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A Hip Hop Retrospective On C2E2 2014

Published Fri, 16 May 2014 17:00:00 -0500

By Patrick A. Reed

The Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (colloquially known as C2E2, and henceforth referred to by that name) is one of the highlights of the spring convention schedule – it's a great show in a great city, an event that's sizable without being overwhelming, and that manages to balance commercial and community concerns in a way that few conventions seem to manage.

I've participated in every go-round since 2011, and this year I was juggling even more than usual, reporting from the floor and presenting back-to-back panels on Saturday – in addition to doing a "Comics & Pop Music" panel for the third year in a row, I conducted the latest in the series of "Hip-Hop & Comics: Cultures Combining" panels that I organize at cons across the country.

And this year's C2E2 managed to live up to every one of my hopes, while still subverting my expectations. It was a very different show than in previous years, with a bigger and wider-ranging floor plan, yet a more intimate vibe.

Last year C2E2 seemed poised to become the midwest equivalent of a NYCC or WonderCon, with a massive footprint and a who's who of celebrities, creators, and publishers on hand. But with an increasingly crowded convention calendar, everyone is having to make tough decisions – it's increasingly impossible to have a presence at all the big shows. And as C2E2 2014 was held the same weekend as the esteemed Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, and the weekend immediately following WonderCon Anaheim and Washington D.C.'s fast-growing Awesome Con, there were far less heavy hitters present than there have been in past years. Boom/Archaia had a much smaller booth than usual, and seemingly ever-present companies like Oni, IDW, and DC were notable by their absence.

On the bright side, the relative lack of marquee names left more of the spotlight for everyone else. Smaller companies drew big crowds to their tables, and Artist Alley was packed full of fans who gathered to admire work by rising stars who might otherwise have been buried in the shadows of higher-profile fan favorites. And the entire affair felt easy-going and relaxed, especially in comparison to most shows of this scale.

There's a lot of different elements that go into making C2E2 such a great time: the fans are passionate; the show-runners are efficient and pleasant to work with; the venue (McCormick Place) is spacious, open, and well-lit; and the overall vibe is one of openness, inclusion, and enthusiasm. As with any decent-scale con, there's an incredible array of costumes on display, but prefab and store-bought examples are greatly outnumbered by handcrafted and homemade specimens. Whether it was the cardboard and twinkle-light Autobots, the foam and foil velociraptor, or the Old West Saloon-styled Marvel Comics heroes, the degree of craft that the fans put into creating these outfits was nothing short of breathtaking.

The attendance at panels was also better than I anticipated. Last year, it seemed like the Marvel and DC panels were all spilling out at the edges, while more specialized programming fell a bit by the wayside. This year, every room I poked my head into looked to be full up with fans eager to listen, learn about, and participate in whatever topic was being discussed.

As for my own panels, which were scheduled back-to-back on Saturday evening, I couldn't have been happier with the reception. This was the third annual C2E2 go-round for my "Comics & Pop Music" conversation, so I anticipated a decent turn-out, and was not disappointed – I was joined by Caleb Goellner (of Comics Alliance) and Vivek J. Tiwary (author of the Eisner-nominated The Fifth Beatle graphic novel) for a lively conversation and Q&A, and the audience was positively crackling with energy and enthusiasm for the topic.

The other item on my agenda was the premiere C2E2 engagement for my "Hip-Hop & Comics: Cultures Combining" program, and any doubts I might've had about whether it would appeal to the Chi-town audience evaporated the moment I got to the panel room. The excitement was palpable, and the conversation was off and running from the moment I finished introducing the panelists (or possibly even a bit before).

Of course, having an incredible assortment of panelists helped. I had the honor of taking the stage alongside comic artist Khary Randolph, visual artist and father of Chicago graffiti Tyrue 'SLANG' Jones, author and cultural commentator Ytasha Womack, up-and-coming Chicago MC Thunderbolt Jones, and Grammy-winning rapper and community activist Rhymefest. We had so much fun that we ran right up to our hour time limit, and continued the conversation in the hallway outside the panel room afterwards.

(It was also the first time I've ever had one of my panelists dress up for the occasion – Rhymefest showed up ready to roll, wearing a Blade costume that was immaculate down to the last detail. That's what I call getting in the spirit of things!)

By the time I got back downstairs to the main show floor, there was only a half-hour left before closing… And it was still packed! Shoulder-to-shoulder fans lined the aisles and crowded at tables and booths, trying to get one more signature, find that elusive back issue, or get the perfect photo. And everyone was thrilled to be there, having a great time right up to the bitter end.

After hours, there was plenty of con-centric revelry, with a number of different afterparties, and groups scattering far and wide to enjoy The Windy City's incredible selection of restaurants and bars. Some friends and I took an evening trip to legendary vegetarian palace The Chicago Diner, where we ate like kings, sampled many items from their extensive cocktail list, and talked shop for hours. And the Hyatt hotel adjoining the convention center stayed in full raucous swing each night, packed with pros and fans alike, the bar in the lobby ensuring the party kept going 'til last call (and sometimes even after, as some particularly dedicated groups simply moved the party up to their rooms, where local liquor laws have no jurisdiction).

The weekend flew by in a flash, and before long, it was Sunday evening. I headed to the airport with a bag overstuffed with comics and art, pockets full of business cards and flyers, and another year's worth of great Chicago memories.

In the weeks since getting home, I've read a lot of commentary about C2E2, and speculation about the show's future – some seemed to feel this year was a grave disappointment, some enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, and the variety of exhibitors, some were conflicted, and one writer even predicted that given a few years, C2E2 could rival the twin giants of San Diego and New York. (Which seems a bit unlikely. Chicago might have a massive convention center and plenty of space for expansion, but the city itself doesn't enjoy NY or Southern California's easy access to major publishers, studios, and celebrities – and C2E2's dates place it in the middle of a crowded convention season, while SDCC and NYCC practically have the schedule all themselves in July and October.)

As for me, I'm less concerned about where C2E2 is going, and more happy for what it is – a large and spirited gathering of people who love all things comics and pop media. There's certainly room to grow, and I'm sure that there are aspects that could use some fine-tuning, but I'm very satisfied with the direction things seem to be heading. Attendees came from far and wide, costumes were spectacular, the lines weren't ever too long, people were spending money, and wherever you looked, you'd see somebody smiling. I was once again hugely impressed by ReedPOP's ability to put on a con that's open and welcoming to all, that captures the flavor of its host city, and truly has something for everyone.

Patrick A. Reed is the co-editor and head writer for Depth Of Field Magazine.

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