Fort Collins Comic Con 2025

Once again we got there bright and early. There was also a panel I wanted to see that started early as well. 

CoW LUG was at the event showing their Lego skills. I always wonder how long it takes to build some of these. I will say that I think my personal favorite was the Millennium Falcon flying through a fall colored tree (see above).

They had up posters that showed the different badge art. Of the ones for this year I liked the Panelist badge the most, but cryptids hold a special place in my heart.

This con has two dealer rooms, but they are more artist alleys then normal dealers. Most of the sellers are selling their own creations or fan art. I wish that this con would have more standard dealers selling licensed products.

They also had a huge area for the cosplay guests that had displays of cosplays up for people to be able to take a closer look at. It felt like they could have put more into this space, but it just means that they have room for more cosplay guests in the future.

Once again outside the main con in the back they had additional activities. Above, one group had a game you could try your luck at. It was like those frog flinger games if you have seen them at carnivals. They also had a robot doing some crazy tasks out there (see the robot video in the video section at the bottom of this post). 

This group had a mini LARPing area and some amazing leather work on display. The detail on the Mimic was amazing and I wanted to find a Frieren cosplayer to take a picture with it, but unfortunately none could be found. 

They also had a video game area that wasn't very busy. It was a nice place if you wanted to sit down for a break from the con and still fell like you were part of the action. They did also have a quiet room (which I didn't take a picture of, it was in the senior center's library room). That was a good place if you wanted to cut off even more from the con. I went in there for awhile, because it was the only place I could find where I could charge my phone a sit at the same time. 

Once again heat was a plague at this con. Even though the center supposedly got an upgrade to its HVAC system, this location just can not handle the amount of people that shows up for this event. They even tried to but containers of ice behind the fans to try and help cool off the area. They also had water stations, but no cups. By the afternoon volunteers and staff were walking around handing out water bottles to try and help. 

This year near the entrance (and where you picked up your badge) was Star Wars themed instead of Ghostbusters. The Ghostbuster area was still there, but around the corner if you turned left once you got past the entry area.

Panels

Doug Jones Q&A

I was so totally amazed when I first found out that Doug Jones was going to be at the con. Usually huge names like him do not go to smaller cons, but I was so happy that he did. He has done so many different big name movies: Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Hocus Pocus... just so many films. He told everything from work stories to personal stories like his wife making him take out the trash. It was funny that when asked about what project he would like to do that he hasn't done yet he said that he would like to play a human dad in a Hallmark movie giving his daughter fatherly advice. I would so love to play his daughter in that movie. Come on Hallmark Channel, let's make this happen.

Right before the Doug Jones panel started, the con brought in Council Member Tricia Canonico who presented an award to the con for all of the charity work they have done over the years. Mostly in the form of large donations.

Several different groups at the con had different charities they were trying to raise money for.

Writing the Twists and Turns of a Good Sci-Fi Space Opera

Host: Drew Bankston

Notes:

-He has written 14 novels, but at present has only published 6.

-Your first transition has to be the driving force for the book.

Overall: This panel was ok for very beginner writers. It was very top surface level stuff. He used a couple of his books to try and provide examples of what he was talking about. I wish the panel would have went into more technical details, but for a beginning writer it may have been helpful. 

Ghosts of Colorado

Hosts: Bob and Bryan

Notes:

-Brook Forest Inn

    ~They debunked the Nazi gold legend. 

    ~At least one murder really did happen there. A worker was killed by her boyfriend.

    ~At one point it was a Microsoft certification school.

    ~There is a fan there that will spin without power going to it or an air current around it.

Overall: Even if you have seen the past panels from this group each one is usually different because they keep finding more stuff to present. I've lost track of how many panels I have seen of theirs and there is always new stuff. They have so much material that their third book is due to be released at the upcoming Colorado Festival of Horrors. I always recommend that if you get the chance to see one of their panels go.

What Searching for Aliens Reveals about Ourselves

Host: Michael L. Wong (NASA Sagan Fellow and Carnegie Science)

Notes:

-Started his podcast because all of the other Star Trek podcasts focused on the shows/movies, characters, film techniques, but not on the science aspects of the show.

-The ancients saw what we know as planets as spirits you can know.

     ~Nabu identified with the planet Mercury. 

     ~only living things moved.

     ~geocentric ideas transition to heliocentric.

-Technologies of Perception, is the term that historians use to refer to items like telescopes, seeing glasses, and the like because they extend how far people can see. Also lets people see the past because of the length of time it takes for light from far off stars and galaxies to get to Earth.

-Talked about the Drake equation.

-Habitable Worlds Observatory: New mission that will try to figure out the atmospheres of earth like and sized planets.

                                     

Cosplays

This is one of the cutest fury like costumes I have seen. To me it looked like a dinosaur mixed with a fennec fox. Very unique and my favorite look of the con.

This was an interesting take on Ursula and what caught may attention about this cosplay was how the tentacles were handled. 

This costume made total sense with Doug Jones as the special guest. I hope that he got a chance to see these two.

This was one of the characters in the Star Wars area that you could take your picture with.

Ghostbusters

This was too cute. Slimer will try to eat anything and some one forgot to keep an eye on him.

The Ghostbuster group was one of the groups with charities they were supporting. They had an adoption where you could get a 3D printed sculpture.

Cars

There were several different decorated cards. Everything from anime to pop culture, like the Jurassic Park vehicles.  

Overall

This is a nice con overall and they did a great job when they brought Doug Jones. The staff and con goers I interacted with were nice. Even though there is a lot of people at this con, there wasn't any pressure to interact with people if you have social anxiety and this con could be a good introductory con for someone trying to get into the con scene. The only real negative thing I have to say about the con is the heat. This building even with the updates just can not handle the crowds. I think the con has out grown its current venue and needs to find a bigger place with an air system that can handle crowds.