A few weeks ago, Long Beach Comic Expo returned for their annual event at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center over the weekend of Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th January – for the first time that we can recall, the event moved from its usual date in mid-February to these in mid-January. Our own Senior Correspondent, Dan Berry was in attendance…
DAN: The convention is normally one of the first ones of the year for me, and this year – what with the move up a few weeks – it became the first of what may be quite a few cons of the year. Thankfully, the move in the calendar didn’t seem to hinder the guests or attendance, as the level of guests, the quality of panels and quantity of attendees were once again on par with the other shows they have done in the past.
For me, highlights from the panel schedule included the ‘In Conversation with DC Comics’ Dan DiDio‘, the ‘David Mack: Guest of Honor Spotlight’, the ever-spicy ‘Howard Chaykin / Tim Seeley: Sex, Science Fiction, And Super Heroes’, and a ‘Fanbase Weekly Presents: STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK At 40′ panel, hosted by our friends at Fanbase Press.
Aside from the panels, I managed to add a few new sketches to my Hero Initiative mini-sketchbooks including a Dumb Bunny by Ray-Anthony Height, Hulk by Tim Seeley, Wonder Woman by Drew Edward Johnson, and a cracking triple-bill of Ghost Rider, Killer Croc, and Leonardo by Don Nguyen. Oh, and top of the pile for my money, a Big Daddy from Stray Toasters by the master Bill Sienkiewicz.
All in all, Long Beach Comic Expo was a fantastic show to kick off 2020 for me and, as always, this will remain one I will look forward to attending again next year.
The organisers’ sister show, Long Beach Comic Con, will take place Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th September 2020 at the same venue.
PHOTO GALLERY: All photos by Dan Berry
