SLC Comic Con: The best in the world

If you haven’t gone to Comic Con, it can be difficult to understand. It’s like the business of Black Friday meets the characters at Disneyland and all the nerdiness of Reddit.

I had the privilege of going to the Salt Lake City Comic Con, and I can only say that it has gotten immensely better over the years. Let me tell you about some of the changes.

1. The Costumes

If you don’t know what cosplay is, conventions are easiest way to understand it — basically, most people dress up like it’s Halloween. This year, I noticed that more people were dressed up, and there were even more amazing costumes. In fact, at this year’s convention, the world record for most people dressed up as comic book characters was beaten. For an outsider this may seem strange, but if you ever go to Comic Con, I would definitely encourage you to dress up.

2. The Panels

Another thing about Comic Con is the panels. A panel is when a group of professionals or people well-versed in a subject go and talk about a topic. This year, they had panels ranging from “Why the Muppets Matter” to “How to be a Gamer in a Relationship.” This year they also had a larger variety, better moderators and more panels than any previous year.

3. Getting In

In the past, getting into the convention was a pain. This was because of the massive size of the convention. Just to put things in perspective, last year there were over 120,000 attendees. That is more than four times the size the student body at Utah State University. This year, it’s estimated that 180,000 people attended, but this year it was handled well. Wristbands with chips were sent out in advance, the whole Salt Palace was better utilized and the longest line in the convention was half an hour. I got inside in less than three minutes, got into every panel and saw every booth I wanted. Additionally, they had Trax cars going more often, as well as the FrontRunner and some buses. Due to all these improvements, getting in and finding stuff has never been easier.

4. The Swag

There were more booths at this Con then any SLC Comic Con before — about 1,000. This year they were able to organize it so event-goers could find what they were looking for. From an area for artists, to a photo ops section, to a weapon area, (swords, etc.) you were able to find it. Also the aisles were bigger this year, so it was not as crowded. There also were many promotional swag items that you could get for free, so even if you were broke you didn’t walk away empty-handed.

A print I purchased at the Con.

5. The Celebs

In general, SLC Comic Con is getting more recognition and prestige. Exclusive previews are shown, and more celebrities are coming. Most of the cast of Captain America came, and most of the cast of “Arrow” was there as well. I was able to see Chris Evans, and it was amazing. There were more celebs and it seems to be growing.

6. The Future of Comic Con

What does this mean for Comic Con in the future? It means we will have previews of movies, more reps from other companies and more chances to meet that one star you love.

In a few years, they might not only be the biggest Comic Con in the country, but the world. If you’re interested in more, check out some of the highlight below.

— Riley Thompson studies marketing and is the marketing director for Aggie Radio and The Statesman. He enjoys everything about pop culture, but especially likes to write reviews on comics, movies and apps. He claims to be the No. 1 Disney fan at Utah State University and will challenge anyone who says otherwise. Contact him at rileymcmurdiethompson@gmail.com or on Twitter @RileyMthompson.