Wizard World Chicago 2012 Day 4
On the last day of Wizard World Comic-Con, I arrived extra early to bid a fond farewell to another great year of fun and entertainment.
August 12th, 2012
The first thing I did when I arrived at Wizard World at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center was head straight down to the programming room so I can attend the Stan Lee Q&A. The avuncular moderator of the panel told us stories of the legend himself before he arrived and asked if one of us could ask him a question about his wife. When one did, Stan’s eyes lit up and he told the sweetest stories about how he knew he had found his true love. Anyone who knows Stan Lee knows he’s a man of many words and many of his answers ended in either applause or laughter. Though he was a bit hard of hearing, he answered every question with great enthusiasm and made the room come alive. He even talked a little bit about filming his latest cameo for Iron Man 3!
After the panel, I quickly returned to the show floor and headed straight for the Photo-Op room so I can take a picture with the legend himself. When I got to the front, Stan was very nice and incredibly animated. I thanked him for his contribution to comics and headed off.
Though the con was winding down, the vivacity in the room remained strong. Fan conventions do something that most events don’t do, they bring people together and let them share their mutual interests. It’s not something that’s plucked from thin air, this energy has always been inside everyone who considers themselves a fan or a geek for something, it simply needs to be channeled through the correct medium. Wizard World found the best way to bring out the best in everyone by providing outstanding entertainment, great substance, and a place where everyone can feel like they belong.
So long, Wizard World. See you next year.
Victor Kong is an animator and a writer/correspondent for DAPs Magic, regularly posting Song Saturday (Disney Style) on DAPs Magic Geeks Corner, as well as covering local conventions, expos, and festivals. He currently lives in Chicago, Illinois.
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