Fort Collins Comic Con 2017 - John's Recap

Written by John Edward Betancourt

You never quite forget the experience of your first convention and with good reason. After all, you had no clue what to expect from that con, which means that your stomach was filled with butterflies as you stepped through those doors before relief washed over you when you realized you were in the right place once you laid eyes upon costumes and elements from your favorite fandom. Such a spectacular moment truly meant that you belonged and the awe and wonder that comes with such a realization…is near impossible to ever experience a second time around.
 
Because the familiarity that comes with conventions settles in when you attend your second, or third one. You know what to seek out and what to expect when you walk through those doors, and you simply settle in to a routine and go about your personalized experience. Which is why it is so supremely important to talk about conventions that manage to find a way to leave us breathless and surprise us and believe it or not, I managed to attend a con this past weekend that not only stunned me with its sheer awesomeness, but it did the impossible and replicated that sense of awe and wonder I remember from so many years ago, and the con in question that accomplished such a feat, is Fort Collins Comic Con.
 
Now how FCCC pulled off such a feat is equally as impressive in that, there we no gimmicks to be found at this con, nor did it reinvent the proverbial convention wheel. Simply put, Fort Collins Comic Con took its fans back to basics, by providing an absolutely fun experience for the ages. Now, this was my first time attending FCCC and walking up the Aztlan Center and seeing how intimate a setting it was going to provide evoked something within, that sense of awe of wonder that I made mention of. Because I had no idea what to expect, and the memories and emotions of that first con I ever attended washed over me in an instant and that was only further enhanced when I walked through the doors.

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Because within the walls of the Aztlan Center, was a sight to behold. There were people everywhere. The main lobby was packed to the brim with attendees, all of them smiling wide as they headed toward the main floor and the joy painted on their faces didn’t stop once they crossed that threshold. Because in addition to the wall to wall crowds present in the main room, smiles were to be found on everyone’s faces. Vendors, attendees, cosplayers and myself for that matter seemingly had a grin plastered on our mugs over the fact that this convention only wanted everyone to have a good time and indulge their nerdy side to the fullest and we were certainly more than happy to accomplish that.
 
Not to mention the fact that I cannot recall the last time I’ve been to a convention where I saw every single booth be as busy as can be, and if by chance the folks at that booth weren’t busy, they only needed to wait a minute before fans of all ages stopped by to chat with the artist or the vendor and make a purchase at their table or booth. That was, in fact, another thing that struck me by surprise…the sheer accessibility of everyone at their tables. It became obvious early on for me that FCCC wanted to give the fans the opportunity to really take the time to talk with the people at these tables and by encouraging that in the first place, fans were able to discuss anything and everything with the artists, and I even had the opportunity to do that myself and it was refreshing to not feel rushed in my conversation and really be able to take the time to get to know the folks showcasing their creations.
 
But really, what impressed me most about this convention, was the sense of family that it exuded. Not only did I see families in cosplay everywhere, enjoying this con with glee…I also felt like I belonged there and that’s what matters most, that we feel like we aren’t just among friends, but our own nerdy extended family and it is for that reason, along with the many others that I have made mention of today, that I will definitely attend this convention next year. Fort Collins Comic Con truly understands the core elements of what makes a con worthwhile and I cannot wait to experience that sense of awe once again, all while taking in the other wonders that this convention has in store for us. 

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