Denver Comic Con 2018 Review

Denver Comic Con in 2018 was an exercise in expecting the worst but being pleasantly surprised.  Due to a handful of snags I encountered in 2017, I expected to wait in a ridiculous line to get inside the con, be crammed and shoved on the floor and have costuming rules change mid con.  I’m pleased to report that the organizers listened, learned a lot from last year, and made several strong improvements.

As I walked into Denver Comic Con this year, I was filled with trepidation having already received a text that the lines were horrible an hour before the con even opened.  However, by the time we arrived, about 45-minutes after doors opened, we were able to basically walk right in. Security was simple and straightforward, and we were in the con, start to finish, in about 15 minutes. It was so much better than last year! The downside was how easy it was to accidentally leave the secured area and exit the con without realizing it and having to go through security again. We only made that mistake once.

The rules surrounding props still need improvement for next year.  While they tried to be more clear by adding more details to their ‘weapons’ policy, we were in the con about 10 minutes before seeing fake swords, metal Captain America Shields, barbed wire bats, and even fake guns.  They seemed to loosen up on the cosplay rules as well as I saw more “risque” cosplays than last year. (But nothing that made the con not family-friendly.)

Costumes this year were wonderful, just like in previous years.  It seemed as though even more people dressed up than they did last year.  Lots of family cosplay, fashion cosplay, and many good old geekdoms representing.

The kids zone had fresh and fun activities this year.  Our daughter drew with Jim Davis, made a catapult and had a blast.  My only suggestion here would be to get a bigger space. Many of the events staged here needed twice the room or more. (And most parents that bring their kids will be there with them taking up even more seats/spaces.) We could hardly move after sitting on the floor with our daughter after watching the creator of Garfield.

The vendors seemed to be more varied and numerous this year and the internet seemed to be working better which made for a great shopping experience.  Still, it was seriously crowded and the isles between vendors were too small. Moving the kid zone or Beer Garden to another location could alleviate some of the congestion.

This was the first year we made it to the opening night events, and it will not be the last.  This ended up being one of my favorite parts of the con. The show transitions were smooth, the comedy was entertaining, and The Aquabats were outstanding.

The Cosplay Classic, while run similarly to last year, was a bit of a mess. There were some amazing pieces on display. However, there was a significant drop in the number of high end cosplays, fewer cosplays overall, and a far too long deliberation to decide the winners.

My suggestion would be to pre-judge cosplays and know winners before the contest begins. The 20+ minute pause to decide winners this year led to more than half of audience leaving before the winners were announced. The hosts stalling banter was commendable, but it got awkward.

Overall, I would give this year four and a half stars out of five. While there are always issues to address, they made a HUGE improvement from last year.

Denver Comic Con Cosplay Music Videos