by Maju Marfori, Reporter
Live in Las Vegas and love comic books? Then you may want to check out the next Amazing! Las Vegas Comic Con. Taking place at the South Point Hotel & Casino on Las Vegas Boulevard, the Amazing! Las Vegas Comic Con is an annual event where comic book fans of all ages can gather and share their passion for the art form. This year’s 2014 convention took place over three consecutive days during June 20th-June 22nd. Ticket prices were $60 for all 3 days, $25 for a single day pass to Friday or Sunday, and $35 for a single day pass for Saturday. This was my first time attending the Las Vegas Comic Con, despite being a Las Vegas resident for 8 years. I brought my 7 year old daughter with me because she loves art, collectibles and viewing cosplayers.
The Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con is a smaller convention—and while you might get the inclination that there aren’t enough things do or see to make the ticket prices worthwhile—I was quite surprised by my 3 days at the event. Even during day 1 on Friday, (which was only 5 hours long) there was quite a turnout! Since there were only 2 scheduled panels that day, day 1 was essentially time for us to peruse the exhibit hall, familiarize ourselves with the convention layout and take in all the wild and creative outfits the cosplayers had come up with. In comparison to say, the Los Angeles Convention Center, the LV Comic Con’s main exhibit hall was about half that size. There were quite a wide variety of vendors to choose from so if there is a certain comic book or collectible you’re looking for, chances are you’ll find it.
During day 2 on Saturday, the hours were extended to a full 9 hours. With the weekend came even more people in attendance. There was a full slate of over 15 events lined up for day 2, so there was always something to do or see. Of special note were the appearances of major industry guests such as Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld and George Perez. My daughter and I very much enjoyed the “Costume Tutorial” workshop. It really inspired her to consider into getting into cosplay! We also enjoyed the Guardians of the Galaxy panel and walked down the artists’ alley for a considerable amount of time. The artists there were incredibly friendly and, honestly, over-all, the guests and convention staff were a pleasure to interact with.
Day 3 was labeled as “Kid’s Day.” A special emphasis on family oriented events and programming set the tone for the day; needless to say, my daughter loved Sunday! My Little Pony artist Tony Fleecs gave out free sketches to kids age 10 and under. We’re both huge Doctor Who fans so we headed over to the “Doctor Who Fan Meet-up” to meet the 7th Doctor, Sylvester McCoy. The entire con was capped off with the “Kids’ Costume Parade.” Children of all ages line up to go up on stage as their favorite characters to strike a pose for the camera.
Overall, I would definitely recommend Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con to local comic book fans and their families. While it’s not necessarily a con that I would travel long distances to attend because of its size, it is an incredibly worthwhile event for local residents. Unlike larger comic book conventions on the west coast such as the San Diego Comic Con or Wondercon, the main focus of this convention is solely on comic books and cosplay. Of all the conventions that I’ve attended thus far, this was hands-down the most family-friendly. I would not hesitate to bring a younger child to this con. Because there are lesser crowds in comparison to larger conventions, it is also a much better environment for them to enjoy as well.
Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con did a fantastic job of providing panels, events and workshops to fill their schedule; and while I was quite surprised at the turnout, I never had to wait in any ridiculously long lines for an extended period of time—not even for admission. If anything, the longest line I had to stand in was for food at the service areas. Less waiting in line means more time for events and to search for that coveted collectible. One can really appreciate the more laid-back atmosphere when compared to larger conventions, where the events and love for the art are often overshadowed by bustling crowds and the race to get into massive queues just to get the opportunity to attend an event or panel.
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