So here's my report about my Fan Expo, Toronto's yearly comics, anime, sci-fi, horror, and gaming convention, experience. It was crowded, difficult to navigate, and generally just "okay".
Fan Expo is getting bigger, and more corporate, with every year. Last time I was there, comics came first, everything else was secondary; a decade changes a lot of things. Now the comic vendors and artists are crammed into a small space while celebrity guests and video game companies get huge swathes of the floor. I understand that those are the big money makers, but as a fan of comic books, it's disappointing. That and the fact Marvel and DC displays weren't really anything special, just giant displays for the media products (Marvel's was especially bad). Also, all the independent publisher were absent. Guess the Toronto Comic Arts Festival has become their stomping ground. I used to love getting good indie books at these shows. Only indies there were selling the type of books I don't buy (read this wiki on "bad girls art") So unless I want to overpay for some back issues, or stand in lines for hours there's not much worth paying big $$$ for (the ticket price for Saturday was $50). Even the cosplay aspect has gotten a little old but that's probably 'cause I'm not really into it (and I don't get all the game/anime references, of which there are many).
But it's nice to see that people feel comfort showing their love for things a little nerdy. Just don't know if I feel comfortable there any more. That's my problem and now I know not overpay for this.
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