2021 was a lot like 2020 in some ways. We’re still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world, but we have better tools to fight back against the virus. Those tools like vaccinations and rapid tests, along with new information about the virus, have given way to events like conventions and concerts to come back. With vaccinations arriving in April/May for most people, it wasn’t really enough time for a massive event like San Diego Comic-Con to return fully. So in its wake, we had another con step in, L.A. Comic-Con.
With seemingly every studio and media company having their own cons now (D23, DC Fandome, etc.), that means that the days of SDCC being the giant conglomerate of everything entertainment is kind of over. That allows smaller cons to step in and pick up the slack while giving a comparable experience for attendees. For the money, L.A. Comic Con 2021 was absolutely the best convention of the year.
Walking The Stalls, The Booths, And More
With two halls and thousands of visitors, L.A. Comic Con saw attendees from all over the world. In addition, unlike some events out there, the safety and security for guests was top-notch. There was plenty of space between booths and extensive walkways for people to spread out. As for the exclusives, there were plenty of those too. Hot Topic had a massive booth filled with exclusive Funko Pop! figures, pins, shirts, and more.
The rest of the booths had hundreds of vendors selling toys, comics, clothing, trinkets, swords and featured Ewok Corgis, R2-D2, cosplay, art, and everything else you could want out of a con. It was truly an exceptional experience seeing all these fans of entertainment and fandom together again.
The panels for this event might not have been on the level of SDCC Trailer reveals in the past, but they had some serious star power. My highlight was definitely The Mandalorian panel with Ming-Na Wen and Giancarlo Esposito. There wasn’t any big reveal for season three of The Mandalorian or The Book of Boba Fett, but we did get some behind-the-scenes knowledge and stories about the two legendary actor’s careers.
Tommy Wiseau And Gaming
Outside of the main hall, a secondary event was held in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, all about gaming. Whether it’s tabletop gaming, PC gaming, console gaming, or trading cards, this extra section had everything for fans of games. The hall was filled with sounds of Super Smash Bros, Counter-Strike, and other games alongside panels and live shows from the best and greatest in gaming today.
Finally, among the panels and shows of the convention, none can be more awesome than a screening of The Room with Tommy Wiseau. Yes, L.A. Comic-Con had a live showing of The Room. So if you’re into anything nerd, comic, movie, TV, gaming, or collectible related, this was the Con to be at.
For those looking for a similar experience to San Diego Comic-Con, but with a smaller scale and less “herding” around the convention hall, L.A. Comic Con is the way to go. This year was amazing; let’s hope 2022 is even better.
Check out more on conventions or live events at That Hashtag Show.
