Wizard World Comic Con Chicago Brings It's Magic to Rosemont

Wizard World Comic Con once again waived its collective wand bringing the magic of storytelling, fantasy, and sci-fi to the Windy City.  Wizard World Chicago, a 4-day pop-culture convention featuring movie & TV celebrities, comic book creators, and memorabilia dealers, took over the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont from August 24-27, 2017.  The convention was put on by Wizard Entertainment, a company that organizes multiple comics and sci-fi conventions all over the country.

The Light and Dark Sides Compete for Best Costumes

Stars from superhero movies and television, both past and present, were on hand including former Aurora resident John Barrowman (“Arrow’, “Torchwood”), Michael Rocker (“Guardians of the Galaxy”), David Tennant (“Dr. Who”), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules, The Legendary Journeys), Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror Picture Show, Spin City), Alex Kingston (Dr. Who), and legendary Rock Icon Gene Simmons. In addition, dozens of comic book creators, comic book dealers, and thousands of fans dressed as their favorite superhero characters all shared their passion for sci-fi, comic books, and fantasy.

“The appeal of Wizard World crosses generations,” explains Jerry Milani of Wizard Entertainment.  “That’s something you don’t see that often.”  As if to illustrate his point, the convention floor was filled with cosplay fans, young and old, showing off their best costumes throughout the weekend.  Many participated in the Costume After Party (featuring a Best Costume Contest) Saturday evening after the convention floor closed.

Cosplayers Young and Old Showed Their Inner Superhero

Cosplayers Strut Their Stuff

In addition to the celebrities and cosplay, Wizard World offered a series of programs and Q&A panels on such subjects as the business of art; Doing it All: Comic Creators Who Write and Draw; Drawing Disney; Characters of Color: From Black Panther to Aqualad; Anime Openings Through the Decades; and Dead Fans Walking: The Walking Dead Fan Panel. Up and coming artists found inspiration and career advice in Artists’ Alley.  For those participants with a more romantic bent, there was the Sci-Fi Speed Dating Session.  The 3^rd Annual Blood Drive hosted by Wizard World in partnership with Heartland Blood Centers, set a goal of collecting 430 pints of blood to help boost the local blood supply prior to the expected Labor Day blood shortages.

Comic Creator Rob Schmberger Discusses the Business of Art

Other highlights included Caritas Karaoke emceed by Nicholas Brendon (Xander from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) on Thursday night. On Friday, Beecake featuring Billy Boyd (Pippin from The Lord of the Rings) entertained Wizard World fans.  Barry Bostwick hosted a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show for fans.  KISS frontman, Gene Simmons, and his band rocked The Park West after spending the day meeting fans on the convention floor.

Nicholas Brendon and Kato Kaelin Encourage Karaoke Singers

According to Wizard Entertainment’s Milani, this year’s convention floor expanded significant over last year’s square footage.  If the smiles and enthusiasm of this year’s particpants is any indication, Wizard World 2018 will grow even larger.  To learn more about Wizard World and the convention schedule, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/comiccon.