FANeXpo Canada (its actual name) hit a significant milestone this year: two decades!!! What had humble beginnings as the Canadian National (CN) Comic Book Convention way back in 1995 has exponentially grown to the multi-media magnet, undoubtedly taking the reins as Canada’s largest convention.
I attended the very first one!! I was still living in Kitchener at the time (an hour away, give or take). I had no idea that one year later I’d be a resident of the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) where attending has become a breeze since the distance is shortened. I haven’t attended regularly. There have been years where I was vacationing in the Azores or I simply needed a break from the growing phenomenon and from busting my wallet ;-P
FANeX as it’s affectionately known focused only on Comics once upon a time. *GASP* Imagine that :0 Gradually, Sci-Fi sneaked its way in as well as Animé. The event was rebranded Canadian National Expo in 2001. The following year it was that name with ‘featuring SFX and CNAnime’. I specifically remember Horror being added in 2004 since I brought myself back into the fold with this annual event. Gaming was added to the mix one year later. By 2006, the frenzy-filled fan-based con was christened FANeXpo Canada!! The most unexpected addition occurred in 2013: Sports squeezed in but that was a one-time thing (for now). I even made a joke back then that it’d be jocks vs. nerds. Luckily, no fisticuffs nor trash talk.
What started as a weekend outing (Sat. & Sun.) back in the day grew by one more in 1998. Popular demand made it so that four days were dedicated in 2011. WOW!! Four years already? I’ll admit that I can’t envision this con running less than that.
Attendance has grown from a paltry 1,400 to 1,500 twenty years ago to 127,995 last year. Numbers are not yet confirmed for this current one but I’ll hazard a guess that it hit 172,000.
On a personal note, things became more interesting in 2012. I stopped being an attendee J Instead, I gained exhibitor status volunteering for my abso fave local comic shop Gotham Central. Until last year, I spent all my time busting my butt, quick on my feet, catering to the multiple buyers of books, statues, tees, toys, and tons of other merch.
Fast-forward to this year. I graduated to the next level: press!!! Thanks to yours truly (this site) I entered as media and did some ‘casual’ coverage. Dying to know? Here we go!!
Day 1 – Sept. 3rd, 2015
This was a short day being that it was a Thursday. Hours were from 16h00 to 21h00. I met with our videographer to get my shiny all-access card.
The first cosplayers I came across were two female Nightwings. I laughed my head off when they asked me if I knew about Gotham Central. They were about to give me flyers. I informed them of my really close connection to said store and my endless hours of helping out there.
I did a whirlwind tour of the entire south building. I can’t remember much but I was left to my own devices. Thus, I reacquainted with local artists, reconnected with friends, and revisited some comic vendors who are located elsewhere. Like any other rabid fan, I was squealing with delight. The first day escaped me far too quickly. I wasn’t too worried. I had another three full days ahead.
Day 2 – Sept. 4th, 2015
TGIF!! The bonus to this was the fact that FANeX almost always falls on Labour Day weekend. Many skip work. Oops! Did I say that out loud?!? I didn’t need to since it was the tail-end of my extra-long summer break. One could go wild for a full nine hours: 10h00 to 19h00.
I quickly zipped my way through the North Building. For those who are not local residents, this con is held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, a massive venue separated into North and South (just like the American Civil War, natch!) The North has celebrity photos and signings, professional cosplayers, gaming, horror, and vendors shelling out various products. The most time spent was in the South where there are comics galore, Artists’ Alley, top name writers and artists, toy booths, and a smidge of horror and video gaming.
I got to interview three well-established creators: J. Scott Campbell, a fan-fave by far; Katie Cook, rising star known for cutesy scribblings; Michael Walsh, penciller supreme for three of the top five companies and some indies.
Each conversation was brief and concise. Two to three minutes at most. J. Scott told me that he still makes exclusive variants for Midtown Comics. The AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: RENEW YOUR VOWS ‘Venom Bride’ covers are really picking up steam. I congratulated him on the release of DANGER GIRL: RENEGADE #1. He mentioned a real hush-hush project for the end of the year. Click here for the quick take.
I praised Katie Cook for her work on MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC. I emphatically stated that I’m not a Brony!! She pointed to her creator-owned work at her table: specifically GRONK and doing an Ant-Man and Wasp story for Marvel in SECRET WARS: SECRET LOVE. She dished out advice for those who are aspiring writers. Tune in here!
Michael Walsh threw me for a loop: the man is homegrown talent!! Canadian, just like me! I had no frickin’ clue. I praised him for his run on SECRET AVENGERS {3rd Series} with Ales Kot. I stand by my statement! He is in the process of doing HELLBOY WINTER SPECIAL and an unannounced five issue mini-series for Marvel. Mr. Walsh is very appreciative to meet fans. He is truly grateful for their support. He doesn’t mind the crowds at all! Have a look and listen here.
Francis Manapul is my number one Canadian creator!!! I officially interviewed him at Montreal Comic Con but this time around we had an informal chat. I heartily congratulated him on his creator-owned work BROKEN HOLLOW. Plus, I mentioned the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 ad that hit the internet that same day with him as the featured promoter.
An up-and-coming Toronto man who is quickly gaining more recognition is Jason Loo: author, artist, and letterer of the T-Dot’s own pathetic superhero PITIFUL HUMAN-LIZARD. He has signed an exclusive contract with Chapter House Publishing and the first five issues of his series will be reprinted by them before number six comes out in February. I bought the latest ultra-rare mini-comic featuring a second serving of his other brainchild GRIZZLY BIKER. Aside from that, I bought the almost-impossible-to-get variant covers for PHL #1 — one blank and one featuring the CN Tower. He drew a head sketch of PHL for me 😀
I hit up as many domestic writers and artists as I could. T.O. Comix had a table. I chatted with editor Nelson da Rocha and writer Aaron Feldman. I tried my very best to get as many signatures as I could but only ended up getting Mark Maia and Sam Noir. Much appreciated, gentlemen!
Speaking of which, I bought a comic and variant from Sam Noir: ZIP KRAMER vs. the GALACTIC SLAVERS #1. He runs a group on Facebook as well – Canadian Superheroes.
Cosplayers are in droves. I snapped a few photos of Deadmau5, Tobi, Wonder Woman, and from the Spider-Verse: Captain Universe Spider-Man, Lady Spider, and Superior Spider-Man! Daredevil was thrown in for good measure 😉
Fun-filled frenetic Friday @_@
Day 3 – Sept. 5th, 2015
Saturday in the park, I think it was the fourth of July. Wrong reference!!! Saturday is THE BUSIEST DAY bar none!! No other day can compare to this one. The hours are the same but tons more people are available to fill up the spaces. No exaggeration!! It’s extremely difficult to walk through Artists Alley or any other nook and cranny of the vast venue simply because it’s too crowded!! That’s a turn-off for me. We’re all there to enjoy ourselves, spend our disposable income on our coveted collectibles, hobnob with celebrities, catch cosplayers, and just hang out with friends. Had I not the press pass, I would not have been able to cut through all the lines.
I started the morning making a beeline to Francis Manapul’s table. He was doing free autographs but asked for a donation. I purchased a copy of DETECTIVE COMICS #44 FANeXpo exclusive variant. He indulged me in a photo and I moved on my merry way. He had a growing line by the time I departed.
Katie Cook was close by. In fact, to the right of his table. I greeted her again and had her drop her Jane Hancock on MLP: FIENDSHIP is MAGIC #1 [Read it carefully. Not a typo!] FANeXpo exclusive. I indulged her in a snapshot and took off.
The highlight of the day was attending the DC Comics Panel spearheaded by power couple Meredith and David Finch, the current overseers of WONDER WOMAN!! Triple treat: two Canadians who are personal friends of the owner of Gotham Central, and my DC super-heroine number one. The wife-husband team were extremely entertaining, humorous, forthright, and a little too critical of themselves IMO. Lots of laughter throughout the sixty-minute session as well as heaps of honesty. When I approached them afterwards, I had them sign the variant FANeXpo program guide and posed with each of them. I’m confident to speak with them more in the near future.
I bemoan not having snagged the interview with Yaya Han, one of the world’s biggest professional cosplayers. It’s all good since my colleague Claude got the exclusive ^_^ I finally met face-to-face a friend of a friend who has catapulted into this make-believe world: Riddle!! I know her true identity but dare not say ;-P We became Facebook friends seven years ago but it’s completely understandable she wouldn’t have the faintest notion of my existence. She was decked out as the Wasp in her original costume from TALES to ASTONISH #44. Long overdue!
Some cosplayers keep it in the family; others travel in packs. Here’s an example of each:
Day 4 – Sept. 6th, 2015
Sunny, steamy, scorching Sunday!! The triple H hung over the T-Dot. Hours were 10h00 to 17h00. I was a bit late since I was writing some articles for the ‘rival’ site. I arrived at 13h00 and lined up forty-five minutes to grab a burger and fries from a chuck wagon. By the time I headed inside, it was 14h15. Four days seem like an enormous amount of time, but after it’s all said and done, they’re not enough!! Despite my ‘lateness’ I only had two and a half hours and those 150 minutes zipped by!
I hit some toy booths just to change it up. By this day, Hasbro had sold out of their new Star Wars line of action figures since Force Friday was two days prior. LEGO had impressive giant-sized models on display.
Film studio Entertainment One was promoting four different projects. The one that widened my eyes and warmed my heart was Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince).
Carnage caught my line of sight. I was almost skewered by him >_^ I also spotted a neon-green Spider-Man. One of the best variations of Spidey’s outfits!! Those two gents were separate but they belong to a local Facebook group dubbed as Toronto’s Spider-Verse. Carnage double dips for Symbiotes Unleashed.
I spent all four days chatting with the collective Spent Pencils as well as Guerilla Printing, new enterprise One Ronin Studio and a personal friend from out west who attended this gigantic gig.
More to come: photos, scoops, tidbits!!!
Oracle is offline…………
