It was with great pleasure that Team Gregula attended Fan Expo Chicago 2023! The event was held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, from August 10 to August 13, an epic four-day event. A gathering of fans from almost all fandoms, the emphasis was on cosplay, merchandise, celebrities, and all-out fun.
The vendors area was the majority of the convention space with rows and rows of collectibles, toys, comic books, horror, anime, video games, and costumes. Rare comic books of the golden and silver ages were on display and almost all iconic comic books, some ranging in the five figure price range, were there for everyone to see and enjoy. Comic book fans looking to see the most famous comic books in comic history were treated to a veritable museum by being at the convention.
Fan Expo, formerly known as Wizard World Chicago, is also known as Chicago Comic Con and has been having conventions since 1972. The 2023 incarnation, from attending previous Chicago Comic Cons, had expanded to even more of the Donald Stephens floor. In addition to now having a beer garden, there was also a cosplay space which had an area for Ghostbusters costumes, cosplayers with a cause, the 501st Legion (Star Wars villains cosplay), G.I. Joe costumers, and more.
Though the vendor area had the expected items on sale (an explosion of Funko Pop figures, to be sure), Artist Alley by far had more interesting work and items on offer. Artist Alley is mostly known for its visual art. A surprise this time was that Artist Alley this year had a variety of creators–authors, writers, sculptors, creepy doll makers, soap and bath work purveyors, and more. In Artist Alley this year could be found a book of horror short stories by George Adamczyk, a series of fantasy novels written by Northern Wisconsinite Justin O. Rose, Vincent Van Gogh-inspired artwork of Daleks, and even “under the table” prints of the human form if the seeker asks. One of a kind and unique items were to be found in Artist Alley this year.
Going back to the vendors’ area, Team Gregula was most impressed by The Turned, a Coffee & Comics booth. The Turned is a comic book in which zombies have infiltrated the future ten thousand years from now. The creator, who had her very young son in tow, also made a line of handmade teas and coffees inspired by the characters and situations of her zombie comic series. She also draws the cover artwork on each packet of tea and also for her packages of coffee as well. The Team can testify that the teas are simply delicious and pair with the comic book well.
This year the celebrity guestlist was strong, including Susan Sarandon, Michael J. Fox, and Sam Raimi. Michael J. Fox, of Back to the Future fame, was not to be seen this weekend on the main floor. Only if someone purchased a ticket for a photo op or autograph could he be seen, with purchasers being given a map to find him in a secret location. Susan Sarandon of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and The Hunger fame was mostly behind a curtain and given her own focal space as true Hollywood “royalty.”
Team Gregula was pleased to meet and have photos with Barry Bostwick, Mira Sorvino, Garrett Hedlund, and more. We chatted with most of them, with Randy Quaid saying that Count Gregula looked like Bill Murray! Of all the celebrities, the most popular were of course the Back to the Future stars, who all had long lines all weekend.
The most crowded day of the four days was, of course, Saturday, with mobs of Back to the Future fans. At times Saturday felt like a huge concert with all the people present.
The panels were good this year from those we attended, including the What Scares a Horror Author? panel and the Hauntings & the Paranormal in Chicago panel. Very informative, and the 1979 American Airlines Flight 191 from O’Hare Airport was a particularly terrifying true tale!
On Sunday, the last day of the convention, Team Gregula did some interviews of authors from the Horror Writers Association Chicago Chapter and took photos with available celebrities and concluded this year looking very much forward to next year’s Fan Expo in Rosemont.
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