Ottawa Comiccon | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Venue | EY Centre (2012 - ) |
Location(s) | Ottawa, Ontario |
Country | Canada |
Inaugurated | 2012 |
Attendance | 42,000 (May 2017 edition) |
Organized by | Capeflow Productions |
Website | http://www.ottawacomiccon.com |
The Ottawa Comiccon is a fan convention with a focus on comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and games. It is a spin-off of the Montreal Comiccon. It was launched in 2012. The event features comic books, toys, games, science-fiction, horror, anime, non-sport cards, and collectibles. It is held at the EY Centre convention center in Ottawa, taking place in May and lasting three days. The organizers of the Ottawa Comiccon primarily come from the Montreal Comiccon organization.
The event features special guests, artists, exhibitors and special contests. The audience includes people of all ages. The first edition, in 2012, featured guests such as William Shatner (of Star Trek ), and other special guests.
The fan convention contains multi-genre content. While sharing common traits with San Diego's Comic-Con International and Toronto's Fan Expo Canada, the Ottawa Comiccon differentiates itself by being a much smaller venue.
As with most other comics conventions, the Ottawa Comiccon offers a select range of activities, exhibits, and other attractions. Comiccon's programming consists of a large dealers' area, an Artists' Alley, a costume contest, a trading-card games area and guest panels. Guest photo sessions, Masquerade, and structured autograph line-up barriers have been in place since the first edition.
The Ottawa Comiccon held its first edition in 2012 at the EY Centre. The event lasted 2 days and attracted 22,000 people. [1]
The second edition in May 2013 saw the addition of a day to the schedule, extending the event from Friday to Sunday. The May 2013 edition attracted more than 30,000 fans.
The third edition, in May 2014, attracted 38,000 people over a three-day period. The floor setup was changed to better accommodate the autograph and photo ops line-up.
The sixth edition, in May 2017, moved the food court outside under a tent to free space within the conference centre for booths and exhibits. A new event, "All Roads Lead to Rome" was added, also under a tent outside. The event added gladiatorial combat, gladiator training for ComicCon attendees, and candle making.
As with the Montreal Comiccon, the organizers also run a smaller two-day convention in November–December called the "Ottawa Pop Expo". The first edition of the Expo was held on the December 7th weekend at the EY Centre. It offered a smaller selection of guests, dealers and artists. The organizational structure remained the same as the May edition, but with slightly fewer staff and volunteers. In 2016 the Ottawa Pop Expo event was renamed the "Ottawa Comiccon: Holiday Edition", with free entry, and was described as "two-day geeky shopping celebration." [2] The event focused exclusively on purchasable content, with no media guests.
Note: Only May editions are shown here.
Dates | Location | Attendance (turnstile) | Notable guests | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
May 12–13, 2012 | EY Centre Ottawa, Ontario | 22,000 | Marie-Claude Bourbonnais (fashion designer / cosplayer), Jeremy Bulloch (Star Wars), John de Lancie (STNG), Lar DeSouza (web comic artist, Least I Could Do), Lee Ann Farruga (steampunk costumer), Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk), Brent Spiner (STNG), Vic Mignogna (voice actor), Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), Ryan Sohmer (web comic writer, Least I Could Do), Patrick Stewart (STNG, X-Men) (canceled), William Shatner ( Star Trek ) | First edition. |
May 10 to 12, 2013 | EY Centre Ottawa, Ontario | 30, 000 [3] | Adam West (Batman) (cancelled), Burt Ward (Batman), Julie Newmar (Batman). Manu Bennet (Arrow), Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars, Batman), David Prowse (Star Wars), Summer Glau (Firefly) (cancelled), Nathan Fillion (Firefly), Jewel Staite (Firefly), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Gillian Anderson (X-Files), Will Weaton (STNG, Big Bang), Levar Burton (STNG) | ... |
May 9 to 11, 2014 | EY Centre Ottawa, Ontario | 38,000 [4] | Christopher Lloyd, Robert Englund, [5] Bruce Campbell, Amanda Tapping, Edward James Olmos, Eliza Dushku (canceled), Giancarlo Esposito, Karl Urban, Pat Mastroianni, Summer Glau, Charisma Carpenter, Ray Park, Sean Astin, Christopher Judge, Kane Hodder, Amanda Wyss | Leonard Nimoy made a rare appearance via Skype on May 10. |
May 8 to 10, 2015 [6] | EY Centre Ottawa, Ontario | 42,000 | Wil Wheaton (STNG, Big Bang), Peter Mayhew (Star Wars), Jason Mewes (Clerks), Billy Boyd (LOTR), Jonathan Frakes (STNG), Lance Henrikson (Aliens, Terminator), Malcolm McDowell (Clockwork Orange, Star Trek Generations), Marina Sirtis (STNG), Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek), Sean Maher (Firefly), Robbie Amell (Flash), Paul Wesley (Vampire Diaries), Richard Dean Anderson (Stargate), Mira Furlan (Babylon 5), Billie Piper (Dr. Who), Allison Mack (Smallville), Liam McIntyre (Spartacus), Austin St. John (Power Rangers) | ... |
May 13 to 15, 2016 [7] | EY Centre Ottawa, Ontario | 42,000 [8] | Guests of Honor: Karen Gillan (Doctor Who), Ming-Na Wen (Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.) Featured Guests: Alan Tudyk (Firefly), Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who, Legends of Tomorrow), Billy Dee Williams (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), Caity Lotz (Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow), Carl Weathers (Rocky, Predator), Eliza Dushku (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), James O'Barr (The Crow), John de Lancie (STNG), John-Rhys Davies (LOTR), Kevin Eastman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk), Mike Grell (Green Arrow / Green Lantern), Rene Auberjonois (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Sean Astin (LOTR), Tia Carrere (Relic Hunter), Whilce Portacio (Image Comics Co-Founder), Will Friedle (Batman Beyond) Other Guests: Dan Parent (Archie Comics), Dave Ross (Avengers: West Coast), Eric Talbot (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Fernando Ruiz (Life with Archie), Janet Hetherington (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark), Kristen Hughey (Cosplayer), Monika Lee (Cosplayer), Riki "Riddle" LeCotey (Cosplayer), Robert Bailey (Star Wars), Ronn Sutton (Honey West / Kolchak the Night Stalker), Tom Fowler (Venom) | First Edition not on Mother's Day weekend |
May 12 to 14, 2017 | EY Centre Ottawa, Ontario | 42,000+ [9] | Guests of Honor: Adam West (Batman, Family Guy)(Cancelled), John Barrowman (Arrow, Doctor Who), Peter Capaldi (Doctor Who) Featured Guests: Alex Kingston (Doctor Who), Arryn Zech (RWBY), Bob Layton (Iron Man), Bob Morley (The 100), Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Brian Froud (Total Drama Island), Clare Kramer (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Dan Parent (Archie Comics), Gates McFadden (Star Trek: The Next Generation), George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead), Indra Rojas (Cosplayer), Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who), John Tench (Watch Dogs 2), Johnathan Dubsky (Watch Dogs 2), Ken Lashley (X-Men Prime), Kirsten Bourne (Degrassi High), Laura Vandervoort (Bitten, Smallville), Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale), Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter), Michael Golden (Bucky O'Hare, Micronauts), Mike Zeck (The Punisher), Nick Bradshaw (Guardians Of The Galaxy), Pat Mastroianni (Degrassi High), Phil LaMarr (Futurama), Robin Lord Taylor (Gotham), Shawn Baichoo (Watch Dogs 2), Stacie Mistysyn (Degrassi High), Stefan Brogren (Degrassi High), Traci Lords (Cry Baby, Zack and Miri) Other Guests: '67 Impala (Supernatural), Capital City Garrison, Doctor Who Society of Canada, Double Experience, Fernando Ruiz (Life with Archie), Greg Hyland (The LEGO Group), Ireland Reid (Cosplayer), Jack Brigilo (Growing Up Enchanted), Jamie Tyndall (Grimm Fairy Tales), Janet Hetherington (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark), Jason Rockman (Spokesperson), Jeep 12 (Jurassic Park), John Torres (Twitch streamer), K.I.T.T. (Knight Rider), Karibu (Survivorland), Marco Rudy (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man), Renee Witterstaetter (Excess: The Art of Michael Golden), Richard Pace (New Warriors), Ronn Sutton (Honey West, Kolchak the Night Stalker), The 1966 Batmobile (Batman), Tom Fowler (Rick And Morty), Troy Little (Chiaroscuro), Ty Templeton (The Batman & Robin Adventures) | |
May 11 to 13, 2018 | EY Centre Ottawa, Ontario | 40,000+ [10] | Guests of Honor: [11] Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Matt Smith (Doctor Who) (The Crown) Featured Guests: [12] Billy Boyd (The Lord of the Rings), Doug Jones (actor) (The Shape of Water) (Star Trek: Discovery), Joonas Suotamo (Solo: A Star Wars Story), Laurie Holden (The Walking Dead), Megan Follows (Anne of Green Gables). Other Guests: To be announced | |
May 10 to 12, 2019 | EY Centre Ottawa, Ontario | 42,000+ | Sean Astin - Actor John Barrowman - Actor Cancelled Tom Cavanagh - Actor Kevin Conroy - Voice Actor Tom Felton - Actor Cancelled Mike Grell - Comic Artist / Writer Yaya Han - Cosplayer Geof Isherwood - Comic Artist Amy Jo Johnson - Actor Pom Klementieff - Actor Gisèle Lagacé - Web Comic Artist David Lloyd - Artist MeltingMirror - Cosplayer Dan Parent - Comic Artist & Writer Ron Perlman - Actor Sean Schemmel - Actor Mark Sheppard - Actor Joonas Suotamo - Actor Arthur Suydam - Comic Artist Catherine Tate - Actor Tom Welling - Actor Renee Witterstaetter - Editor / Colorist Mike Zeck - Artist |
The Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo, commonly known as Comic Expo or BCE, was an annual comic book convention held in the United Kingdom from 2004 to 2013. The show was held once a year in Bristol in the spring. The organiser was Mike Allwood, formerly of Area 51, a comic shop based in Bristol.
Fan Expo Canada is an annual speculative fiction fan convention held in Toronto, Ontario. It was founded as the Canadian National Comic Book Expo in 1995 by Hobby Star Marketing Inc. It includes distinctly branded sections, including GX and SFX, and formerly CNAnime. It is a four-day event typically held the weekend before Labour Day during the summer at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC).
The New York Comic Con is an annual New York City fan convention dedicated to Western comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, cosplay, toys, movies, and television. It was first held in 2006. With an attendance of 200,000 in 2022, it is North America's most attended fan convention.
Toronto Comicon is an annual comic book and pop culture convention held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre since 2001. It is owned and operated by Informa's Fan Expo HQ.
Kawaii Kon is an anime convention geared towards Japanese animation and comics held in the Honolulu area.
Armageddon Expo is a New Zealand owned and operated pop culture convention that holds multiple events around New Zealand in cities including Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga and Christchurch. The event, run by Beyond Reality Media Premier Event Management, has been running continuously since 1995. It has evolved from its roots of comics and trading cards to showcase computer and video gaming, animation, film and television, cosplay, comics, live wrestling, and retailers selling pop-culture merchandise.
Otakuthon is Canada's largest anime convention promoting Japanese animation (anime), Japanese graphic novels (manga), related gaming and Japanese pop-culture. It is held annually for 3 days in downtown Montreal during a weekend in August. It is a non-profit, fan-run anime convention that was initiated by Concordia University's anime club, named Otaku Anime of Concordia University. The name "Otakuthon" is a portmanteau of the Japanese word "otaku" and "marathon". Otakuthon strives to be a bilingual event, having programming, the masquerade and the program book in both official languages. The first edition of Otakuthon was held in 2006 in mid-June, but later moved to early-mid August / late July from 2007 onward. The most recent edition, Otakuthon 2023, was held on August 11–13, 2023 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. As of 2023, Otakuthon surpassed Toronto's Anime North to become Canada's largest Anime convention.
Fan Expo Dallas, previously known as Dallas Comic Con, is a three-day speculative fiction, fan convention held annually in the Dallas, Texas area. Larger in scale than the Dallas Fan Days events under the same management, Fan Expo Dallas focuses on comic book artists, writers, and publishers. These events usually also feature question and answer sessions, a large dealers room, and autograph-signing with a number of famous comic and media guests. The event is produced by Informa doing business as Fan Expo HQ.
London Film and Comic Con is a fan convention held annually in London that focuses on films, cult television, gaming, anime, cosplay and comics. It is organised by Showmasters Ltd.
Central Canada Comic Con (C4) was an annual fan convention held in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Montreal Comiccon, under its current form, was launched in 2006 as "Montreal Comic-Con". The event features comic books, toys, games, science-fiction, horror, anime, non-sport cards and collectibles. It is held 2 times a year at the Palais des Congrès convention center in downtown Montreal, with the larger "Comic-Con" taking place in July over the course of 3 days. The same organizers also hold and a smaller one or two-day "Mini-Con", traditionally held at the end of the fall season, in early December.
The MCM London Comic Con is a speculative fiction fan convention held in the London Borough of Newham twice yearly since 2002, usually on the last weekend in May and October. The convention mainly focuses on video games, sci-fi, cosplay and popular media from the United Kingdom, United States, Japan, South Korea, France, Italy and elsewhere.
Nadeshicon is a Japanese culture / anime convention held in April in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada at the Centre des congrès de Québec convention center since 2019, and initially at Université Laval in the Alphonse-Desjardins and Maurice-Pollack buildings from 2011 to 2018. The convention is run and organized by Club Animé Québec(CAQ), an extracurricular student association and nonprofit organization. It is recognized as one of the main Japanese cultural events in the city. Like most other anime conventions, Nadeshicon's events, attractions and activities include a Dealer's Room and an Artists Alley, anime screenings, panels and workshops, AMV contests, game shows, cosplay events, and video games stations. A part of the convention is also dedicated to cultural Japanese activities.
Fan Expo Denver is a speculative fiction fan convention held annually in Denver, Colorado, in the United States. The event is a celebration of comics, books, movies, TV, gaming, and other pop culture.
Monika Lee is an American cosplayer. In 2013, she joined the cast of reality television show Heroes of Cosplay.
Calgary Expo, known in full as the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, is an annual fan convention held at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
A comic book convention or comic con is a fan convention with a primary focus on comic books and comic book culture, in which comic book fans gather to meet creators, experts, and each other. Commonly, comic conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels, or college campuses. They feature a wide variety of activities and panels, with a larger number of attendees participating in cosplay than most other types of fan conventions. Comic book conventions are also used as a vehicle for industry, in which publishers, distributors, and retailers represent their comic-related releases. Comic book conventions may be considered derivatives of science-fiction conventions, which began in the late 1930s.
Wales Comic Con is a tri-annual fan convention in the United Kingdom, first held in Wrexham, North Wales in 2008, until the main event moved to Telford, England in December 2019, due to demands for a larger venue. The convention returned events to Wrexham from 2022, alongside the ones held in Telford.
Official sites