Written by John Edward BetancourtThe 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.
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