The Long Beach Comic Con is everything a con should be.  It was sizable without being overly large, busy without being overbearing, and most importantly, kept it’s focus on comic books.  Simon and I were both reminded of the San Diego Comic Con fifteen years ago, where there was plenty of things to see without the annoying crowds, humongous lines, and the loud presence of video game and motion picture booths (although both were present at Long Beach).

In my years of going to cons, I’ve found that there are two ways to experience any con:  As a fan or as a professional.  Long Beach, from a fan’s perspective, was pretty fantastic with plenty of vendors, some great panels, and lots fun, free entertainment (Like on Saturday night where there was a double bill of Band of Bigfoot, a rocking band made up of sasquaches, and Kirby Krackle, one of the premiere geek rock bands out there).  As a professional (that is, going with a primary interest that doesn’t include finding key back issues), the artists were easily accessible, there were no crazy restrictions for shooting video, and in general, the Long Beach Comic Con staff was incredibly accommodating.  It felt like a convention should, where the focus was the love of the medium, not just the hustle and bustle of optioning the next big thing.

I really had a blast and I hope the Long Beach Comic Con becomes a permanent fixture in the convention landscape, filling that hole left by the defunct Wizard World LA and San Diego’s growth into a Pop Culture Convention that’s leaving comics in the rear view.

I can’t wait until next year!

Matt Jackson
Mattj@comicimpact.com