WDW Daily News

A big “shout out” to Wizard World Comic Con for hosting the amazing Fan Fest Chicago this past weekend.   We had a blast checking out the Cosplay, buying some merchandise, and trying to catch a glimpse of some celebrities (Norman Reedus!).  The venue is perfect for bringing together fans from all walks of life.  Whether you came dressed like StarLord or an Avenger, you were guaranteed to have a good time.  When we entered the venue, we were greeted and directed to the correct line. People seemed genuinely glad we were there to enjoy the day.  It is so much fun people watching at a Wizard World Comic Con.  I knew it was going to be a great day when I saw a young boy putting his Baby Groot costume on-including the pot! My daughter went the anime route and dressed as a character from Black Butler. She has been waiting months to wear her Ceil dress.  We were only there a few minutes before people were asking to take her picture.  For a girl who usually is too shy for photos, she was beaming as perfect strangers were coming up to her to compliment her on the dress.  That is the true magic of Wizard World Comic Con.   Fan Fest Chicago was wonderful for Con veterans and newbies alike.   My husband and I walked out with Star Wars and Disney merchandise while our teenager stocked up on prints from Black Butler, Attack on Titan, and Ouran High School Host Club.  She is already designing her college dorm room decor based on her purchases.  I was even able to speak with someone from an art college on behalf of one of my middle school students.  This 5th grade student may just be the next Stan Lee!   Wizard World Comic Con Fan Fest Chicago is an event that I hope returns year after year.  It was a nice size, had plenty of things to do, and made me even more excited for future Wizard World Comic Cons.  Go ahead and check out www.wizardworld.com, find a location near you, and have a great time.  You won’t be disappointed.

Take a look at some photos from Wizard World Comic Con Fan Fest Chicago this past weekend.

Q&A sessions with “Doctor Who” favorite Karen Gillan, Caity Lotz (“Arrow”), Eddie McClintock (“Warehouse 13,” “Bones”), Phil Lamarr (voice actor: “Futurama,” “Family Guy”), Tracey Gold (“Growing Pains”), and Andrew J. West (“The Walking Dead”), screening of “CSI:CYBER”, and more are among the programming highlights scheduled at the inaugural Wizard World Comic Con Fan Fest, Saturday and Sunday at the Donald E.Stephens Convention Center. Most programming is included as part of the standard event admission.

All panels will be featured on the Show Stage, on the convention floor. Some highlights of the panels scheduled include:

• Interactive Q&As with Gillan (Saturday, 4:45 p.m.), Lotz (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.), McClintock (Sunday, 2:30 p.m.), Lamarr (Saturday, 2:15 p.m.), Kristin Bauer (Saturday, 12:45), Karyn Parsons (Saturday, 4 p.m.), David Faustino (Saturday, 5:15 p.m.), Lee Argenberg (Saturday, noon), Grant Wilson (Saturday, 6 p.m.), Taryn Manning (Sunday, noon), Drea de Matteo (Sunday, 12:30 p.m.), Andrew J. West (Sunday, 1:30 p.m.), Rick Cosnett (Sunday 2 p.m.)

  Screenings of “CSI:CYBER” (Saturday, 2 p.m.) and Wolf Cop (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.)

 Unless noted, programming events take place on the Show Stage at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted.

 A full list of Wizard World Comic Con Fan Fest programming is available at http://wizd.me/PRProgrammingFanFestChicago (subjects, guests, times and rooms subject to change).

Wizard World, Inc. (OTCBB: WIZD) continues its 2015 schedule with the first-ever Wizard World Comic Con Fan Fest Chicago, March 7-8 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead’), Karen Gillan (“Doctor Who,” Guardians of the Galaxy ), WWE® Diva Eva Marie™, Caity Lotz (“Arrow”), Eddie McClintock (“Warehouse 13,” “Bones), Kristin Bauer (“True Blood,” “Once Upon a Time”), Drea de Matteo (“Sons of Anarchy,” “The Sopranos”) headline the roster of celebrity guests scheduled to date to attend the pop culture extravaganza. The event, added as a “thank you” to loyal Wizard World fans, will be specially priced at $25 for the weekend and $15 for either day.

Additionally, fans who have purchased VIP or four-day admissions to Wizard World Comic Con Chicago (August 20-23) will receive free admission to Fan Fest Chicago. Celebrity and comics creator guests and other details about the event will be announced shortly. Visit http://wizd.me/FanFestChicagoPRAdmissions to purchase admissions.

Other well-known Wizard World Comic Con Fan Fest Chicago guests include Rick Cosnett (“The Flash”), Taryn Manning (“Orange is the New Black”), Karyn Parsons (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”), Tracey Gold (“Growing Pains,” “Roots”), Phil LaMarr (voice, “Futurama,” “Family Guy”), Lee Arenberg ( Pirates of the Caribbean, “Star Trek: The Next Generation”), David Faustino (“Married With Children”),   Kathy Najimy (“King of the Hill,” Sister Act), Andrew J. West (“The Walking Dead”), and Grant Wilson (“Ghost Hunters”).

Wizard World is also the home of the most creative comics artists and writers on the planet. Artist Alley at Fan Fest Chicago will feature Neal Adams (“Batman,” “Green Lantern”), Michael Golden (“Spider-Man,” “Daredevil”), Arthur Suydam (“Marvel Zombies,” “Army of Darkness”), Greg Horn (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “The Avengers”), Renee Witterstaetter (“She Hulk,” “Avengers”), James O’Barr (creator, “The Crow”) and many others.

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Wizard World Comic Con Presents Fan Fest Chicago show hours are Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, March 8, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Wizard World Comic Con Fan Fest Chicago is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor.

Norman Reedus, star of “The Walking Dead,” has been added to the celebrity roster at Wizard World Comic Con Fan Fest next month.

Reedus, a hugely popular Wizard World guest also well-known to fans for his work in The Boondock Saints and Blade II, portrays the volatile “Daryl Dixon” in the hit cable series. He will be joined at Fan Fest by fellow “TWD” star Andrew J. West (“Gareth”).

Wizard World Fan Fest Chicago is a two-day show with special admission price of $15/day or $25 for the weekend. It’s a chance for fans to meet some of their favorite stars from hit TV shows over the past three decades.

He is scheduled to appear at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8.

Where can you go and see the characters from Dr. Who, The Walking Dead, Frozen, Adventure Time, Legend of Zelda, and The Avengers all in one place?  WIZARD WORLD COMIC CON!  This past weekend I had the chance to go to Wizard World Comic Con Indianapolis.  If you have never gone before or think it is “just for nerds,” then you are truly missing out on a great pop culture experience.  This is an event where people can get together and talk about their favorite shows, play some Quiddtich, hunt some zombies, take photos with celebrities, buy cool merchandise, and of course, Cosplay.

While walking in artist alley, fans have a chance to see some amazing artwork and can speak with the artists themselves.  There is artwork from iconic comic characters like Batman and Robin to modern characters like Anna and Elsa.  The neat thing about Wizard World Comic Con is that it brings together people from all walks of life.  It doesn’t matter what job you have or where you live–when you put on that costume, you can be transformed into someone new.  My daughter is very shy normally, but Wizard-World Comic Con is where she shines.  She goes up to fellow Cosplayers and makes conversation or takes selfies with them.  It has boosted her confidence tremendously.  It is something that you can’t really understand until you attend a Con.  Don’t get me wrong, you can have a blast without a costume. There are panels to attend such as “How to Write Comics”, “Batman and Psychology”, “Game of Thrones Fan Panel”, or “Mask Building 101.”  There is also a costume contest that showcases the work that goes into great Cosplay.  If you missed Wizard World Comic Con Indianapolis, don’t worry.  There are plenty of opportunities to attend in the coming months.  In fact, Wizard World is hosting a FAN FEST Chicago on March 7-8 to show their fans how much they appreciate their support.  The Wizard World Comic Con 2015 Tour will be working its way across the United States so be sure to get tickets. Go ahead-start working on the costume-study up on the details of your favorite show or comic-and let yourself enjoy the wonderful experience that is Wizard World Comic Con.