This year at C2E2 was different in a few ways for me.
1) There were no main stage panels I wanted to see. Now, the main stage panels were never my primary draw for C2E2 as I almost always buy my ticket before any guests or panels are announced. However, I think there is usually one that I want to see.
But not this year.
That said, I wasn't disappointed. The smaller panels I did see were so much fun, definitely interesting, and, at times, quite meaningful. The panel I found the most fun was probably "Movies Everyone Disagrees with You On" (I got to rant about how I really HATE Man of Steel). The most interesting panel to me was "Chicago's Haunted Funeral Homes, Cadaver Labs, and Final Resting Places," where I learned about how the Eastland Disaster claimed more victims than the sinking of the Titanic, but was less talked about likely due to the fact that those who died were poor factory workers). And the most meaningful to me was "Women Supporting Women: A Cross-Generational Cosplay Conversation" which was, of course, in part a conversation about cosplay, but was also truly about how women can and need to support and show up for each other.
2) I got a celebrity autograph!
So, if you don't know, my biggest celebrity crush is and has been Tyler Hoechlin ever since I saw him play Derek Hale on the TV show Teen Wolf. Despite some scheduling shenanigans (that actually ultimately led me to getting a free selfie with him, so, Hell yeah!), I was so happy to meet him. He was more intensely handsome than I predicted (I had assumed more of his intensity on Teen Wolf was from acting or facial movements or makeup/costuming or SOMETHING, but no...he's just that intensely handsome--salt and pepper beard now and all). He was also so friendly and kind. If we're friends in real life (which I believe most of you who read this blog are), I will post my photo with him soon!
3) I commissioned a piece of artwork.
My favorite TV show is Leverage (my elevator pitch is always "5 thieves decide to Robin Hood," and I use the tagline my friend's mom said: "The most fun you'll ever have with class warfare"). Now, it has been off the air since 2012 (although the reboot Leverage: Redemption aired from 2021 until summer of last year), so it is generally not represented at large fandom events like C2E2.
However, this year, I was at the booth for Lenlencreates and I saw they had a little sign saying you could commission them to do silly artwork, no judgment, and for the price you set. I asked if doing three characters was too many and they said no, but that I'd probably have to come back the next day to get it as it'd take longer. I asked if they'd heard of Leverage. Unsurprisingly, they hadn't, but they said as long as there were reference images online, they would work it out. I said I'd like my favorite three characters (Eliot Spencer/Hitter, Parker/Thief, and Alec Hardison/Hacker) posing like Charlie's Angels. They said they'd text me when it was done.
The next day, I was perusing Artist Alley and I got the text that it was ready! I went back to the booth and was DELIGHTED by what they'd drawn (see the photo for this post!). It made me smile SO much and I plan to frame it (and perhaps even commission more Leverage-themed items from them or other artists).
So, while C2E2 2026 was different in some ways, they were all pretty good ones!
(Prompt by me)
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