With contributed reporting by Jennifer Ross
The summer convention season is upon us and there is no better kick starter than Wizard World. Reel Talk was on hand for the annual event that kicked off this past Thursday, May 17th and ran through Sunday, May 20th. From cosplayers showing off their hard work, artists showcasing their works and panels spanning throughout the weekend, the convention had something for everyone, allowing a more memorable experience than your typical “meet, greet, repeat” cons.
This year’s Wizard World Philadelphia showcased guests like Bucky Barnes himself, Sebastian Stan, Justice League stars Jason Mamoa (Aquaman) and Ezra Miller (The Flash) and a personal favorite of mine – the Fonz himself, Henry Winkler. What I loved about the guest list is that Wizard has guests for fans of all ages adding a quality to the celebrity meeting experience for con-goers.
As an avid con-goer myself, I have always been a stickler for details and organization when it comes to conventions. There have been experiences in which I would be waiting outside for hours just to gain entrance into the convention center. While that might not matter to some, those that go for one day have their experience ruined by simply waiting too long to enter the building or being shortchanged on longer lines once inside.
But not with Wizard World. I found the entry process to be seamless. I was even taken back by the ease of access to the convention. The process to enter was swift and orderly especially on Friday when we picked up our bracelets and walked through security, allowing for a great first impression for a first time Wizard Worlder. As the weekend continued, the crowds grew larger leading to longer waits, especially during Saturday attendance but it never fully detoured from a fun fan experience.
In speaking with NJ native, Rob Adelson, about his Wizard experience, he was elated to say that “overall, it was excellent and well worth the time and money.” In true Reel Talk fashion, he gave us his impressions and own rating system for the different aspects of the con. Out of 5 points, he stated that the admission process and leading up to the day was a 4.5, citing the ticket purchasing process to be easy and affordable. His panel with Sebastian Stan was a 4.0 due to a 25-minute start delay and visibility in the back of the room was scarce despite the large TV screens but the sound was good throughout the room. He found the “Game the Gamer” demo interactive and inventive despite technical issues with the Wii system. Despite this, it still kept the audience engaged. He found fellow congoers to be super friendly, along with many of them stopping to take pictures of him and his wife – they cosplayed as Bob and Louise Belcher from Bob’s Burgers.
When I asked Adelson what Wizard could do to improve the convention, he said he had hoped to see “more variety in vendors. It seemed that there were a lot of the same things being sold.” He wanted better accessibility in terms of seeing and hearing the presenters in the large panel rooms, a bit more organization at the entry points to the convention to allow crowds to avoid the rain that came – he himself waited about an hour to enter on Saturday due to some poor line management, and more meaningful giveaways and promotions. He also wished there was better organization in panel planning. He found it hard to get to all of the ones he wanted to because of the schedule timing. One very important item he’d love to see added to the show is free snacks from con sponsors! I think we can all agree on that one.
As far as cosplay goes, my absolute favorites of the weekend included a Luke Cage/Jessica Jones collaboration and a nod to Say Anything by Deadpool. Cosplay has and will always be one of my favorite experiences at any convention, for it truly allows fans to let their creative juices flow.
As the weekend concluded, I was able to fully explore all of the vendors and artists on display. I always enjoy meeting new artists and discovering new work finding artist alleys to be a highlight of every convention for me. One of my favorite purchases and discoveries was a throwback World Wrestling Federation button created by Jamie Miller of Jamie Miller Design who had some of the most fun and creative designs at the con.
Reel Talk’s first appearance at Wizard World was one for the books. It’s no wonder why Wizard World continues to be one of the most successful cons around today. Until next year Wizard, it’s been reel!
