​Sunday at Denver Comic Con, or any convention for that matter, is often times a sobering and somber affair. After all, if you’ve attended all three days of the show, your knees and your feet hurt. You’ve gone to bed late and you’re tired and to add proverbial insult to injury, you now have to say farewell to all of your awesome friends and extended family and the convention itself, an event that you not only saved up for but treated like a giant nerdy Christmas by counting down the days and minutes until its arrival.    
 
Which is why you often see some sad faces in the crowd on that all important final day, because the clock is racing for the fun to come to an end. It’s also why you see the Sunday crowd push themselves a little harder to get their respective goals accomplished on this day, since they are in fact fighting father time in order to see those final panels or grab that perfect collectible and say farewell to the all the fun in proper fashion and truth be told, I too have suffered from that sense of sadness when it comes to the final day of DCC.
 
There’s just something incredibly spectacular and uplifting when it comes to walking the halls of the Colorado Convention Center, and seeing the sights of this amazing con one last time before heading home and the sense of wonder and belonging that comes with attending DCC is something we all work to hang on to and that’s why I’ve tried for so many years to capture every last sight and sound in my memories before leaving the con, but once again, this year was different was for me, thanks in large part to the epiphany I had on Saturday. 
 
Because really, the book end to my excitement on Friday and my self-discovery on Saturday is that in many ways, I never quite leave this con. The wonderful souvenirs that I pick up at DCC are awesome reminders of my experiences that allow for me to reminisce whenever I walk by them or see them on a shelf and my awesome friends/extended family, well we speak of our fondest Denver Comic Con memories often and it’s just magnificent to know that I can in essence, visit the con on a moment’s notice simply by reflecting upon it.
 
Which is why this year, there was no sadness in my heart or my mind as I walked around the convention, taking in the sights and the sounds one more time. There was only joy to be found. Because I’ve been fortunate and blessed enough to cover and attend this con every single year, and there’s no need to be sad about stepping outside those doors when in essence, Denver Comic Con is always with me. So, this year, I left DCC with my head held high and a smile in my face, content in the knowledge that I will be back next year to indulge in the wonder of this con and all the joy it has brought into my life. Until next year. 

​If there’s one thing I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed when it comes to day two of Denver Comic Con, it’s the massive crowd and the incredible energy that comes with it. Granted, it probably seems a little wild that I would be a fan of having to navigate through a sea of humans but hear me out for a moment because there really is something special to such a sight, specifically…you’ll never see people work with a greater purpose than they do at Saturday at DCC.
 
Because some people don’t have the luxury of attending all three days of the convention, and this is the only day they can make it, so they head into the Colorado Convention Center with a list of goals in mind and watching them work is incredible to say the least and really, since Saturday is the best day for me to get stills, people watching is quite frankly a must on this day and I really do revel in seeing the joy that washes over everyone’s faces as they work to take in the sights and enjoy themselves at the con.
 
But, I made mention of this crowd bringing forth an energy, and honestly, that comes from the joy upon their faces because those smiles are downright infectious and it’s something that is further enhanced by watching everyone reunite with old friends and share in the wonder of the con together and I saw a lot more of that this year than I have in past years, in large part due to the fact that I was focusing upon such a thing this year and well…it hit me later on in the day why my brain was continuing to keep an eye on all of that, because it related to my little conundrum from Friday.
 
Yes, that’s right, it only seemed like I had forgotten to talk about the exuberant joy I experienced during my first day of the con, but I promised you a story, and this is where some of that all comes together. Because as the day rolled on, and after one of my closest friends and fellow writer on this site, Shae, swung by the con, it hit me why I was so excited to be at DCC this year…because it more or less serves as a nerdy family reunion. After all, everyone here shares many of the same interests that I do, and so many of the people I’ve met here, I keep in touch with and know about their lives and the joy and the excitement surging through me on Friday, was all related to seeing my extended/surrogate family once again.
 
That revelation was what made Denver Comic Con 2018 the best year yet for me personally, because any event that brings together people that care about one another, and work to lift each other up, is a special event indeed and Saturday’s realization allowed for me to see DCC in a whole new light, and appreciate it on a whole new level and wouldn’t you know it? It changed my perspective on Sunday and how I normally feel about that day as well and that’s something we will discuss in tomorrow’s blog as I wrap up my thoughts and experiences when it comes to this outright incredible weekend…

Sometimes heading to the same convention year after year creates a bit of a conundrum for nerds and geeks in that, con fatigue begins to settle in, and you know what I’m talking about. It’s that moment when you feel like you’re going through the motions when you attend a convention, to the point where you have a good time, but the con simply doesn’t thrill you anymore. Some consider that bad, some consider it time to move on, some consider it to be nothing more than a sign that one belongs there, but what’s strange for me, is that after attending Denver Comic Con every single year that it’s been in existence, I’ve yet to find a sense of fatigue when the time rolls around to enjoy it once again.
 
If anything, I found myself more excited than usual to attend the con this year, and that’s something that stuck in my mind, simply because that kind of wonder and joy and outright anticipation is usually reserved for something new in our lives, not the norm. But rather than focus on that, I chose instead to focus on the matter on hand, attending the con, because the moment had arrived at last and well, it’s always an incredible rush to walk through those doors and see the con laid out before me and of course, I went through my own routine related moments as I wandered the floor on day one because hey, that’s what you do.
 
For me, this involved getting the lay of the land, checking out Merchant Mesa and Artist Valley, and wandering the rest of the convention floor to know precisely where to find all of the things and of course, catch up with all of my artist friends and fellow media buddies that I haven’t seen in forever. Yet while that was in fact, merely going through the motions in many ways, I still found that the excitement that I attempted to cast to the wayside was growing stronger and well, I found that to be supremely fascinating, and part of me thought that this seemingly newfound joy could be attributed to the fact that NTG had a first time con goer coming along to help us cover the convention this year.
 
Which made sense at first, because my friend Emily was wide eyed thanks to the wonders this con had to offer. She had never seen crowds like this, or this level of outright nerdiness before and while seeing her in awe when it comes to everything DCC has to offer was joyous in its own right I still could not shake the anticipation that was surging through my mind and my veins. I was simply giddy, as if I was a young kid all over again seeing this convention for the first time and I couldn’t get enough of walking the floor on this first day and taking in sights the and well, this was simply magnificent and befuddling and despite my best efforts to put my finger upon why I was THIS happy to attend DCC this year, I went home at the end of day one without a single answer.
 
Now I’m sure that’s disappointing for you to read, dear reader, because a snap shot of the con should in fact have a logical conclusion to the day in question. But honestly, this is precisely what I experienced and well, it was the only story of the day that came to mind and really, this little surprise on my end, gives me an opportunity to do something different with this year’s recaps of the con. Instead of the usual, I saw this or that, I can tell a far more personal story than I’m used to telling when it comes to DCC, and I think that’s a good thing, because this turned out to be a supremely personal and special year for me when it comes to this convention. So, bear with me over the next couple of days as I tell a different kind of con story, one that I was extremely happy to experience. 

​The summer of 2012 was a special one for me to say the least. It was of course Denver Comic Con's inaugural year and as a writer new to the blogosphere I was anxious and excited to cover something so unique. After all, Denver was brand new to this game and the phrase 'Comic Con' held with it an image of massive and crazed crowds hungry to explore everything they could about their favorite fandoms. 

Obviously when all was said and done, that first year of Denver Comic Con was a touch more low key than all of that, but it didn't take long for this homegrown convention to deliver that kind of powerful experience because years later, we here in the Mile High City get to boast and gloat over the fact our con is one of the biggest in the nation, complete with big time guests and big time crowds. But since DCC 2018 is finally upon us, I got to thinking, exactly what is it about this convention that makes it such an incredible draw? Well the answer to that is simple, this is a convention that goes beyond making money...it's about the experience and giving back to the community that supports it. 

After all, I don't know of any other convention out there where the proceeds go beyond operating costs and profits, since DCC sinks a ton of their money into Pop Culture Classroom and in a way it makes attending this convention quite the honor, because there's a sense of satisfaction in knowing that all the badges that I see clipped onto us in various fashion serve as a symbol to the fact...we've helped someone learn how to read. We have helped ignite someone's imagination and opened their eyes to a world of new possibilities, just from buying a ticket to celebrate our love of a particular fandom and that alone makes this con a wonderful experience...but it goes beyond that as well.

Because when you walk through those doors for DCC, there's a sense of comfort, a sense of home, really. I can't even remotely count how many times I see friends instantly greeting one another with a hug. How many cosplayers I see grouping up to compliment one another on their work and it's wonderful to have that feeling that you truly belong when you arrive here and considering how much work DCC has put in to continue to make this an all inclusive con, because diversity is a fundamental focus for both Pop Culture Classroom and DCC; that sense of unity is only going to continue as Denver Comic Con continues to grow and believe me it will continue to flourish because it has simply become a Mile High Tradition. 

Every single year, I see families making the voyage to the Colorado Convention Center to simply see the sights or meet one of the incredible guests that DCC lines up every single year, which means this convention is setting up generations of fans for years to come. But perhaps what truly makes this con so special, is the sense of awe that it brings out in all of us. Take a moment this weekend and see if you notice the same thing I did from this past year. You'll see children walking about, with their eyes agape with wild wonder at the sights before them, then take a look at their parents, or anyone else around them...they'll be doing the same thing. Denver Comic Con simply knows how to bring out the awe and wonder of being a geek, celebrating the things that brought us into a particular fandom in the first place and when you combine that with how this con gives back to its fans, in many ways...it brings out the best in us and I can't wait to walk through those doors  and experience the wonder and awe of it one more time. Until then.

​There really was a time, not that long ago in the world of Nerdom, where screen legends more or less avoided Conventions. It sounds weird to say that, since I, and so many of you out there have had the opportunity to meet the talented actors that bring our favorite characters to life at a con, but such an oddity was in fact, a strange reality. Because back in the day, if a star wasn’t attached to some kind of ‘nerdy’ television or film series, they were nowhere to be found at a local convention.
 
But the times have changed, and pop culture is now such an important part of our lives that bigger names keep finding their way to our favorite conventions and well, it’s a good thing. After all, people come from miles around to shake the hand of their cinematic and television heroes, and/or take a photograph with them for their own nerdy posterity and one such actor that I would have never to have expected to see at a convention but has started to work that circuit in the past few years, will be in attendance at Denver Comic Con 2018; Val Kilmer.
 
Yes, you read that right. Val Kilmer, THE Val Kilmer is going to be at DCC and already, I can hear a couple of eye rolls out there from folks reading this as they say quietly or aloud, ‘uh John, he was in Batman Forever so of course he makes sense at a convention like this’ and while you’re right because he was awesome as Bruce Wayne, and I think he was robbed by only getting one film, I digress and stand by my point because his résumé is stupid impressive since the man has been a part of some the most iconic films of the past forty years.  
 
I mean come on, he was Iceman in Top Gun, Chris Knight in Real Genius and who can forget his incredible turn as Doc Holliday in Tombstone and really, my personal favorite performance of his came about in 1995’s Heat because he was downright brilliant as Chris Shiherlis in that film and really…Val’s appearance this year speaks to two things. First and foremost, how the convention world continues to evolve since he and his representatives understand the value of seeing his fans face to face in a setting such as this and also, it serves as a solid reminder of the fact that Denver Comic Con has truly become a premier destination for big name guests because Val is another epic addition to an already impressive roster.
 
Which means that I cannot emphasize it enough, you have to get your tickets today, because they are going fast. In fact, three days passes are nearly sold out, and if you’re a big fan of Mister Kilmer, don’t miss out on your chance to shake his hand and thank him for every single moment of Top Secret! So, head over to the DCC website, and snag your tickets today and I’ll see all of you this weekend at Denver Comic Con 2018.  

What I’ve always found fascinating about the Superhero fandom, specifically the movie arm of it, is how the fan base holds the actors that portray these iconic champions in such high regard. Because these folks are in fact, people just like the rest of us. They eat, they sleep, they laugh, they cry, but to the fans they are more than just everyday people. They are the living manifestation of characters that we look up to, and really, therein lies the trick as to why we love these actors.
 
Because in order to embody that hero, they have to dig deep and find the best parts of themselves to display on the silver screen, which in turn inspires us to be better people through and through. And let’s be honest, sometimes their work on the big screen gives us hope and gets us through tough times because what we are seeing is human. Sure, we know it’s all make believe, but in that moment, it’s real to us, and it matters and really, that’s why we are more than happy to meet these screen icons at conventions.
 
Because we get to shake hands with the actors who have made someone’s day brighter and seeing the joy on the faces of fans from all walks of life from all over the nation is one of the reasons that Denver Comic Con exists, and it’s why they continue to up their guest game year after year and once again, this con has managed to wow its attendees by bringing in another huge name that has nerds and geeks excited since earlier today, DCC announced that Jason Momoa will be in attendance this year.
 
Yes, that’s right, the actor who managed to make Aquaman cool once again will be appearing for one day only, Saturday at DCC 2018 and well, this is an announcement that is about as awesome as it gets. Because Jason has quickly captivated fans everywhere with his outstanding portrayal of Arthur Curry, but there’s a reason that Jason has made this iteration of the character so accessible and beloved; because he’s a talented actor that has quite the impressive resume. After all, he did appear on Game of Thrones as Khal Drogo and let’s be honest, that series is an acting clinic week in and week out and he’s no stranger to big time fandoms either since he played Ronon Dex in Stargate: Atlantis.
 
If anything, this announcement just goes to show how serious Denver Comic Con is when it comes to bringing in top tier guests and this is a huge one because the Superhero genre is one of the hottest out there right now and to have a guest from the DCEU drop by the Mile High City is simply an honor. So, if you’re hoping to meet Jason and get your Aquaman POP! signed, swing by DCC’s website right now, because it’s only a matter of time before Saturday sells out and we will see you in line at the Colorado Convention Center in a couple of weeks.   

​If there’s one thing that still continues to surprise me after all of these years of covering conventions/comic cons, it is the sheer fact that some people have yet to attend one. It’s not a bad thing, just surprising since these events are such a blast, but I do like how every time I discuss Denver Comic Con or any other show out there with a particular person that hasn’t had the chance to visit one, they are hungry to know more about it, and what big name celebrities will be in attendance.
 
Because the big names are indeed the draw of these cons, but I think that sometimes we forget that these incredible actors and stars do more than just sell tickets and leave everyone in awe with their massive autograph lines and packed panels. These are in fact, people who have touched us in ways that we never thought imaginable, who bring us joy whether they are on the small or big screen and it’s important for people to meet these actors so that they can see their heroes face to face and thank them for the wonder they’ve provided them with and yesterday, Denver Comic Con announced a guest that is universally beloved by fans of cinema and television everywhere…David Tennant.
 
Yes, that’s right, the Tenth Doctor, the man who flat out made Doctor Who as ridiculously popular as it is today, will be in the Mile High City come Father’s Day Weekend to greet his legions of fans and if it seems like I’m exaggerating about how he brings people joy, well, the only proof I need on the matter is the fact that my phone exploded the instant DCC made this announcement, as several friends of mine more or less freaked out over the fact that their favorite Doctor was coming to Denver and the conversation continued at length with a detailed discussion over how they couldn’t wait to get a photo op and an autograph and, outright meet The Doctor.
 
However, I think David’s appeal goes beyond Doctor Who. Because in the years following his time on the show, he’s quickly established himself as one of the finest actors out there, and his stunning resume on television, which includes a pair of incredible performances as D.I. Alec Hardy and Detective Emmett Carver on Broadchurch and Gracepoint respectively helps prove that and as of late, David has done a phenomenal job of showing off his versatility as an actor by switching to the dark side with his turn as Kilgrave in Marvel’s Jessica Jones and by playing the twisted Cale Erendreich in Bad Samaritan.
 
But, regardless of which role of David’s you appreciate the most, the fact of the matter is, he’s a talented actor, one who is beloved by fans everywhere and he is one of the biggest names to ever headline Denver Comic Con. Which means, you really shouldn’t wait to get your tickets to this year’s convention, because tickets will be flying off of the proverbial shelves now that David is coming to the con. So, head over to DCC’s website today to snag your tickets so that you can shake hands with one famous Time Lord and swap stories with other fans about how incredible it was to meet him.  

When it comes to conventions, and the routines that now come with them, we all have a pretty standard set of expectations in mind when it comes to a celebrity panel. They’ll come out, they’ll entertain and tell us amazing tales of their time on a particular show or movie, and someone will undoubtedly ask a question that’s not really a question, and well, while that sounds like a diatribe against such events, that’s simply not the case. After all, it is cool to meet your favorite celebrities at cons and hear their stories because we know little about them, but I make mention of such an issue because it goes back to one key thing I  just made mention of, routine. 
 
The celebrity knows the drill, we know the drill and we’re happy to accept it because for the moment, is there any other way to handle such an event differently or better? Well, after having attended DiNK Comic & Art Expo this past weekend, I’ve come to realize there is a different way to handle the celebrity panel because this convention managed to make that happen with John Leguizamo’s time on the main stage, and I have to admit, that this turned out to be the most refreshing celebrity panel I’ve been to in years, and credit goes to DiNK for making it look like business as usual at first.
 
After all, the process to get into the panel and the setup was pretty by the numbers. As was the introduction of John and everything that preceded that. But, once Steve Bessette, our awesome moderator from the Alamo Drafthouse, settled in with John on stage, that’s where everything began to change, because it quickly became evident that this particular chat was going to be far different than what we are used to and while there were plenty of moments that were of the norm; such as stories from the set, or John’s thoughts on his various roles throughout his career, I was quite frankly unprepared for how intimate his panel was about to become. 

Because John really opened up in front of the audience, speaking to the fact that success can impact an actor by making them feel as though they are special, when they are in fact, just like everyone else, they just happen to do something that they love and they’ve been able to share what they love with others, which in turn has put them into the limelight and well…hearing him speak like this was refreshing and humbling as a fan and I love the fact that he even spoke to the catharsis that comes with art, and how it can heal and artist and well, I left this panel wondering why more weren’t like this one.
 
I say that, simply because, we do often forget that celebrities are people too, who struggle with issues in life like the rest of us and this felt like an hour long chat with a friend instead of what you find at other panels like this and it was just wonderful to see John open up like that with his fans and speak with confidence about such matters and really, this truly was a reinvention of this kind of panel and well, I shouldn’t be surprised that such a change up would happen at DiNK. Because all weekend long I heard from first time attendees about how different and relaxed this con was, and I love that that mantra snuck its way into John’s panel, and I really do hope that other conventions and moderators take note of panels such as this, because was powerful and meaningful.
 
If anything, my thanks go out to John Leguizamo for his candor on stage, because it served as an inspiration. Because if John can battle his demons, and still create art that all of us can enjoy while doing so, imagine what we can accomplish if we put our minds to it? And my thanks also go out to Steve Bessette for moderating this wonderful conversation and the staff and creators of DiNK, for putting together a convention that allows for the core of art, emotion, to be put on display in every facet of the event and I look forward to checking out this incredible convention again, next year. 

When one plans or prepares to attend a convention of any kind, a particular routine immediately comes to mind. For me, it’s to hit up the Vendor Area first thing when I get there to see if there's anything I need to take home, then I get a solid lay of the land to know where everything is at before I dig into the con, and really, we’re taking the moment to talk about routine today because let’s be honest…there is a certain familiarity that comes with conventions now, to the point where we are able to game plan every last one of them.
 
This is of course, not an insult toward conventions in the slightest, because their design and setup are business models that work and they’re easy to navigate and familiarity helps every nerd and geek out there to plan. But the best part of a convention, is the sense of awe and wonder we experience when we walk through the doors and when you get into a routine, some of that goes away. But thankfully, the convention world is evolving so that it doesn’t become stagnant through and through and there is one particular event that has managed to properly reinvent the con experience; DiNK Comic & Art Expo.
 
This event, which happens to take place this weekend, is unique for one particular reason…it brings back the down-home feel of a convention, where it’s all about hanging out and having a good time with your friends and it accomplishes that, in several ways. First and foremost, it removes some of the barriers between guests and fans that one normally finds at events such as these. The big names that come to DiNK are extremely accessible, and while I’m sure eyebrows are being raised over the possibility of big time celebrity guests being mobbed and harassed by legions of fans by being accessible, that brings us to the next reason why DiNK is so unique, because it focuses on a different kind of celebrity…artists.
 
After all, this is a Comic and Art Expo, and because of that, the big names in question that are going to be in attendance are some of the finest artists around. Jeff Lemire will be there this weekend for instance, as will Melanie Gillman, and what’s awesome about this con is that you’ll be able to hang out at their tables and chat and learn what makes them tick and what has influenced their incredible work and even when they do bring in a star of the silver screen like a traditional con does, they still find a way to make their appearance unique for the fans since John Leguizamo will be at this convention as well, and he will be participating in upgraded meet and greet sessions throughout the weekend. 
 
If anything, DiNK can basically be considered to be a convention that goes back to basics, since conventions sprung forth from our love of comics and art and perhaps what I truly enjoy most about this con, is the sheer fact that so many local artists will be in attendance as well so we can discover new stories to captivate our imagination and really, this is just a wonderful way to spend a weekend geeking out and if you’re interested in finding new stories, like BEARCANO from Creephouse Comics or anything Wicked Awesome Tales has to offer, head to DiNK’s website today and snag some tickets and we here at Nerds That Geek will see all of you there this weekend.  

Stephen King once said, and I paraphrase, that one of the keys to a successful writing career is in essence to diversify. Because the creative mind needs to be challenged and pushed in order to stay vibrant and hungry and truth be told, that’s advice that extends well beyond the creative sector because pushing one’s self to be more and to do more often equates to great success. But, that aside, that mantra is absolutely paramount when it comes to the creative field, and the titans and legends of that industry have taken that lesson to heart.
 
After all, writers that work outside of their comfort zone, often see longevity in their careers and oddly enough, that same rule applies to actors as well. Because the men and women that we see on screen that try new things and take on challenging roles are the ones that stick around for a good long time and it’s why you see your favorite actors pop up in a movie or a show with a role that seems out of place from what they normally do and really, if there’s one actor out there that truly lives and breathes this notion, it would have to be John Leguizamo.
 
Because John is an actor who has dared to try anything and everything when it comes to acting. There’s no genre he’s afraid to take part in and that mindset has provided him with an illustrious career that’s allowed for him to portray memorable characters throughout the years such as Toulouse-Lautre from Moulin Rouge! or Cholo DeMora in Land of the Dead and that kind of diversity acting wise has in fact made him a household name. But what separates John from the rest of the pack, is the sheer fact that he is willing to reach beyond the acting world to challenge and push himself creatively, to the point where he has adapted some of his biographical stage shows…into comic books. 
 
In fact, Freak and Ghetto Klown, are such magnificent pieces of work that the latter of those two books has been nominated for an Eisner Award and we’re celebrating John’s incredible career in print and on screen today for one reason and one reason alone, because DiNK Denver is bringing him in as a guest this weekend, and in classic DiNK style, fans of this talented actor and writer will get to spend time with John in unconventional fashion. Because often times when a celebrity comes to a convention, you stand in line and shake their hand and move on, but at DiNK, John will take the time to participate in upgraded meet and greet (and selfie) sessions, and panel discussions with the fans over the course of the weekend and by way of a private movie screening and Q&A session.
 
Unfortunately, that event, which will be hosted at the Alamo Drafthouse Denver is SOLD OUT, but the lucky fans that will be in attendance there can get their hands on a copy of Ghetto Klown and have it signed the following Sunday. As for the rest of the fans out there looking for an opportunity to shake hands with John, don’t waste any time and head to DiNK Denver’s website today to purchase your tickets and when all is said and done, this is just a stellar announcement for DiNK. Because John is a modern screen legend, and a ridiculously talented writer, and it’s just awesome to know he will be in Denver to celebrate his career with his fans and I have no doubt that his appearance at this event will serve to remind all of us that trying something new…can pay off in spades…