Wizard World Chicago ended its 4-day annual run last Sunday at the Stephens (Rosemont) Convention Center in the Chicago suburbs and played host to a gathering of costumed characters, comic book fans and geek culture at large.

Artists' Alley

The comic and pop culture convention featured a two-level floor space for media companies, comic-book dealers, and collectibles merchants. Like most larger comic shows, there was also an autograph area featuring well-known celebrities and an Artists' Alley where comics creators offer their wares, sign autographs, and sell sketches and original art.

The show itself began in 1972, with Wizard acquiring it in 1997 and it has grown accordingly, with this year’s attendance being over 80,000 over the Thursday-Sunday. Media guests were the biggest draw, with Man of Steel villain Michael Shannon, Star Trek’s Zachary Quinto, director Robert Rodriguez, and members of the casts of Walking Dead, Serenity/Firefly and Dr. Who, all in attendance. Wrestlers, former heartthrobs Andrew McCarthy, Jason Priestly, and Ralph Macchio, and even Dennis Rodman all were also part of the autograph area, meeting the faithful and taking pictures.

For music fans, Kansas City-based rapper Tech Nine signed for free all of Saturday/Sunday and Run-DMC’s Daryl McDaniel was present to unveil his new comic line. Comic fans stood in droves for a chance to meet the all-father; Marvel’s Stan Lee, and other creators of note present included UK artist Alan Davis, current Thor artist, Esad Ribic, X-Men writer Chris Claremont, and the current creative team of DC’s hot-selling Batman.

Cosplay fans (those dressed in their favorite character’s costumes) were everywhere on the convention floor and the convention hosted numerous panel discussions, seminars, and a mini-museum of legend Frank Frazetta paintings.

Minneapolis will get its own taste of a Wizard convention in 2014, as it was leaked today that their premier area convention is set for May 2-4, 2014 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, just a scant two weeks before the annual Spring Con on May 17-18, a gathering at the MN Fairgrounds organized by the Midwest Comic Book Association. 2014 looks already busy for comic book and pop culture fans, so plan your calendars accordingly.

john () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ wizardworld.com