floor and the fun, interesting NASA panels that were full of science and nerdiness. I wish I would have seen more tweets about the smiling children that were enjoying a convention bursting with activities directed specifically at them.

Denver Comic Con is a non-profit convention whose proceeds are used by Pop Culture Classroom to fund curriculum that is written using comics, graphic novels, and other pop culture materials. And this is so cool!! I am an incredibly antsy person and school has always been frustrating for me because sitting through class can be draining and exhausting. I’ve always found, however, that when I can connect what I’m learning to something else I’m interested in, class becomes fun and exciting! This isn’t a new concept at all, but Pop Culture Classroom has taken this idea a step further than most education professionals dare to go. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, comic books can be amazing learning tools if in the right hands. Pop Culture Classroom understands this fact and is using a medium that is often frowned upon to create fantastic opportunities for students to learn and have fun in the process! There is a stigma surrounding comics that they are less intellectually challenging than books, but this does not need to be the case! As with all media, there is a depth and a range to comic content. Yes, there are some comics that are just plain silly and some that just seem to be violent for violence sake. But so many comics, a plethora of comics in fact, are educational, thought-provoking, and engaging! Pop Culture Classroom knows this and is working incredibly hard to bring the fun of comics to children in a genuine educational format.

Pop Culture Classroom and Denver Comic Con’s commitment to education and to getting kids excited about comics was apparent all throughout the con. With the programming and activities offered all three days, children were left without a moment of dullness. Not only did kids benefit from this, but the whole con had a really awesome, optimistic feel to it. I’ve never seen so many happy families at a con and it was an absolute joy. The show floor was buzzing with life and enthusiasm and this atmosphere permeated into every room I entered at the Colorado Convention Center. There were phenomenal family cosplays and a significant lack of tears as children didn’t have time or reason to be bored and upset. But the happy feeling of the family focused con was not the only benefit. You can bet I was excited to go to a panel about real robots in space and the practicality of our sci-fi favorites like R2-D2 and C-3PO. And I was right in the mix of all ages of fans ogling a table full of incredible Lego artwork. Denver Comic Con had the perfect balance of directing activities at the younger generation while still making it an unforgettable experience for every age.

So long story short, yes Denver Comic Con made a glaring mistake, but it is my sincerest hope that this does not overshadow all of the good that Denver Comic Con and Pop Culture Classroom are doing. Denver Comic Con has only been around for four years and I am astounded by how far it has grown in this short time. I hope that the Women in Comics panel will be a learning experience for Denver Comic Con and that they will be given the opportunity and support to keep moving in a direction of education and acceptance. Denver Comic Con and Pop Culture Classroom have so much potential to change children’s lives and make their days a little better. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s so true. I know that I, as a child, would have been thrilled to experience Pop Culture Classroom's curriculum and it could easily be a turning point in a student’s life, helping them realize how fun learning can be. Here’s to many more years of family friendly conventions and an atmosphere of awe at Denver Comic Con.

Every year I go to Denver Comic Con, I am always able to find something that I cannot live without.  This year was no different for me as I still have a maybe a foot or two open on my walls that need to be rearranged, so these pieces will help me in doing that.  Now, I always have my go to artists that show up to the con, and this year was no different, but to my surprise, they had something new that I have not seen before.  

So, jumping right in, I always have to stop by Ben Templesmith’s booth.  I have loved his artwork since the first time I saw it, but sadly, I already have all of the zombie greatness that he has put out in prints.  The trip was not wasted since there was something that caught my eye as soon as I walked up.  He had a new Joker that I do not have in my collection. If you know me at all, you know that I have an obsession with the Joker, and if I find something from one of my top artists, well, I just have to have it.  Digging a little bit deeper, I must admit that I love Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and there was a piece that filled that void.  Last, it took me a little bit of time to decide on what to get since everything else had just enough darkness, but I had to go with the Raven.  Always being a Poe fan and knowing that many people would get the reference, this is a piece that will be built around for years to come.

Keeping my eyes open when wandering the floor, I found a new artist that I will need to follow named Frankie Serna. What drew me to his booth, besides the lines was a fantastic Venom piece that was calling out to me.  This is another one of my collections that I will continue to grow and this one seemed to embody the madness of the beast with just enough brightness to keep it from giving me night terrors.  I also picked up a Batman print, just because who does not like Batman?  Always a staple in anyone’s growing collection.   

Continuing to walk through Artist Valley, I stumbled upon Blake Henriksen’s booth.  Last year I purchased a great mug shot of the Joker from this talented artist, but this year he had something more that caught my eye.  With an Arkham Proposal featuring Harley Quinn looking happy and the Joker looking very unimpressed, I was sold. Also finding another Venom for my collection that would scare the kids, I also discovered a fantastic Thanos in space with one half of his head as we know it from the Guardians movie, while the other side is eating galaxies.  Talk about something that I don’t have in my collection yet, but might need to build.

After last year, I know that there is always a booth that I will need to stop by and that is the booth of Leila del Duca.  The very talented artist of Shutter, she was paired up with the writer of The Pantheon Project, Erik Taylor.  I would be a fool not to pick up this comic and Leila had a special going on as well with her own sketch covers for Shutter number seven.  When getting my sketch back in the morning, I was amazed how awesome it tuned out.  After showing it to a couple friends, they were all shocked to find it out it was not a printed cover, but a sketch. 

Now, I always try to save the best for last and I pretty much did this when visiting my favorite local artist, Robert Elrod.  Although I talked with him throughout the show, I did not make my final purchases until time became a factor.  Since I already own so much of his art, I am forced to look at his other print mediums, and one that he brought this year was canvas printings.  This is something that I have not dealt with before, but they came out amazing, so I had to get a couple.  The Breach and Cowl were my two favorites that he brought in, and then I needed to splurge a little bit and get the original painting of Exalted.  I never can say enough about this man and his work.  I am always coming up with ideas of what to have him draw next since there is no limit to what he can do, at least not that I have seen.

With so many other great artists in attendance this year, it is much too difficult to call them all out.  So this is just a small sampling of what is about to grace my walls and maybe even overflow into my work cubicle.  I hope that you were able to find your treasures this year, since there was so much to choose from at Denver Comic Con this year. It only matters what you like and what speaks to you when you are trying to find pieces of art to put in your collection. Even if it is not someone else’s cup of tea, never let it persuade you purchasing and hanging something that you love.  I know I sure as heck don’t!

Just one week ago today, a magical thing happened. Denver Comic Con 2015 wrapped up its final day of the convention with something so unique, I truly was astounded. Friends and family gathered inside the main events while everyone waited outside, lined up to see a beautiful ceremony and a closing to a convention that Colorado has not seen before. It’s not every day that a convention hosts a wedding. While I have seen a wedding happen at a con before, it was nothing compared to what happened here. As we all filed in one by one, took our seats, and waited, we got the opportunity to see a union between two people happen on the main stage before our very eyes. Now, I know a lot of people who would think this strange, but as I sat in a crowded room filled with excitement, I couldn’t help but be in awe. This couple was not just getting married, no, they were indeed having a ceremony, and they chose to involve us. It’s a choice that not many would make. To involve an entire community is one thing, but to make your special day so open, so inviting, to the geeks and nerds that you share a camaraderie with is something that is so endearing. I have known many a friend to have small weddings, and even those who have had bigger weddings were nothing like this.

If you’ve been on the site, you might have noticed my line of Geeky Wedding blogs. I am adorably obsessed with anything geek wedding related, mostly because it combines something so awesome with something so beautiful. I love weddings; it’s all about the message of love and commitment. And I really love nerdy things…because I am a huge nerd and geek and proud of it. Well, I’m not alone. Geeky inspired weddings have been growing over the years and this wedding at DCC was probably the most nerdy wedding I have ever had the pleasure of attending. Sadly, I do not know the bride or groom personally. What I do know is that this was my favorite wedding to ever attend ever. And I didn’t even have cake. Which, guys, seriously, I have flown out of state for wedding cake before…it’s a problem. Okay, I truly went to support some friends, but listen, that’s not as cool of a story. My mind is still blown by the whole thing and all I could think as it ended was “How do we make this happen more!?” I can’t imagine setting this up, or the nerves it took to stand before us and proclaim their love. What I do know is that the bride was gorgeous, the groom was dashing, and this brought my desire for my own geek wedding (it’ll happen eventually one day, probably) to a whole new level.

For starters, I’ve seen people do superhero shirts underneath the tuxedos of the grooms men, which is a really cool idea, but this….I mean….this! Cosplay and weddings of geeks are not something I’ve not seen before, just not in person. Both sides of the wedding party stood in their costumes, the girls in gorgeous dresses, and the men in some pretty wicked costumes. We had Storm Troopers, Jedis, and even the God of Thunder himself while the Dark Knight stood and married the Mother of Dragons. It was an adorable display, and they used their cosplay titles at first, before getting serious. I wont lie, I cried when they each read their vows. They were touching, funny, and above all, from the heart. It was an intimate affair with some really amazingly new ceremonies. Instead of lighting candles or mixing sand, the two mixed the spice melange. And soon Batman was wrapping his cape around his Queen, they were exchanging rings, and peace between Gotham and the future ruler of the Iron Throne was made….I’m not entirely sure about that last part…but…It totally happened.

As far as a closing ceremony of a convention go, this wins the most original one that I have ever been to. After, we were permitted outside to speak with the wedding party. And by permitted, I’m pretty sure a lot of us just charged up there for pictures, congratulations, and so much more. This was so much fun and such a great way to combine everything they loved. After all, why can’t you get married in front of a StarGate, with Jedi and Sith and Gods and warriors around in front of a massive crowd, in costume, no less? The best part is, you can. These geeks combined so much of their lives that day. All I can say is, thank you.