Comic Con review: All your questions answered

Comic Con is a fan convention emphasizing comic books and comic book culture. Fans gather to meet comic creators, celebrities, and fellow enthusiasts. The Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), its branch in Seattle, has existed for over two decades. This year, the ECCC is March 6 to March 9 at the Seattle Convention Center. It has gained so much popularity that all their VIP passes and the four-day pass for the 2025 event are already sold out.

What exactly is Comic Con? 

Comic Con is an event dedicated to comic arts. It’s a chance for attendees to meet other enthusiasts and celebrities from their favorite books, movies, and TV shows. ECCC, like the Comic Cons in other cities, provides this platform–but entering this multiversal magic gets the attendees in direct contact with the event stalls and celebrities. There, attendees directly pay the stall owners and celebrities for goods, merchandise, autographs, or pictures.

When it comes to what to expect at Comic Con, it includes a range of cosplay, from Disney princesses to anime characters. The convention features skilled artists, talented writers, a variety of small businesses, and various voice actors, directors, and celebrities. Though the celebrity area and the stalls may be paid sections, there are still plenty of free activities to enjoy. Foam sword fighting, where an instructor trains participants in sword combat, is open to all ages. For those who enjoy battle-style games, there is also a fighting arena where teams and individuals can compete. The arcade is another great attraction, with all games available for free and open to the public. Alongside these, there are various photo ops, karaoke rooms, board games, card games, costume showcases, trivia game shows, and battle games. A few hidden stalls even offer a “spin-to-win” game, where attendees have a chance to win fun and unique knickknacks.

One of the best parts about ECCC is how family-friendly it is. There is no age restriction at the convention–children, tweens, teens, adults, and elders can all attend. Even though there may not be a lot of things for children to do, the cosplay costumes are not provocative, and seeing beloved TV cartoons in real life–along with dressing as them–is a magical experience that brings a smile onto every child’s face. 

The event is ADA-friendly, with many elevators and escalators for crowd management. Ample seating is available in the Seattle Convention Center buildings. Attendees can feel safe because there is a high level of security, along with many employees and volunteers to help or guide participants in any situation. ECCC also has an app to help the crowd maneuver the event, report harassment, find event schedules, and get updates.

“Do I have to wear a costume?” is one of the first questions on many people’s minds. While it is not compulsory to wear a costume, Comic Con is one of the few occasions to embrace one’s nerdy side. So, geek out! The majority of the crowd at Comic Con dresses in cosplay, and some of them even invent their own characters. Others wear a T-shirt of their favorite comic book character. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide what suits them best. Some people just wear their regular clothes, which is nothing to be judged for! Comic Con is not a place to judge or be judged—it’s a place to celebrate any and every part of you.

Tips for Attending ECCC

For anyone attending ECCC, here are a few tips to keep in mind: 

• Carry water! In all the rush and excitement of everything going on, people often tend to forget to hydrate and end up feeling dizzy or nauseous. Some even return home feeling like they’ve wasted a day by not being able to enjoy Comic Con to the fullest. Plus, water is crazy expensive at the event. 
• Eat before you go! The food at ECCC, although enjoyable, is mostly limited to snacks and small plates, so don’t plan on having a meal at the convention. Attendees are allowed to carry their own snacks, so feel free to pack one. 
• Bring a bag! Patrons are allowed to carry a bag, and I certainly recommend that you do–where else are you going to put the knickknacks, souvenirs, and the merchandise you buy at ECCC? And, of course, it is Seattle, so don’t forget to shove an umbrella or rain jacket in there. 
• If you happen to need a last-minute pass, there are a lot of people selling their passes. Even though it would be overpriced, it’s certainly good to know there are options in case you decide to go last minute.

All that said, going to a Comic Con can be one of the most exciting or overwhelming moments. Sometimes, a Comic Con may not feel like the place for you, so starting small with a day pass would be a key factor to experience it, witness the environment around you, and then decide whether it is a vibe you would enjoy. ECCC’s day passes are still available, so if you want to try it out, I’d say go for it. You can always decide later whether to get the four-day pass next year. ECCC is an annual Comic Con, so if you feel like you’re up to the multiverse, I’ll see you there!