Every single con that we geeks attend with glee, has a certain feel and a certain atmosphere to it. You simply know what you're getting when you walk through the door and there's nothing wrong with that. After all, there's a reason we attend these events, because they evoke a certain memory or feeling.  

But is it entirely possible for a convention to reinvent itself out of the blue? Can a con create new feelings and new memories all in the span of a single year? The answer is yes, because Denver Comic Con managed to pull off such feats this past weekend and in the process make itself it a bigger and better convention and truthfully, I hadn't quite noticed the evolution of DCC until Saturday afternoon when I looked out at the endless rows of artist and vendor booths; all packed to the brim with smiling and happy attendees.  

That was of course the first real big change that I noticed for DCC this year, the fact that I have never seen it this busy, and with a preliminary number of 114,900 in attendance, I shouldn't be that surprised, but there was something incredible about seeing that many fans packed into one place, all of them searching for that perfect gift or collectible, or autograph because Celebrity Summit was equally as busy. I can't think of a celebrity guest line that wasn't spilling out onto the floor anytime I walked by, and while often times busy often results in frustration from attendees unable to get to where they need to go, that was another change I noticed for this year's show...it was extremely relaxed.

Yes, despite the fact that the con was in the midst of its busiest year to date, it was more or less entirely stress free. I knew where everything was, I knew exactly how and when to get there and in a way, the crowd energized the experience. Everywhere I turned there were giant smiles to be found as people took in the sights, marveled at amazing cosplays and the fact that no one else seemed rushed, or flustered only helped contribute to the relaxed atmosphere of the day and well, I think the credit for creating an environment such as this goes to the Denver Comic Con volunteers and staff because without them, none of this would be possible. Their tireless work and endless planning brought forth the final big change I noticed for the con this year; the fact that although this is only the fifth year of the show, this weekend it felt like it had been around for so much longer.

From the look of the show, to the knowledge of the people working it, you'd never know this was such a young con if you were a first year attendee and well, I have to say I'm impressed. When I got home Saturday, I felt excited and energized for Sunday and most importantly, I was in awe of the fact that a convention I have attended since day one could make these kinds of incredible leaps and bounds in such a short time and it only means that DCC 2017 and beyond...are only going to become all the more incredible. But before I get too far ahead of myself, there was still one day left of this amazing show to attend, and that's where we will pick up next time. Until then. 

Let's be honest folks, the wait for Denver Comic Con 2016 has been an absolutely excruciating one this year, for so many reasons. For starters, it is the biggest convention in the state of  Colorado, and one of the largest in the nation and there's something incredibly special about being able to attend such a premier show in my home state. 

But the anticipation for this convention goes beyond bragging rights, this year features the best line up of guests to date and judging from the map on the Pop Culture Classroom app, the biggest show floor the convention has ever utilized as well. It's simply going to be an incredible weekend, and thankfully the wait is finally over and Denver Comic Con 2016 is upon us at last. 

So what can we expect for the first day of DCC 2016? Well for one, it's going to be busy, with 101,500 in attendance last year I'll be shocked if that number doesn't increase again this year since DCC continues to grow at an exponential rate. So be prepared for a crowd filled to the brim with your fellow geeks and be prepared to have a lot of fun, and if it's your first time at the convention, my advice is to go slow on Friday and take the whole experience in. Walk the floor, get familiar with everything before diving in for something specific, so you don't get overwhelmed by rows and rows of vendors and incredible artists. 

As for some of the spots you definitely want to check out, start with the Pop Culture Classroom Lab if you're bringing your family to the con this weekend. You'll easily be able to spot this area on the con floor since it is clearly labeled and surrounded by activities and workshops for people of all ages. Your kids can learn and have fun with all kinds of crafts and activities available to them throughout the entire weekend and several of the artists in attendance will pop in from time to time to do workshops on art and if you're there at the right time, you can take part in a grand Denver Comic Con tradition...having a celebrity guest pop in to read to all the children hanging out in the PCC Corral. 

If you're looking to check out incredible cosplay, you'll find plenty of that all over the con but the fact of the matter is, the main lobby just beneath the blue bear is where you'll find the costumes you're looking for. Cosplayers will be on hand by the dozens to show off their hard work and pose for photographs and it's not uncommon to see a group of cosplayers dressed from the same fandom help create an impromptu photoshoot. Just be sure to remember to politely ask if a cosplayer is okay with having their picture taken, because cosplay alone is not consent and DCC is all about respect. 

The last thing to see on Friday, and a great way to end the day is by attending Opening Ceremonies. This year the event will be held in the Bellco Theater/Main Events area but this is always a great way to kick off the convention. It's an evening filled with incredible guest speakers and this year looks to add another wrinkle to the fold with some celebrity guests popping up on stage...and so much more. Either way, there is going to be plenty to see and do today and I can't wait to see all of your smiling faces throughout the day because Denver Comic Con 2016 is here at last everybody! ​

If you want to find me at Denver Comic Con, it is a sure bet that you will find me hanging around Artist Valley, it is always where I am hiding. With so many talented artists coming, it is easy to make a list of some favorites that you want to check out. I always have a list of a couple of artists that I make sure to catch first thing when I get to the show, just to make sure I don’t get caught up in the long lines, or for fear of them selling out before I get a chance to buy something.
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Allen Bellman has become a standard on my purchasing list, why you may ask, well he has a fantastic pen and brought Captain America to life. Being in the industry for over seventy years, he is still going strong and his new drawings are just as good as the ones he made back when he was starting out. He is a joy to talk to and he is always happy to answer any questions you have about the character. Don’t forget to get a photo with him as well, one thing Allen is extremely good at is getting you to do the Captain America pose. 

J. Scott Campbell is another good one to check out as he is becoming a staple for the con. Creating some of the most iconic covers for Marvel over the years, his work blows everyone away and is a must have autograph for the true comic book lover. His line is always long, so make sure to get there quickly to get something signed, or possibly a quick sketch by one of the all-time greats.

​Arthur Suydam is great if you are into all things Zombie as he is the Marvel Zombie King. I think I have one of every print that he brings since I love the genre so much. This is a man that has stories to tell, if you get a chance to talk with him one on one, you will be blown away by what he has done, even before joining the art industry.

And of course Stan Lee, the man that was able to kick start Marvel back up. This is a huge announcement for Denver Comic Con since he was supposed to be an honored guest in 2013 but had to cancel for scheduling reasons. I know this line will be nuts from the moment the doors open, so if you are only going to be there for one day, you might want to be in his line first thing since it will never shorten during the show.

With all of the big names that are coming from out of town, it is easy to forget about the local artists that will be in attendance.  These are the people that make the con a great place to visit since you never know what you will be finding on their tables.  So here are just a few that I know and own a piece or two of their artwork that will never be taken from my collection.
 
Alex Miller – Just completed a sweet Star Wars piece with the new cast from Episode 7, including BB-8.

Jay Peteranetz – I love Jay’s work and he did the badges for DCC last year.  If you stop by, make sure to check out his Magician’s Must Die cards.

Jeff Herndon – Every time I look up, Jeff has a new piece that is better than the last. It is hard to walk away from his table empty handed.

Joe Becker – I know Joe has a new Captain Deadpool piece which is fantastic, but he is also working on a new comic Ti**ies and Fangs that will make its appearance at DCC.

Joe Oliver – Joe has been quiet on the Facebook recently, but he has a box of awesomeness on the table at all times.  You never know what you will find in there, but I guarantee you will be blown away.

Lewis Brown – Should have a new book to bring to the show, but I really want his newest Joker/Harley print.

Meents Illustrated – Tykes, tykes and more tykes!  You have got to love them!

Pink Havok – Blake Henriksen’s art is fantastic and spans so many genres, he has something for everyone.

Robert Elrod – I have too much of his artwork, I think I am a fan.  Robert’s artwork has gotten better with age, he must be a wine or something.

Serna Illustration – The man who did the Snape-Ricot artwork for the DCC beer.  But he has much more than that on his table.

Todd Jones and Lee Oaks! – Todd may not be a crazy artist yet, but after the tips he got last year, I bet he will have some pieces that will turn some heads.  Lee Oaks is great and has done the DCC badges before and should have some great sketches to get your heart beating.

​There you have it, some of the great artists that will be attending Denver Comic Con this year.  I know I have left off so many, but there are...so many.  Make sure to walk up and down Artist Valley more than once as they are always working and coming up with new pieces during the show. You never know, you might be able to get a sweet one of a kind sketch catered to your liking as they are always happy to make your dreams come true.  Look forward to seeing you all at Denver Comic Con!

As the days continue to pass by and the Denver Comic Con is only a few days away, why not start to get excited about some of the guests that will be appearing this year.  Why not look at some of my favorite movie and television stars that will be in attendance this year.  Since there are no big name horror stars this year, I thought there would not be much for me, but as always, Denver Comic Con has given us some great names in the industry and a few of them I am quite happy to see on the docket. 
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Ralph Macchio – That’s right, the freaking Karate Kid will be in attendance this year and this would have to be one of my favorite announcements of all time. Kids of my generation have been mimicking him for years with the ‘illegal’ crane kick to ‘wax on, wax off’.  Being and idol for a generation, Macchio has also played in more roles than you can shack a stick at, but my favorite has to be in My Cousin Vinny when he has to depend on his cousin to keep him out of jail for murder.

Lena Headey – Cersei Lannister from our favorite, Game of Thrones.  I must admit that I love how she has been able to take over this role and make it her own.  With so much hatred for her, it shows that she is doing a great job and is a fantastic actress.  There would be so many questions I would love to ask her about the show, but I would probably just ring the bell of shame and admire the scowl that she would shoot my way.

Clark Gregg – Agent Coulson himself and this has to be a favorite for so many people for all of his work on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the few Marvel movies he has been a part of, hopefully he comes back to those since he is alive.  But if I got a chance to talk with him, I would be more interested in his work on a little Joss Whedon movie called Much Ado About Nothing. Being a featured role in a classic Shakespeare story that everyone has had to read at one time or another, it would be great to hear the stories about what went on on set, along with how hard it was to hold the accents.

John Rhys-Davies – Being a child of the eighties and loving Indiana Jones movies, I always had a soft spot for Sallah who was able to help his buddy Indy more often than not. One of the most entertaining actors from the generation that is still working to this day. If I had a bucket list, having drinks with John would defiantly be on it. He has seen the film industry grow and decline over the years, worked with so many other amazing actors and made a name for himself along the way. The stories that he could tell would blow your mind, I guarantee it.

 ​Cary Elwes – Westley from The Princess Bride, it is difficult to find a better movie out there and one of the reasons why is Elwes. Although he has been in many more roles over the years, it is hard to find one that is more quoted, maybe Robin Hood: Men in Tights, but it would be close. I hope I don’t jinx it again, since he was on the slate last year as well and canceled, but hey, it is only a few days away and he is one of the guests I am most excited to meet. I hope he brings his book to sign this year, As You Wish, since he is very proud of his work on it and his iconic role from the Princess Bride has helped to skyrocket him to the star he is today.

​Jeffrey Dean Morgan - You know, truthfully I stopped watching The Walking Dead a long time ago. It's got zombies going for it and I respect that and I love a good zombie story as much as the next guy, but I personally had some issues with the way they told the story. But, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan joining the show, I may have to give it another chance. He's just an incredible actor and my personal favorite when it comes to what he has done so far was his role as Clay in The Losers. Love the fact that he's coming to DCC on such short notice and if he has a 8x10 of Clay at his table, might need to step in line and have him sign one for me. 

I know I have left several people off of my list, but it is my list and not everybody has made a crazy impression on me, yet. All off the guests are fantastic and every year when you get to meet one, you are blown away by how down to earth they really are. Make sure to have your wallet stuffed if you're planning to get autographs at the con since it's cash only when you get there, but it is worth it to meet some of the people that have captured your imagination on the big and small screens and a make a new memory that you will never forget.

Following the unfortunate announcement that Robin Lord Taylor will not be able to attend Denver Comic Con 2016 due to a scheduling conflict with Gotham's shooting schedule, DCC decided to act quickly and announce a new guest to fill Robin's now empty booth and well...this announcement just so happens to be a doozy. 

Jeffrey Dean Morgan, long time fan favorite of so many genre themed shows will now be appearing at Denver Comic Con 2016 this upcoming Father's Day Weekend and this is one heck of a last minute addition to the show, because Jeffrey is quite the decorated actor to say the least. 

He is of course extremely well known to Supernatural fans for playing John Winchester and comic book fans everywhere praised his powerhouse live action performance of the Comedian in 2009's Watchmen. But Jeffrey's resume includes several roles in drama as well with appearances in The Good Wife and Grey's Anatomy over the past few years, and he even showed us how much butt he can kick in an action flick with his role as Clay in 2010's The Losers.  As of late, Jeffrey is enjoying the spotlight with some pretty incredible roles since he recently portrayed Thomas Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. 

However, while his appearance in that movie was awesome, let's be honest, there's one role on his resume that everyone is talking about...his portrayal as Negan in The Walking Dead. In a mere fifteen minutes, Jeffrey managed to encompass everything we love to hate and hate to love about this iconic character and that terrifying and powerful performance from Jeffrey was only the beginning. Negan plays a huge part in the comics, just as he will on the show and his incredible portrayal of the character in that short time frame is no doubt a harbinger of what kind of top notch acting we can come to expect from him as his role on the show grows and grows. 

There is however, one slight catch to his appearance at Denver Comic Con this year; he will only be available to greet his fans, hopefully with Lucille if we are lucky, on Sunday at the convention. So with it being so close to the con and the fact he is only going to be there one day; get your Sunday passes for DCC from their website ASAP, and I really can't stress that enough since three day passes have completely sold out. Either way, what an awesome addition to this year's show and I really can't wait to meet Jeffrey and see all of you this weekend at the Colorado Convention Center.

The summer of 1987 is a fond one in my geeky databank of memories for one particular reason, this was the year that Paramount announced that the next chapter in the grand and sweeping saga that is Star Trek would be arriving in the fall by way of Star Trek: The Next Generation.  As a young geek this was the highlight of my year and every single time a new promo for the show aired on Channel 2 out in here Denver, the volume was up and my attention was focused as the commercials counted down to the arrival of the series premiere.

Yet as I watched these promos when they popped up, one particular image kept standing out in my mind, a brief shot of a man in a yellow Starfleet uniform, with equally yellow skin sitting bolt upright, un-phased by the chaos surrounding him. The coolness of the character in that moment is what caught my attention and over the course of the next seven years (and four feature films) we would come to know the android known as Data and he was a character that found his way into our all of our hearts courtesy of Brent Spiner and his incredible performance in portraying this futuristic Pinocchio. 

Brent's work on the show allowed for TNG to question often what it really meant to be human and how precious some of the moments we take for granted truly are and his final appearance as the character in Star Trek: Nemesis was nothing short of heartbreaking. But Brent is such a versatile actor that Data is not the only character that defines his career. Brent has enjoyed a rich career over the years, popping up in films like Independence Day and its forthcoming sequel Independence Day: Resurgence, and recently he reunited with his former captain on the Starz original show; Blunt Talk. 

Truly Brent Spiner is an icon in the science fiction community and iconic actors seems to be the theme this year for Denver Comic Con since they recently announced that Brent will be in attendance for this year's convention. It's not Brent's first trip to DCC since he was here with the rest of his former cast mates for a TNG reunion last year, but it is his first solo trip to the con and it's quite amazing to see DCC announce another incredible guest with only a couple of weeks to go until the big event. Either way, it will be an honor to meet Brent in a couple weeks and if you'd like to meet him too, or haven't picked up your tickets yet...snag them today from the DCC website, and we will see all of you in Brent's line this Father's Day weekend! 

Sometimes the mark of a good actor is how their career survives once they have become a pop culture icon. After all, once an actor is tied to a particular role, their face is forever associated with it and while that's not necessarily a bad thing...sometimes an actor can never escape it. 

But once an actor figures out how to become more than that one role, well miracles happen on screen and that's precisely what happened to the ultra-talented Lena Headey. She was showered with incredible praise and love from the fans for her fantastic performance as Sarah Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and every ounce of that praise was well deserved, thanks to her powerhouse portrayal of the character. 

Unfortunately, the show did not last long on the air, but none of that mattered, because Lena's talent was now out in the open and her opportunity to emerge from Sarah's shadow arrived a couple of years later when HBO brought her on board to play Cersei Lannister in the now smash hit show, Game of Thrones where fans tune in weekly to see what schemes she will come up with next. But what matters more, is that Denver Comic Con has landed another pop culture icon for their already impressive lineup since Lena is coming to this year's convention and quite frankly, I'm a little in awe of this particular announcement. 

Game of Thrones is one of the biggest shows on television and to have such an important actor from the show and one of Lena's talent and caliber is a huge deal. DCC continues to load up their guest list with only the best in the business and this is no exception to that rule. Which means I have to reinforce once again...get your tickets from Denver Comic Con's website today and I can't wait to see Lena and all of you come Father's Day Weekend! 

Every franchise out there, be it television, film or even comics need keystone characters that are instantly recognizable. These are the people that drive certain stories, help shape the fates of others and often find themselves loved by fans everywhere because they're downright awesome. 

Marvel has done a fine job of giving us characters that fit that particular mold and out of the many memorable ones they have delivered our way, only one has become so important and relevant that she has evolved from keystone character, to outright pop culture icon; Peggy Carter. 

Yes, our favorite SSR Agent has become a symbol of everything we come to expect from the super heroes we adore. She is fearless, she is strong and inspiring and none of that would be possible without the right actor taking on the role and Peggy's rise to pop culture icon is a direct result of the incredible work from the actor behind her, Hayley Atwell.

If anything it's safe to say that Hayley's performance as Peggy is so strong and so revolutionary that she is in many ways responsible for the sudden surge in strong female characters that we see in television and film, and now the actor who has helped inspire a change in pop culture and inspired generations of young women...is coming to Denver Comic Con 2016. Yes, the SSR/S.H.I.E.L.D. lineup continues to grow as DCC adds another big time Marvel Cinematic Universe actor to their already impressive lineup. 

But there is a slight catch, since Hayley's schedule is a busy one, she will only be available to greet her fans for autographs and photo ops on Saturday only. So you know the drill, don't waste any more time and get over to Denver Comic Con's Website today to get your tickets because Hayley Atwell is coming to Denver and this is another big time announcement from DCC and it's only a matter of time now before tickets sell out. 

There are some actors who do such an incredible job in making their character as genuine as possible, that you are instantly drawn to their character and love every second that they happen to be on screen. They usually happen to steal the show every single time they show up and the only actor that I know that has managed to achieve that for me in recent years is Clark Gregg with his portrayal of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent/Director, Phil Coulson.

Of course we were all introduced to Phil in Iron Man so long ago and his ability to banter and hang with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark is what made all of us fall in love with the character and I distinctly recall hearing people clap and cheer every single time he popped up in any of the Phase One Marvel movies, and he quickly became a character we cared for through and through, so much in fact that The Avengers could be considered Clark's finest work.

After all, we saw the fanboy side of Phil we never knew existed and let's be honest...everyone had tears in their eyes when he went out like a champ doing his best to keep Loki under control, and his death was so compelling and powerful that it absolutely forced me to tune in to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. so I could figure out not only how he survived...but to enjoy the wonder of the character all over again. But Clark's work with Marvel often over shadows his other work in television and film, since he has appeared on shows like The West Wing and The Shield and he even popped up in One Hour Photo and A.I. Artificial Intelligence.

But what matters most, is that Clark Gregg is coming to Denver Comic Con 2016 for a special one day engagement on Sunday. Clark will be on hand to meet his Marvel fans and take pictures and sign autographs on this day, and man...let's call it like it is, this is an epic announcement. Folks from the Marvel Cinematic Universe are hard to book due to their busy schedules, so for DCC to land Clark for even Sunday is simply phenomenal. Get your tickets as quickly as you can because as you can see, Denver Comic Con isn't even remotely done announcing big time guests for the con and if they're snagging folks from the MCU...it makes you wonder who else they plan on announcing for this year's convention.