As early as I can remember, I would plop down in front of the TV on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons like Batman: The Animated Series. Then on Sunday afternoons, I would plop down again and watch the Denver Broncos play. I collected bobbleheads and I collected HeroClix. I read comics and I read the sports page. You get the idea.
 
Every now and then, you find a sense of instant belonging. While I was prepping my schedule for Denver Comic Con 2017, staring me back in the face while I scrolled through the app was a panel titled ‘From the Stadium to the Convention Hall: Being a Nerd and a Sports Fan’. A chorus sounded as the story of my life emanated from my phone screen. I grew up a fan of both sports and nerdy things, and I was excited to hear from sports nerds just like me.
 
In a conference room coincidentally just a few hundred feet from a booth where the Colorado Rockies were promoting their Marvel Superhero Night and Star Wars Night, the panel on the intersection of sports and nerd culture took place. However, as panelists Shane Mares, Sarah Spaulding, Ali Woll, and David Johnson brought to light, the convergence of the two has not always been so common. Sports and nerd culture are sometimes kept apart as two different worlds, often by the people who inhabit those groups.
 
This insensitivity cuts both ways, too. Cliques and gatekeeping lead to the classic jocks vs. geeks battle that discourages people from being a fan of, let’s say, football and Magic: The Gathering at the same time. Growing up in school, we may have known individuals who were shunned from a certain group for their interests – or even been those individuals ourselves. Jocks looked down on nerds and nerds looked down on jocks. For many, it was tough to find a home within the two.
 
Yet for all the division that exists, the gap is being bridged. Right now may be the dawn of a golden age for the nerdy sports fan. Pro and minor league sports teams increasingly incorporate nights devoted to fandoms in their schedules. Sports video games do a lot to connect the two as well. It’s not at all uncommon for sports fans to view Madden, NBA 2K, or FIFA as an acceptable level of nerdiness. And fantasy sports are really just sporty versions of D&D.
 
It was wonderful to hear from a panel full of people who hope to see more unity between the groups. They were all eager to see the day when kids don’t have to choose between their interests in fear of bullying. There’s no need for one group to hate or discourage another because of their interests. Sports fans and nerds are intensely passionate about celebrating what they love, and that’s really all that should matter.
 
At Denver Comic Con, I saw an orange-and-blue Peyton Manning Stormtrooper walking around. If that’s not a sign of good things to come, I don’t know what is. 

With the wide variety of panels available at Denver Comic Con it's rare that I attend a discussion similar to one I might have seen the year before. However, over the last couple of years Dr. Lee Francis IV of Native Realities Press has brought together some important figures from the Native American and Indigenous creative communities to discuss the role and representation of Native peoples in popular culture and I try to attend at least one of their panels every year.

Dr. Francis started by leading the panel through a brief history of Native representation in pop culture. Francis’ presentation defined each Native archetype throughout history while also examining the motivation for (and if not motivation for, the effect of) portraying Natives this way. Francis began with the Noble Savage and Earth Mother archetypes. Both products of exotic ideals of masculine and feminine energy, the Noble Savage and Earth Mother inform a lot of lazy representations of Native Americans in fiction, as the men are always shirtless, adorned with feathers, accompanied by an animal companion, and toting a bow and arrow, and the women are fertile, flowing-haired, guardians of the natural world. These figures are often used as counterpoints to Anglo Colonist villains with no respect for the natural world.

These figures, while still present in modern fiction, dominated the popular portrayal of Native Americans until the mid-1700’s when the 'Vanishing Indian' came into existence. This spurred a multitude of 'The Last of the <Insert Tribe Here>' narratives, which served to placate the colonial audience by insisting that the atrocities enacted on the native people while inhumane, were irreversible as those tribes were nearly extinct. These narratives often include an Anglo Hero whose compassion and respect for the vanishing culture enables them to absorb some aspect of the native’s magic or power. Francis referred to Avatar as the most recent example of this trope.

Following the Vanishing Indian, fiction saw the rise of the 'Red Devil' villain character whose early appearance in Twain’s 'Tom Sawyer' informed the characterization of countless Native American villains in the western film genre. 'Injun Joe,' Twain’s Half-Breed terror and Tom Sawyer’s loveable roguishness established a dichotomy crucial to understanding the popular portrayal of Native Americans. The treachery and terror associated with the Red Devil figure set against the fun-loving resourceful cleverness of Tom Sawyer, the all-American hero, help to ease the guilt of American colonialism. If an audience can see the people they’ve marginalized and systematically slaughtered as blood-thirsty and treacherous those atrocities slowly become justifiable in the public consciousness.

Francis then moved to discuss the Drunken or Lazy Indian trope where a native character is only included as a novelty used for comedic effect and finally the Neo-Noble Savage. This traditionally tragic figure is typically caught between cultural identities and the philosophies that come along with them, often choosing to abandon their native culture to adapt and assimilate into western society in order to prosper.

The panel was then opened up to the panelists to discuss the projects they’ve contributed to and are working on and how they’ve worked to counteract the stereotypical representation of Native people in their own work.

One of the panelists, Renee Nejo is the developer and lead artist of the Blood Quantum video game, a turn-based, real-time strategy game meant to encapsulate the frustration and mechanics of imposed cultural identity definitions. Nejo described her unique position as a white-passing native woman and spoke about her desire to accurately represent the strong older native women in her life with her work. Popular culture’s representation of women is far from ideal in in general, but representation of older Native American women is nonexistent and Renee is working to craft figures that accurately represent those women in her own life.

Panelist, Author, Actor, and Director Jon Proudstar explained the motivation for his 1996 comic Tribal Force. Disgusted by the lack of accountability within the Native community with regard to child molestation and the lack of Native Heroes with substance or identity, Proudstar became the very first Native American author to write an all Native Comic Book. Tribal Force’s female protagonist is a survivor of sexual abuse and is an example of strength for a community whose members experience an alarming number of abuse of this kind. Proudstar is an outspoken Native creator whose passionate words on the history of the racial slur xxx-skins and the importance of never forgetting the true history of Native subjugation in America were poignant and inspiring.

Native American figures are embedded within Popular Culture, but it is important to remember that, as is the case with all minority groups, those who write, direct, or portray these people in print on screen are seldom representatives of the culture portrayed. It is our responsibility as creators and consumers of pop culture to seek out and strive for positive and accurate representations of all cultures especially with regards to Native and Indigenous Americans. The power of storytelling is vital to reshaping how we honor the Native American people in the public consciousness and every year the panels organized by Dr. Lee Francis IV at Denver Comic Con do an outstanding job of showcasing important figures working to bring about this change. 

When it comes to describing your con experience, it is in everything that you took away from it.  While this can be in all of the goodies that you picked up at the artist and merchant booths, or getting an autograph from your favorite stars, these all fall into your memories that you never want to forget. Being part of the media groups running around this event, I do not always get to make every stop that I want, especially when seeing the lines for my favorite stars, but I do tend to take away plenty when all is said and done. 

Arriving at the convention center on Friday and seeing many of the familiar faces that I have grown accustomed to over the years, I was happy to see some new ones as well. Not really being prepared for what Denver Comic Con had in store for me this year, I was open to most anything that it was willing to bring my way. Being able to sneak in some quick hellos to my artist friends that had made the show is always at the top of my list of things to do, especially since I only get to see them once or twice a year. This always puts the con in to perspective for me, listening to how they think that the show will go.
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As Friday continued on and an influx of fans made their way to the main floor, I was amazed to see how much they were actually picking up from the artists. As Friday is usually the day for everyone to make their way into the convention center to get their bearings, it was great to see people getting their treasures first thing this year. As the day moved on and night started to settle in, food was on the mind of almost everyone and I had the pleasure of joining, Todd Jones, his wife Bethany, Ron Root and Matt Campbell for dinner. While this is off the clock time for me, it was great hearing childhood stories and where these very inventive minds had come from. With plenty of laughter at the table, the night had come to an end with little time left before Saturday would be upon us.

Saturday started off as expected, lines circling the convention center as everyone was ready to make this a sellout day for the record books. Watching as the lines migrated into the event, it really was something else this year as it seemed like every aisle was packed with people looking for their con treasures and not being too upset that they were not getting anywhere too quickly. Keeping an eye out for things of my own, I saw plenty of smiles while passing the Pop Culture Classroom side and watching the Red Team Go team hammer out sketches for the kids. There really is something to be said about this, since it is really what Denver Comic Con’s focus is on, the youth at the con. 

With the lights turned down and the doors locked up, the yearly dinner at the Hyatt Regency was in effect for some of the special few. Being able to dine with my artist friends is always a good time as we all took a load off and got to chat not only about the con, the web site, but some life in general. This is the new highlight of the con for me, as everyone is just out to have a good time and catch up. And while the stories change from year to year, the attitudes do not as smiles and laughter radiate through the bar, but if it is because of the beverages being consumed or how many Street Tacos someone is eating, well, that is a story for another day.
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When Sunday finally rolled around and seeing that the con had truly set in for everyone, in a good way, we all knew that this great experience was coming to an end. But the fans did not seem to think so as they all made their way back for one more day of greatness. As everyone seemed to find what they were looking for, there were very few frowns to be seen as the floor was packed once again. It appeared that everyone was still going full force this year, and that is what really made this con one for the memory banks. I do not ever remember seeing so many smiling faces, even when making their ways through the aisles as I did this year, which would indicate that they were all having a great time all around.

As Sunday came to an end and the customary applause took place from everyone working on the con floor took effect, it was time to say goodbye to Denver Comic Con once again. Getting the quick goodbyes to everyone who made this a great event once again was key. Not one handshake, fist bump or hug was wasted in showing the appreciation to everyone who made this an experience that I will never forget. Thank you once again to Denver Comic Con for allowing us to be a part of this fantastic event and to everyone who is unnamed behind the scenes, especially the volunteers who kept everything running without issue. Even though this event only takes place once a year, my Denver Comic Con family tree continues to grow and overall, that is not a bad thing. I cannot wait to see what is on the docket for next year!

I am always looking for treasures to bring home from Denver Comic Con and this year was no different. Being able to talk to some great artists about their work is always a highlight for me and seeing how some fans lives were changed after meeting their favorite artists, I see that I am not the only one. This year was a little different for me, as I usually splurge on a ton of prints, I went more of the comic book route this time, and now have plenty of books to keep me busy, along with a few prints to admire in between readings, so, without further ado, here are some of the amazing creations that I brought home with me this year.

Ben Templesmith – Even though he did not bring any of his copies of 30 Days of Night this trip, I was able to pick up a couple copies of his latest book, Blackholers which looks pretty darn intriguing. From the first time I saw his artwork hanging outside of his booth, I knew that I would be a forever fan and the magic inside of the pages has confirmed this yet once again.

Zac Skellington – Knowing Zac for a couple of years and having my own one of a kind Gnome eyeing me every night, I know he can do much more. Picking up his copy of A SKELLOSKETCHBOOK was a great choice as it highlights great works from over the years.  I must admit that I am a sucker when it comes to people drawing Jokers, and he has got a couple of my favorites highlighted in there as well.

J. James McFarland – Stopping by J. James’s booth, he had one of his books that made its first appearance a couple months back, Gen-Exxed. With his own version of X-Men going on between the pages, I cannot wait to jump in and see what stories they have to tell.

Nathanial Hamel – Seeing that Nate was going to be back at Denver Comic Con this year made me smile a little bit bigger. I had to pick up his new book Barbarians, not only to show my love, but to keep him coming back.  I must admit that I have only thumbed through the book thus far, but I do love the artwork in it, especially for the character Gosta who has an epic mustache. 

Felipe Echevarria – I see Felipe at every show I go to and his artwork is always breath taking. I decided to pick up his book Ankh, which features painted Sandman Death sketches from 1993-2009. In fact this book holds over thirty paintings of Death, and I will admit that the way it is laid out, it tells a story of its own. This was a must have for my collection.

Russell Nohelty – Being a writer and founder of Wannabe Press, Russell fit right in with the artists. One of his books, Katrina Hates Dead S%it, was next to impossible to ignore. Being able to get his own book off of the ground by asking people what they wanted and getting artists who are as passionate about it as he was, I will admit that this might be one of my favorite surprise pick-ups of the show. And when you get done with the book and see the back cover, you will agree, the apocalypse sucks.

Jason Meents – I talk about his work every year and it is hard not to fall in love with his artwork, I mean you can never go wrong with Tykes. I do need to grow my collection of Jason’s work, so to do so, I made sure to pick up this Batman piece. This will go great with my ever growing collection and actually make me not feel bad about having a teddy bear in my room.

Lewis Brown – I always keep an eye out for Lewis’ work and any new updates on his book, Brown Hornet Omniverse.  I will admit that after getting a quick peek of the book last year, I was chomping at the bit to get a copy when he showed up. Flipping through the pages and seeing just a small sample of what challenges the Brown Hornet will have to face, I am excited to jump in, because the creatures are extremely eye catching. 

Chad Harden – If you don’t know that I am a huge Joker fan, now you know, I am a huge Joker fan. Chad has perfected the counterpart to my favorite character in Harley Quinn and it is time to expand my collection a little bit further. I picked up a couple of the metal trading cards, not only because they are small, but it helps to get my collection going with a quick shot. I think everyone needs a little bit of Harley in their lives, not only because she sticks with the Joker, but because sometimes we all need to embrace our crazy.

Todd Jones – I love talking with Todd at these events, mainly because it turns into gut splitting laughter and this year was no different. Needing to update my Wicked Awesome Tales collection by picking up book #6, featuring The Undead Avenger: Brother Bones, my heart skipped a beat when I saw another new book, Classic Monsters as Sharks. Not having any idea that he was going to turn his drawing obsession into a book, Todd has pulled together all of his favorite Classic Monster Sharks from the past year and even gave them an intertwined backstory in the Shark Universe. With sharks ranging from Sharkula to Sharkzilla, this book is a dream come true. Oh yeah, I also got an outlier that did not make the Shark book in Mantas-Shark, because he was too scary.

Frankie Serna – One of the hidden gems on the con floor is always Frankie, for one reason, he is always smiling and happy to see you. I had fallen in love with Frankie’s art a couple years ago with his awesome Venom that has so much texture, it is hard to believe it’s not real. This year, I got a special one of a kind Joker sketch from him, which will have to become one of my pride and joys of this year. With all of the detail work that went into it, it is more than I ever could have imagined and I cannot give enough thanks to him.

There you have it, my Denver Comic Con take home for this year. I wish it could have been more like in years past, but overall, I am very happy with my purchases. One of the things that I love about this event is not only being able to view some of the great artwork that litters the aisles, but to talk with the artists who are able to put it down on paper. Listening to their stories is truly priceless when all is said and done and while you might be buying something to put on your walls, know that you are helping to keep the artists doing what they love. I cannot say enough about how much artistic talent was at Denver Comic Con this year. It was a pleasure chatting with them inside and outside of the con and I only hope to keep my collections growing with their work and others that I find along the way.

Denver Comic Con weekend can sometimes be quite the exhausting experience, in a good way of course, and because of the fatigue that can settle in from seeing the sights and the sounds of a convention this big...people tend to have a pretty specific routine when it comes to Sunday in order to maintain their energy and see the end of the weekend with a smile on their face and pep in their step. 

Let's see if this sounds about right. After a fun filled Saturday evening at the various hotels with your good friends or friends you haven't seen in forever, you tend to sleep in the next day. Sure you're excited for the con, but today...you take your time getting ready. Your breakfast or your coffee isn't consumed in a matter of seconds, in fact you take your time to enjoy it all before finally grabbing up your gear and your badge and heading over and once you arrive, you mosey about the sights, pick up those last items on your shopping list and say your goodbyes to your con family before heading home for a long summer's nap. 

But this year, that was simply not the case for Sunday. There was a special energy in the air, in fact the best way to describe it, is that it felt like Friday. People were rushing into the con as quickly as they could, they were filled to the brim with energy and ready to get everything they wanted to accomplish on their list out of the way before the clock struck six. Sure, plenty of folks were tired as well, as is to be expected, but in my many years attending this convention, I've never seen this kind of energy and drive on a Sunday and it was simply a magnificent sight to behold.

Not to mention, the obligatory goodbyes were different in their own right this year as well. Usually it's a quick wave and goodbye or a brief embrace before parting ways. But this time around, everyone was determined to make every single second last as long as possible before heading out for the day and everywhere I turned people were talking about how wonderful it was to see their con family once again and how this year felt like a family reunion, and as the day finally wound down, and I finished my lengthy lists of goodbyes as well...that's when it hit me, this really was a reunion of sorts.

In a way, Denver Comic Con really has become about family. It's one of the few conventions out there anymore built from the ground up. There's no bigger company concerned about profit alone running this con and several other ones. This is Denver's baby, it's for a good cause, and every single one of us have helped make it what it is today. It feels like home, because we've made it home. It feels like we're seeing family because the people we've met at this convention have become a big part of our lives, and the fact that it feels so comfortable and so familiar speaks volumes to what everyone involved with this convention, from Director Chris Angel to the everyday fan, have built...a truly open place for geeks to unite, and share their love of a particular fandom without impunity, and potentially make some life long friends along the way. Either way, this was simply the best Denver Comic Con I've ever attended, and I cannot wait to see what wonders await us next year, and beyond...

As was the case with Denver Comic Cons of the past, Saturday is the day you never want to miss, especially if you want to witness something special and this year was no different. During my normal 6 a.m. walk around the convention center and only seeing a couple people waiting in line, I was worried that there might have been a drop off from years past, but to my amazement, when heading back in for our entrance time, the line was quickly finding a way to wrap itself around the convention center.  While this is nothing out of the ordinary, I must admit that this left me in awe once again. The real reason behind this is that it was mainly families waiting to get into the con and they weren't looking too disappointed while waiting, because they knew what greatness awaited them inside the doors.

While listening to the artists talk about their artwork while customers sorted through prints and originals, it was great to see the reception that they were getting. With different styles and techniques on display, it was easy to see how many people were blown away by their options. While there is nothing wrong with getting to look at your options of what you want to buy, the con floor steadily started to fill up like nothing I have seen before. As the entrance line continued to filter in as noon passed, it was obvious to see that everyone that had a ticket had made their way into the con and were looking for their next valued treasure. 

While the aisles were packed with people looking for the exact thing that they were looking for, it did seem that those looking to get to another destination were willing to wait a little longer to make their way through. That is not something I have really witnessed in the past, since usually, I'm bumped into constantly and feel like nobody is really paying attention when making their way through the aisles. If fans make a con great, I really think that this years attendees have done a stellar job from day one and I cannot wait to see what happens on Sunday.

One of the things that I love to watch is the artist/fan interactions and this year has been really great. While some artists are willing to take commissions during the con, some have been known to lower their heads at their booths and not even notice when someone approaches them. This year, that does not seem to be the case as everyone is watching the floor and waiting to see who is coming next. I must admit that I have had a great time watching the Red Team Go booth at the Pop Culture Classroom Corral for the past couple of days, as the artists are sketching for the kids and seeing the smiles and thanks they receive for their work as another valued treasure is born is just wonderful.

I don’t know why, but Denver Comic Con always seems to surprise me and this year is no different. I feel like Saturday was the biggest day attendance wise in the con's history when looking down the aisles and seeing people move through them. Even taking a quick look off of the main con floor to the vendors and groups on the lower levels, there was not a place where I did not see people making their way to their next destination. I am really amazed that I did not hear anyone complaining about the lines to see their favorite stars, much less how packed the floor really was. I can’t wait to see what Sunday brings as it seems like each day is better than the last. I hope everyone is able to make it down that wants to, this is really an event that is on another level.

It's been five glorious years since the Colorado Convention Center opened its doors to host the first ever Denver Comic Con, and it's been quite the ride ever since. The crowds continue to get larger, the guests continue to get bigger and really, when all is said and done, this convention truly is the crown jewel of the Mile High City.

Yet yesterday, I couldn't help but notice that there was a different 'feel' in the hours leading up to the convention. For me...there was a sense of routine that accompanied everything. The sheer anticipation wasn't quite building in my heart or my stomach and hopping on the train to head down to the Convention Center was no different than hopping in the car to go to work and well...this worried me for a moment. Was the excitement finally gone? Has Denver Comic Con truly become just another daily event for me to deal with in the summer time? 

As it turns out, the answer to those questions, thankfully, is a resounding no. Because once I made it through my line and stepped out on to the floor to explore this year's new layout...that little flutter in my stomach started to build. I was here, this was it, the fun was about to begin and minute by minute, as I reunited with old friends that I haven't seen for a while, be it from the last DCC or the last time we hung out in general, that sense of community started to grow and when the doors finally opened and the first big wave of fans rushed through...that's when the magic returned.

Because everywhere I looked, I saw nothing but smiles and wide eyed wonder. Denver Comic Con was underway, the time to geek out and not feel an ounce of shame for it was here, and I even recall hearing a pair of young women declare just how exciting and how awesome it was to be here before stopping to snap a picture and well...they're right. This convention is and will forever be about the things that we love and it doesn't matter if you're here to add to your autograph or art collection or if you're just here for a good time, it's all about celebrating your favorite fandom with family or friends and spending a weekend immersing yourself in geeky goodness.  

However, regardless of seeing all that joy, and finding the rush that comes with Denver Comic Con a little later than usual, I was still left wondering...why then was there a sense of routine in my mind before the wonder took over? The answer to that is simple...because Denver Comic Con is truly an institution in Denver now, and there's a comfort that comes with that. We know it's here, we know it's coming so there's not always a need to build it up in our minds, because the wonder and the awe that comes with this con is waiting for us when we arrive, and I for one, cannot wait to let the bliss that Denver Comic Con provides us with, fill my heart with it once again. 

One of the many reasons that Hollywood tends to find a special place in our hearts, is simply due to the fact that in many ways...the actors we know and love have in essence, been around for a majority of our lives. We are often introduced to them at a young age, and their familiar face allows for us to easily follow their career into adulthood where we fondly remember their work and celebrate it with others as often as possible. 

After all, their work instantly evokes a sense of nostalgia in our hearts, reminding us of life when we were first introduced to their work, and collecting their films on DVD or VHS or whatever medium you enjoy is often a priority for us as well because of how special those films, those moments in time and those actors were and are to us and one such actor, who has enjoyed a rich and illustrious career in the business and has also been apart of several iconic films throughout said career is the ultra talented John Cusack. 

Mister Cusack started his career in the early 1980's, and he could not have chosen a better time to step before the camera since he found work in one of John Hughes' most iconic motion pictures in Sixteen Candles as Bryce and from there, the sky became the limit for his career and he truly became a screen icon in 1989's Say Anything, since that film is well known for the moment when Lloyd raises that boombox toward the sky, with Peter Gabriel's 'In Your Eyes' pouring out of its speakers. Yet while many other actors of John's caliber from the 80's faded out in the 1990's before making a wild comeback years later, John kept on going strong. 

He received much acclaim for his work in 1995's Grosse Pointe Blank where he played troubled hitman Martin Blank and he also shared screen time in the strangest of fashion with fellow screen legend John Malkovich in 1999's Being John Malkovich and he even made the jump to action star, hopping a ride aboard 1997's Con Air with Nicolas Cage. Even now, he continues to find meaty roles that keep audiences talking, and he even stepped into the horror pool in the big screen adaptation of Stephen King's 1408, and perhaps the beauty of looking back at his career, and all the iconic and beloved films that John has starred in...is that it makes yesterday's announcement that he will be attending Denver Comic Con 2017, all the more sweeter. 

Yes, you read that right, the already powerful lineup that Denver Comic Con has put together for this year, just added an incredible screen legend to Celebrity Summit and I know speak for a lot of my fellow geeks out there when I say...wow. It just goes to show that this con is all about the fan experience. So since 3 day passes are sold out, and Mister Cusack is only attending DCC Friday and Saturday, you need to get your tickets as soon as possible because this is it ladies and gentlemen, DCC is upon us on at last and I'll see all of you, with my boombox and cassette tape of Peter Gabriel's 'So' in line at the Colorado Convention Center this weekend! 

There is one thing that I always look forward to doing when Denver Comic Con comes around, mill around Artist Valley.  And this year will be no different from any other with the con bringing in some of the best of the best when it comes to artists that have brought our favorite characters to life. It always amazes me to see the work that comic book artists are able to achieve when bringing a story to life with their artwork. Then when they take it a step further by showcasing their own artwork and creations, it is nothing short of breath taking.  So here are the artists that are a must to visit this year.
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Allen Bellman is always a staple to visit at DCC, his work over the years of bringing our favorite character, Captain America, to life should never be forgotten. With new artwork in the works for Cap, it is hard to deny that what he has been able to do has changed people’s lives. I am always reminded of one conversation that I overheard during the first year of DCC when a guest made sure to tell his story about how he and his father were able to bond over the Captain America comic book and nothing would ever break that bond, even when things seemed to be getting out of reach for them.

​One of my favorite dark artists will be coming back this year, Ben Templesmith. The first time I saw his artwork, I was blown away, not because of the darkness, but because of the story that goes along with it. If there is not a long line, he is more than willing to give you the stories behind his work and it is just amazing to hear what he was thinking when he created it. He was also the main artist in the 30 Days of Night series, which is still just some amazing work and I hope he brings a couple copies of it this year, because I missed out on it the last time he was in Denver.

​Chad Harden will be in attendance once again and if you are a comic book fan, especially a DC fan, you will need to stop by and check out his Harley Quinn artwork. With all of the variations that he has brought to life, it is something that any fan would love to have in their collection. I am also pretty sure that he will be taking commissions during the con so you can get your very own one of a kind Harley, or anything else that your heart desires.

Actionline Studios – The artistic team of Matt Campbell and Ron Root will be showing off their skills this year.

Felipe Echevarria – Huge fan of Felipe’s work and thank you to my buddy Todd Jones for turning me on to his work.

Jay Peteranetz – Known Jay for a few years now and I love his Magicians Must Die card sets and he will also be promoting his new project Broderick.

Jeff Herndon Illustration – Huge fan of Jeff’s work, since every character he draws looks like they are in a photo and not a drawing.  He will be showing off his Massive Indiana Jones movie poster as well, it is going to be epic.

Lewis Brown Hornet – I met Lewis Brown last year and was blown away with his stories. Taking a look at his new comic, Brown Hornet Omniverse, I was utterly amazed. He should have some copies this year, so if you have not ordered a copy yet, make sure to pick one up.

Meents Illustrated – Jason is really the Tykes master and has made even more than you can shake a stick at.

Patrick Canter – Meeting Patrick last year, I was surprised to see the different styles his work took. He has a good booth that is great for browsing and picking up some of your favorite characters.

Philip Spaulding – Excited to see Phil this year as he has packed up all of his old work and has put his focus on surrealism. Can’t wait to see what he brings to the table.

Pink Havok – Blake Henriksen always has something new and mind blowing at his table, just need to wait and see what it is this year.

Red Team Go – Talk about a group that has their stuff together. With team members Colton Muheim, Joe Becker, Oi Bob Parks, Cachet Whitman, Saro Hang, Guy Davis, JohnnyShin and Roberto Martinez, this is a powerhouse of talent in one small place.

Sal Galindo – While Sal has an awesome collection of Stitch variants, I have fallen in love with his Day of the Dead princess series and I cannot wait to see what he puts on the table this year.

Serna Illustration – I love stopping by and checking out Frankie Serna’s work. I cannot wait to see what he has on the table this year and chatting with him, because he is always smiling and willing to chat. 

She Paints with Blood – Don’t let the name scare you away, Aria Fawn’s artwork is mind blowing. It is definitely a booth to stop by and take a look.

Shelby Robertson – Finally Shelby is coming to DCC and I could not be happier. Seeing his work over the years, I have several pieces, but my main collection is of his Joker prints, since he draws the villain the way he should look.

Skello Art – Zac and Mindy Conley make this show so much fun. As they will probably be accompanied by their kids, I cannot wait to see them and see what their new projects have yielded.

Skylar Patridge – What can I say about Skylar that has not already been said. Following her over Inktober last year, I saw a side of her that has left me speechless. Really awesome stuff and I cannot wait to see what new treasures she has brought along with her this year.

The Art of Steven Pulawa – Steven is an awesome artist and has really been able to capture plenty of people’s attention while they pass by his table. Keep an eye out for him, he has been known to #STEVED many people on the con floor.

Todd Jones and Lee Oaks – While last year I was giving Todd a hard time for not being an artist (all in good fun of course), he has devised a great series featuring Classic Movie Monster Sharks and we had a great time talking about how to do them. I also cannot wait to see when Lee gets his own table, since that seems to happen very quickly so I can find out how his Thunder Monkey series is going.

Once again, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to artists coming to Denver Comic Con this year and I cannot be more excited. If you are looking for me, I will be back in Artist Valley, not just because I love the artwork, but I also love the people. There is something to be said about artists that really love what they do and you can see it in their eyes when they make a sale. Then the excitement that the fans get in meeting their idols, well, there is nothing like it. Sooooo, get your list together, because I can guarantee you that you will be lost in this sea of awesomeness, which overall, might not be a bad thing. Happy Conning!

Getting ready for Denver Comic Con is always fun and this year is no exception as the star power on the floor is out of control this year. With your favorite voice actors from the Justice League series, a couple Buffy stars and a couple of kids from Stranger Things in attendance, it is just crazy to think that they will all be in one place. If you are planning on getting any of these autographs, you might want to get to the con pretty early, as I am sure that the lines will be crazy once again, especially as some of the stars are going to be there for only a day or two. 

Being a diehard fan of the Firefly series, Nathan Fillion will be in the house on Saturday and Sunday. I guarantee that his line will be the longest both days, because I am not the only one that loves the characters that he plays, much less would like a couple minutes to pick his brain about his other roles and how he felt about being eaten in Santa Clarita Diet. Between his television and movie roles, he also seems to find time to voice act in plenty of video games, which I was not aware of. So I am sure that everyone, in some form or fashion, has heard his voice coming through their television screen at one time or another.

Call me a true nerd, but I almost passed out when it was announced that Famke Janssen was attending the con, I mean come on, it's Jean Grey for crying out loud. While everyone knows her from that role, which she excelled at, she is also a horror movie veteran which I just love. With such credits as Lord of Illusions, Deep Rising and House on Haunted Hill, she has always been on my list of actresses to meet. Even though she will only be in attendance on Saturday, it is great that she is coming to the Mile High City for even one day.

As you all know, I am a huge Netflix Marvel fan and two of the most recent series stars are going to be in attendance, Mike Colter (Luke Cage) and Finn Jones (Iron Fist). While the Luke Cage series is my favorite one from this universe thus far, I was surprised how well the story played for Iron Fist and while there are some issues with it, there will be a massive teaming up with Daredevil and Jessica Jones coming soon in the form of The Defenders. While I am sure that these lines will be crazy long, especially the photo ops on Saturday with both of the stars, I am sure that they will be a joy to meet and have some new stories about what is happening in the Marvel Universe.

While the Justice League voices seem to span the globe, there are two voice actors that I will be more excited to meet from one of my favorite shows, Aqua Teen Hunger Force; Carey Means and Dana Snyder.  I mean it is Frylock and Master Shake. Loved this show for many years and wish it would make a return, and I am sure that I am not the only one. But these two are not only pigeonholed into one show, as Dana has also been the voice of the Penguin for many years for DC, and he even writes on occasion and had a hand in writing my third favorite episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return in Wizards of the Lost Kingdom, and Carey Means just has that great deep voice that has boomed and echoed on other shows such as Perfect Hair Forever and The Brak Show and it is so deep and powerful that it can haunt your dreams, just like the chains...from my dreams.

It would be hard to forget about one of my childhood stars that I learned too much about life from, 'Weird Al' Yankovic. While everyone else was listening to their new hip hop tapes and CDs, I was stuck on listening to Al’s parody songs and loved the heck out of them. If you could ever wear out a CD, I did just by playing 'Amish Paradise' over and over. While he has been known for his music over the years, I am also a huge fan of the movie U.H.F. where Al is the lead and he does a damn fine job keeping a silly movie rolling. But the best part when it comes to his illustrious career, is that he is still as relevant today as he was thirty years ago, which is just amazing. Talk about someone that would have stories to tell, as since he has touched just about every industry out there and is still going strong.

While I would love to sit back, have a beer and listen to stories from almost every star, the one that would blow me away would be Wallace Shawn. While everything is ‘Inconceivable’, I am sure that his years in the industry are full of plenty of great anecdotes. With a very distinct voice, it does not matter if he is in costume or not, you will instantly know it’s 'that guy' from The Princess Bride. With plenty of other movies under his belt and more acting jobs than you can shake a stick at, picking Wallace’s brain for a couple minutes would give you stories that you could pass down to your own grandchildren.
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There you go, my celebrity checklist for this year’s Denver Comic Con. With so much star power inside the convention center’s walls this year, I hope to just catch a glimpse of a few of them. While I am sure that everyone has their own favorites, these are just the ones that stand out for me. Make sure to get your list together and expect some long lines this year, I do not think I have ever seen so many big names in one place in my life. Also make sure to take note of their schedules this year, as you have folks that will only be in town for one day, or maybe two days if we are lucky. Get ready to let your Geek Flag Fly this year, as it promises to be the biggest Denver Comic Con to date.