Those with pop culture passions again celebrated their love for cosplay, superheroes, writing, art, video games, anime, and more at Chicago’s very own comic convention March 27-29. Started in 2010, the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo–C2E2 – brought together tens of thousands of locals and tourists alike for a three-day convention at McCormick Place.
Actors, writers, artists, exhibitors, and honored guests Elizabeth Olsen and Charlie Cox provided ample panels and activities to satisfy attendees’ creative curiosity.
Elizabeth Olsen’s role as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Scarlet Witch has brought her to screens seen by millions, and the stardom packed the Main Stage room with thousands on Saturday. Despite a cold, she regaled listeners with insight into her superhero filming experience, noting the wire work – a stunt technique using harnesses and cables to simulate gravity-defying movements – provided an enjoyable challenge.
Making the Scarlet Witch’s high-flying, spell-casting action possible was no easy task, but the positive reviews of Disney Plus’s WandaVision – which saw its first episode filmed before a live studio audience in classic sitcom style–proved the work made a strong impact on fans and kicked off the MCU’s Disney Plus series in style.
Olsen wasn’t the only person bringing comic book characters to life.
Charlie Cox, the star of Netflix’s Daredevil and Disney’s Daredevil: Born Again, explained that he spent half a day walking around New York City wearing a blindfold with his legally blind coach, Joe Strechay, in preparation for the role of Matthew Murdock/Daredevil, who is blind.
Cox joined costars Kristen Ritter (Jessica Jones icon and Jane from Breaking Bad), Eldon Henson (Foggy Nelson), and Wilson Bethel (Bullseye) to answer dozens of questions from fans.
“Who’s your favorite hockey team?” kept things lighthearted, while hypotheticals like “How would Daredevil, who can hear heartbeats, have reacted to the massive loss of life at the end of Avengers: Infinity War?” stunned the panelists in the best way.
Anyone with an imagination enjoyed the exploration of characters’ experiences. Cox, who refused to say definitively whether he will appear in the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day film, said fans should check the dates he was filming to determine whether his Daredevil: Born Again schedule would have precluded his inclusion in the movie. Fan speculation suggests his appearance in the much-anticipated Marvel movie that’s bringing in heroes such as Punisher, but only time will tell.
Beyond panels with the biggest stars, a variety of fantastical, cute, and unique art creations filled Artist’s Alley on the show floor. Comic writers and celebrities spoke to, took selfies with, and signed autographs for fans. Fandom meetups occurred each day, and interesting workshops filled attendees’ schedules.
Foam swordfighting, Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros tournaments, comedy shows, YouTubers, cooking demos, an anime and manga research showcase, karaoke, and nighttime parties only scratch the surface of the fun the event offered.
The diversity of activities and exhibitors, combined with the sheer size of McCormick Place, gave Chicagoans and visitors plenty to explore at the distinct comic convention.