Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: animation, Batman: The Brave And The Bold, Comics, ConnectiCon, cosplay, Dave Matthews, Diedrich Bader, entertainment, Riverfest, tv, Warped Tour

ConnectiCon Draws Massive Crowds Alongside Warped Tour And Riverfest

Published Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:00:00 -0500

by Hannah Means Shannon

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By Shawn Perry

Over last weekend I attended the 12^th Annual ConnectiCon in Hartford. The event celebrates comics, gaming, pop culture and all things certified fresh in the geek space and Despite being scheduled during one of the busiest weekends in the city all summer – with Dave Matthews Band, The Warped Tour and Riverfest Festival all competing for attention – the event proved to be as popular as ever with just shy of 20,000 fans in attendance, according to an early report by Fox Connecticut.

Personally, I thought the energy of the event was awesome and there were an incredible number of cosplayers who made the whole city look like a comic book. Having Riverfest just a few steps away from the convention center was an added bonus as attendees were treated to great food, fireworks and music whenever they wanted to step outside. Plus it was a beautiful weekend so just being outside and looking out over the river surrounded by cosplayers was a pretty nice experience. While getting some fresh air I met a number of great cosplayers who were kind enough to share their experience with me… in exchange for a doughnut, including T.J Stallings.

It's amazing to see everyone here just doing their thing being a part of this event. It's so rare that you get to find ways to let this side out and its awesome to have this event here every year – it's my favorite one. The cosplay this year has been amazing!

ConnectiCon took place in the spacious Connecticut Convention Center and included fun activities for fans of all ages such as screenings, gaming, crafts and a massive cos-play death match. There were also a number of cool workshops and panels – my favorite being with Diedrich Bader, the voice of Batman in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. In addition to sharing some fascinating insights about his experience on the show, Baker told some hilarious stories about his career and talked about what it meant personally to play Batman – which, in my opinion, was really quite beautiful. He really is a captivating individual and I recommend this panel to all his fans courtesy of Emertainment Monthly.

Overall, this was a great event and one I shall look forward to attending again next year. The strong attendance it accrued in the face of such stiff competition is just another sign that the geek scene is growing in Southern New England and that, like the costume-clad army of passionate fans that ascended over the weekend, is a wonderful sight to behold.

Shawn Perry is a comic book and film enthusiast striving to be here now. He currently resides in East Hartford, Connecticut. Tweet him @thesperry or email him your ideas and suggestions for the next indie spotlight at Shawn.Perry88@gmail.com

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