ECCC has been rescheduled for 21-23 August - will you go?

13 MARCH 2020

Happy Friday the 13th! Between fighting your way through supermarkets for bottled water and pondering life on a respirator, you may have noticed an email from ECCC. They have jubilantly announced that ECCC has been rescheduled for 21-23 August - and it's all going to be fine!

I'm going to be pragmatic about this announcement in a minute, but first let's talk facts:

• If you had a badge for this year, you can transfer it to the August Con. Just let them know by 27 March. So you've got 2 weeks to see if signs point to a long-term hellscape by then.
• If you don't transfer your badge, you'll get a refund. I know - you thought you were already getting one. You will and it will happen automatically. Just sit tight.
• Because August ECCC is only 3 days, unlike March ECCC, which was to be 4 days, you'll get a refund of $15 to compensate should you transfer.

What Summer ECCC Might Look Like

Should this Con actually occur, I think it will be smaller and more local than usual. Which actually sounds kind of nice and will probably appeal to many people. I won't be there - this falls right between SDCC and NYCC and within days of my birthday, which I want to celebrate with a trip through my ancestral Scandinavian homelands. It's also within a whisker of Dragon Con, which I believe will prevent some people from attending as well. But none of that is necessarily bad, it just means the sense of local community will be that much stronger.

Here's the thing, though, and I'm sorry to be negative - but the U.S. is still skidding all over the Coronavirus road, and we don't know if this road is leading to "peaking by late May and we'll cautiously move into vaccines and herd immunity" or "our economy itself is on a respirator and we're shooting pigeons for food." Probably it will be the former. But I think Reed Pop should have waited just a few more weeks before announcing this. Right now the media blizzard is focusing on COVID-19's medical trajectory and that's definitely important - but the economic fallout is going to be intense.

And maybe (well, almost definitely) that's the reason for this quick rescheduling: to keep spirits high and offer a solid opportunity to pump cash and tourism dollars back into Seattle and the creator community. Nerds who've had to isolate at home (I will not make a joke here) will be relieved to  have a big fun social event to go to. Those who've lost elder loved ones will probably benefit as well. If we do wind up "social distancing" as a nation for a month or more, the psychological impact will be very real. People are already devastated over the loss of NCAA games, the delay of Mulan and No Time to Die, their cancelled Disney trips. Staying socially connected and mentally healthy is going to be a priority for all of us, infected or not.

So - fingers crossed that it all works out. I won't be there, but I hope those of you transferring your badges (or just waiting for the ticket sale) have a magnificent time. Stay healthy, stay optimistic and you'll be floating through a land of magical cosplay and excellent comics before you know it.

What the "postponed" ECCC means for us

6 MARCH 2020

So it's official: none of us are going to Emerald City Comic Con next week. It has been "postponed" and you can read the official statement here.

Rumors have run around our world like rats this week, so let's clarify what this means.

• It's more accurate to say that ECCC has been cancelled - the one we were promised anyway. Another one will be held under the same name in the same calendar year, but it's impossible to replicate this one with all the same guests and exhibitors and events. I'm sure Reed Pop will try their hardest, but Comic Con season reaches a fever pitch in summer and I'm sure many of the people we were excited to see next week will be engaged elsewhere - or just have summer plans like the rest of us. 

• But that doesn't mean the new ECCC2020 won't be great. I'm sure it will. That said, those of us with SDCC plans pencilled in - and maybe Dragon Con or Boston or Denver or just saving our $$ for NYCC in October - may be too tuckered out for another summer Con. This could shift the attendee demographics to a more local population.

• Refunds will go out to all attendees. They don't need to do anything. This gets a bit muddled for the people who went through Lyte, but I'm sure that can be figured out easily; what can't are the people who bought badges off StubHub, Reddit, Craigslist, etc. I believe they're just out that amount of cash.

• ECCC has promised to highlight creators' work over the coming days and weeks to help them financially, though it's not clear how they'll do so. At any rate, don't write off the digital Emerald City community for now - keep checking back and see how you can help support your faves.

• Obviously there will need to be another ticket sale. While that's never fun, it's also not that horrendous for Emerald City. It's not like nabbing a Preview Night badge for SDCC and then being told it's void and you have to try again. And since we had Thursday, Friday and Sunday badges still available for ECCC, it seems open to anyone who wants to go.

• I know there's a high level of frustration with Reed for not doing this sooner, but let's be reasonable: they have contractual and legal obligations with the facility, the city, exhibitors, staff, entertainers, guests and other parties that were probably a nightmare to navigate. Let's assume positive intent.

• As for whether the cancellation was necessary - is there really any doubt? Look at the Egyptian Nile cruise ships or the Biogen conference in Boston. Gatherings are deadly. ECCC would have lit a match to a viral conflagration. This was the right call, it can't be disputed.

And finally, unpleasantly, it's entirely possible COVID-19 will spread through the land like a hex and ruin our summer nerd dreams. In a few months it could just be a bad memory or we could be facing societal changes that make a missed Comic Con seem comparatively minor. But for now, let's assume we'll have ourselves a lovely time in Seattle this summer.

ECCC and Coronavirus Updates

3 MARCH 2020

ECC is being postponed until this summer. The date is forthcoming. 
All attendees and exhibitors will get a refund.

Thank you, Reed Pop, for making the safest and most fan-friendly decision for everyone. We all want a fun, vibrant and robust Comic Con with all our favorite artists, guests and exhibitors. 

I'll share dates and ticket sale news when I have them. And that brings our scary little rollercoaster ride to an end!



As we grow closer to ECCC202, the Coronavirus news out of Seattle is growing worse. I don't have any insider knowledge. I'm just aggregating and reporting what I hear. So I'll post updates in this space as news breaks.

• The current U.S. death toll is 14 in Washington, 1 in California.
• In Washington, the number of confirmed cases has risen to 80. Two more eldercare facilities have presumptive positive patients, in addition to Life Care.
• The declared state of emergency continues. Many companies are having employees work from home, people over 60 and with chronic conditions are told to stay home, and Seattle is setting up quarantine trailers.
• Many people believe that the virus is more widely seeded in the U.S. than was originally estimated. Some are making comparisons to the 1918 pandemic.
• ECCC will refund exhibitors and attendees. 
• Cancellation still looms on the horizon as ECCC says they are "fully prepared" to adjust their plans and act upon changing guidance.
• Multiple vendors, including Dark Horse, Oni Press, DC Comics, Tor/MacMillan and Penguin Random House, have pulled out of ECCC. Kate Leth, Terry Brooks, Jen Bartel, Dustin Nguyen, Steve Lieber, Mike Mignola, Jim Lee, Jim Butcher, Jim Zub, Max Brooks and other creators have cancelled. Warner Media (HBO, Warner Bros., Turner) isn't letting their employees go either. You can see the full list here.

Friday morning, 6 March

Nothing much new to report right now. I woke up to a Vault press release saying they weren't coming; at this point, ECCC really will be a ghost town. A petition is asking them to cancel, they're being bombarded by angry comments and threats, but at this point I think cancellation is a high-level discussion happening between Reed, city officials, Governor Inslee's team and the CDC. An announcement should be forthcoming soon.

White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow has told people to avoid traveling to Seattle. At this point, I think people should not attend ECCC. There's really no legitimate reason to. You're a vendor and your income depends on it? You'll be selling to a fraction of the normal attendee base and you risk winding up quarantined and losing out on your day job/freelance income and people are trying to help you by holding virtual art shows to signal boost cancelling vendors - so is it worth it?

I know most of us are taking this day by day. My friends and I have been talking all morning about whether to still roadtrip to see Orville Peck in a few nights. No one wants to miss out on fun, especially something they've anticipated for months. But for ECCC, especially if you're travelling, making a decision now is probably the safest and fiscally sound choice. 






Thursday night, 5 March

Someone else has died in Washington. At this point, I believe ECCC will officially cancel tomorrow, on Friday. They need to end this now so people can hit their 72 hour cancellation window for hotels, recoup whatever deposits they can and make alternate plans to earn whatever income they're losing out on.

Today seems to have kicked off a certain frenzy in the business world, as if a corporate cabal got confirmation that this is all very real and then unleashed that knowledge across the country. Yet people I talked to at Trader Joe's and my salon were apathetic. "It's just the flu," my stylist said. Even when an actual ER nurse showed up for a haircut and confirmed that yes, his hospital is taking drastic measures to prepare, they were skeptical. It's a common attitude - the Coronavirus is the new Y2K -  which you could darkly translate into the likelihood that many people will not follow prevention guidelines. That's just one reason big events are not going to be safe.

If you're still going, please read the list of cancellations first.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.



Thursday afternoon, 5 March

Today for me has been a blizzard of emails from my clients cancelling trips, asking for my emergency contact information, and informing me of cancelled conferences. Yes, even as ECCC plods on in what's looking increasingly like a deathmarch, other organizations are calling off events and conferences at great expense.

One sidebar: many ECCC attendees have not yet received their badges, like me, yet are asked to send them back by a certain deadline to get the refund. Reed - why were you cutting it so close in the first place? I believe this is one area where CCI is better organized. I don't say that too often.

On that note, 2 attendees have contacted me in anger because they sold off their badges at a huge loss and now they can't get a refund. So that's been happening. Look, at the end of the day, all of us are going to lose something here - whether it's a deposit, an exclusive or a cherished meetup. There's just no way around it. At this point, we have to look ahead to a collective future and do what we can do today to prevent losses tomorrow. And think of the people who bought black market badges! They are truly screwed if ECCC is called off.

I believe cancellation is inevitable, especially with exhibitors and attendees dropping like flies today. I'm sure Reed is likely taking care of the legal this and that before making an announcement. 




Thursday morning, 5 March

Today we've woken up to find ourselves still between Scylla and Charybdis. I think most of us were hoping for a definitive decision by now but instead we're facing information that doesn't entirely add up. ECCC is refunding exhibitors and attendees, which is decent of them, but also suggests a sluggish Con. In the meantime, Seattle has asked high-risk people to stay home; Amazon and Facebook employees are also asked to work from home. Is the city safe or not? At this point, I believe the Con will be cancelled and that Reed is waiting for an official mandate. But we've only gotten recommendations, not requirements, from officials. It's tedious.

But I get it. For every artist and exhibitor and attendee who's saying, "Sorry, not worth the risk," there's someone saying "My financial survival depends on this Con." So I can see why ECCC isn't just blithely shutting down. They're going to upset people (and maybe spark litigation) no matter how they proceed.

I've decided to opt out. I'm more afraid of quarantine than illness, but I also suspect that both the floor shopping and the general atmosphere going out at night won't really be so fun - that essentially I'll fly into a petri dish that's all risk, no reward. But if the show does happen, I hope those of you who go stay safe and enjoy yourselves. There could be an upside; maybe the smaller crowd will help people make friends easily and live out the experience of going to a small Con circa 1998.

Mike Pence will be touching down in Seattle today so perhaps a decree will emerge from his visit. I'll share what I hear, though I'll be offline for about 4 hours in afternoon/evening.


Wednesday morning, 4 March

Someone on Twitter posted a message from ECCC saying they "do not see any scenario where the event gets cancelled" unless they're shut down by the state or CDC. I think a lot can change over the next week. I appreciate ECCC may be concerned about financial losses but a lackluster Con with empty booths and a diminished crowd isn't good for anyone. And if it does accelerate the infection rate or lead to quarantine for attendees, they will take a massive reputational hit.

Interestingly, Reed HAS cancelled their London Book Fair, featuring 25,000 people. Note that London doesn't have the same death toll as WA. So why cancel? Essentially publishers and agents were pulling out en masse and forced their hand. Now many are annoyed the cancellation was left to the last minute. Reed's response:

“We have been following UK government guidelines and working with the rolling advice from the public health authorities and other organisations, and so it is with reluctance that we have taken the decision not to go ahead with this year’s event." 

That would be the same reluctance to cancel ECCC, no doubt. A "senior publishing figure" quoted in the same article said, "I understand that if they cancelled last week they would have taken a financial hit, but that would have been the responsible thing to do. They’ve been citing government advice but it’s really irresponsible in the current climate to have a mass gathering of international publishers. It’s a very ugly cat and mouse game they’re playing. It’s purely financial and makes them look money-grabbing."

Right now it seems that Reed will only cancel ECCC if cancellations hit critical mass OR they're state-ordered to. Basically, we're living through the death of a thousand cuts here and it's leaving everyone in limbo as to whether we should cancel hotels, flights, etc. Really just a mess.

Tuesday night, 3 March

Washington Governor Jay Inslee said today, "We are not making a request formally right now for events to be cancelled - but people should be prepared for that possibility."

I believe Wednesday will bring more vendors pulling out as they do a cost analysis on losing the show income vs. sick/quarantined employees and low sales - not to mention the possibility that the outbreak could explode by next week and it's all been for naught anyhow.

I think cancellation is likely at this point & that Reed could be waiting for an official health department order or some other documentation to facilitate an insurance claim. Just a theory. I'm sure many variables are in play. But their silence and lack of reassurance today speaks volumes. Like most of us, they're likely waiting for the right information to make the right decision.

Tuesday morning, 3 March

Personally, I don't feel it's looking good.

A few things to keep in mind. I know it's tempting to bluster about how some virus won't keep you home. But remember this isn't just about you. It's not even just about getting sick. It's about maybe getting suck in quarantine, far from home. Or being able to cancel flights and hotels in time to get refunds. And possibly becoming a carrier who infects someone who does become seriously ill, even though you soldiered through your illness just fine. I'm not saying these things will happen - just that it's not as simple as confidence in your own immune system.

The Coronovirus & why we should stop touching each other at Comic Cons

2 MARCH 2020

So we have a new global pandemic, just in time for the 2020 Comic Con season! At this very moment, MSNBC is telling me the Coronavirus death toll has risen to 5 in Washington, where I and thousands of others are headed for Emerald City Comic Con next week. King County has declared an emergency. Yesterday the Louvre in Paris closed; all over the world, exposed people are quarantined; it's all very frightening and yet so redolent of Outbreak / Contagion/ World War Z / 28 Days Later that it seems a bit surreal. Are we really in danger of dying from a new virus on the show floor?

Probably not. But it is something to consider and I encourage everyone headed to ECCC and other large gatherings to do their research on both the virus and their own risk level. If you're elderly, sick, immunocompromised or some other category of medically fragile - now is obviously the time to be cautious. There is always another Comic Con. At the same time, there are many factors in play:

• Both airports and ECCC have instituted cleansing and preventive methodologies to limit contagion. ECCC has released an official statement.

• The infected are most contagious when they are openly sick, not incubating, though that doesn't mean they can't leave the house and attend events.

• Vendors and exhibitors have asked that attendees not touch them - no handshakes, fistbumps, hugs, etc. I think that's a good idea for all of us. That said, Comic Cons are touchy experiences - I pick up a comic book and look at it, put it down, you pick it up, I touch an escalator rail after someone sneezed on it, you get the (revolting) idea. It's kind of impossible to be totally safe.

• ECCC still has - interestingly - Thursday, Friday and Sunday tickets available. I was actually going to post on this and speculate whether the Emerald City star is fading, but right now I'm just thinking: will people turning in their tickets find takers? Once it would have been a sure thing, asking Lyte to find you a buyer. Now I don't know.

• All over the country, "officials" - of all stripes - are asking people not to cancel events like voting and that presumably includes nerd festivals.

This situation is developing rapidly; it's hard to say where we'll be in three days and if ECCC guests will cancel and if maybe we'll all be living in an apocalyptic medical nightmare next week. For now, do your research and take whatever precautions you feel are necessary. And keep an eye on this situation as it evolves so you can make the best choices for you.

Today is the ECCC badge sale

23 OCTOBER 2019

1:09 pm

4 day tickets are sold out.



12:58 pm

Celebrity and Comic Fan Premium Packages are sold out - 4 day are still available.

12:16 pm

 And it's over for me. How about you?

Word of caution: when you confirm your tickets, there is a teeny little link to book your hotel. Don't miss it.



12:02 pm

We're in the queue....


10:23 a.m.
It's a special day for PNW nerds - the day when the (digital) gates to Emerald City Comic Con open and we lock down our badges.

If you're an ECCC veteran, remember that you can choose from premium packages this year; if you're new to ECCC and/or ReedPop, be aware that you can book your hotel at the same time. Also be aware that your odds of getting a full badge are good only if you get into the queue on time. This isn't as nuts as an SDCC badge or hotel sale, but it's still competitive.

I'll be in the sale with you and I'll post what I hear and see.

Will we have 2 ECCC badge sales next year?

21 OCTOBER 2019

This Wednesday, 23 October at noon PST, tickets and hotels for Emerald City Comic Con go live. In some ways, this ticket sale will be exactly what you're used to. You can buy a 4-day package for $145 or buy each day separately for slightly more.

But - plot twist! This year, ECCC has come out with "premium packages" for the dedicated fan who also has a little extra cash to burn. While these packages are intriguing in themselves, what really interests me is that each promises "Access to 2021 Advanced Ticket Presale." That's explained further as "2020 Premium badge holders will have first access to ECCC 2021 tickets Cost." (No typos - that's exactly what it says.)


In other words, much like NYCC, we're apparently looking at two ECCC badge sales next year - but instead of dividing between last year's attendees and the general public, it will be between premium attendees and the rest of us. Yes, just when you decide you really don't need a fancy overpriced premium ticket, you realize you probably will need to buy one if you want to lock down 2021. Tricky, tricky, ReedPop.

These packages include:

• Celebrity Fan - $299: private lounge at the Hyatt, reserved seating for 2 Main Stage panels, fast pass for photo ops and autographs, various merch.
• Comic Fan - $275: private lounge by Artists' Alley, early access to the floor, advance access to guests, various merch.
• Family - $350: good for 2 adults and 4 kids. Again, access to a private family lounge, food vouchers, some early access, merch discounts.

I don't know how I feel about this. I fully support premium packages that offer perks like reserved seating. The idea that I'm handicapped for next year's badge sale unless I pony up is annoying. I don't really care about private lounges and I'm long past the race-for-the-floor stage. So while I initially decided to roll out for the Comic Fan package, doubts are beginning to creep in. I'm curious how others feel about it?

If you're on the fence for the entire show, remember that Lyte is there to relieve you of your tickets, should life interfere. Tragically, this was me last year - and Lyte made the whole process very easy. Presumably it's just as easy to await tickets for sale as well. So if you find yourself on either end of that exchange, whether you can't go or you didn't buy tickets in time, you should be fine.

That said, don't bank on tickets being turned in. If you really want to be at Emerald City in March, be in that queue on Wednesday. Badges will go very quickly. Make sure you lock down your hotel room as well.

I'll live blog the sale Wednesday, with an eye on which tickets sell out first, the general or premium.  Stay tuned.

SDCC & Emerald City badge sales are nigh

22 SEPTEMBER 2019

Happy Autumn Equinox. The past week brought welcome nerd news. The Emerald City Comic Con ticket sale is 23 October and the San Diego Comic-Con Returning Registration sale is... soon.


Emerald City
Let's start with ECCC. I advise making 2020 your first year at ECCC if you've never been and you like comic books. You can read why here. 

As for the ticket sale - it's a fairly simple process. When tickets go live on noon PST 23 October, you will join the queue and buy the tickets of your choice. While 4-day tickets will probably sell out in real time, you should be able to buy all four days separately if you're there in the mix. You can also book your hotel right then, which I highly advise.

For now, subscribe to their newsletter. And think big picture about your Con destinations in 2020 - because unless you have unlimited leisure time and unlimited funds at your disposal, you'll need to pick which Cons to prioritize. Don't be afraid to mix it up.

San Diego Comic-Con

Onto SDCC. Returning Registration is approaching - a day that rivals an ancient Pagan celebration in its capacity to inspire dread and jubilation. This sale is only for attendees who swiped their badge at SDCC 2019 - also known as SDCC50. (I don't feel that ever really took off, but that's how CCI wants us to think of it.) Since you've already been through a badge sale, you know the drill. Just remember to get your money in order and communicate clearly with your buying group. Last year's RR was the worst I have ever experienced in terms of collecting $$$ from the people whose badges I bought, and it almost turned me off from ever participating in a buying group again. Don't be that person.

Dates: Because this year's junior badge validation emails aligned with last year's, it's tempting to think that Returning Reg this year will also align and take place on Saturday, 12 October.  (Last year was the 13th.) But CCI is a saucy minx, so don't bet the farm on that date. As someone who needed to pick an October weekend for Disneyland, I did choose October 18-20 as safe dates to have the sale over with. I'd guess the 5th at the earliest and say the 12th is the most likely. I'd definitely keep your Saturdays on those 2 dates open. (Hard to do if you're NYCC-bound.) But anything is possible.

For you first-timer hopefuls who want to go to SDCC next year but were not an attendee this summer, you'll need to wait for Open Registration. That's also likely going to happen this fall, so make sure you've created a Member ID for yourself and your companions. 

Taking a Gap Year
I want to address those of you who are in the middle - you think you want to go to SDCC 2020 but you're not sure but you don't want to miss out, but but but. There seem to be quite a few attendees contemplating a Comic-Con gap year. Was it because this year was a bit contentious? Are we restless for new lands to conquer? I guess the reason doesn't matter - only that a healthy number of people have mentioned it to me, and they're worried that once they step off the SDCC train they'll never be allowed back on. It's a reasonable fear.

So if you're currently vacillating, remember this:
1) You can always turn your badge in for a refund.
2) If you do jump off the SDCC wheel of fate and can't catch it again - there are other Cons you can go to and fan fests like D23. Also, I feel that we've reached Peak Con in terms of SDCC demand. I could be wildly wrong about this, and obviously it's still very difficult to get a badge. But I do think that even if you flunk a few badge sales, you'll eventually be able to claw your way back in by working with the right people.

Back to what matters. It's officially badge sale season! Prepare for the worst, hope for the best and stay tuned.

Maybe buy your ECCC tickets earlier next year

12 MARCH 2019

We're less than 48 hours away from the start of Emerald City Comic Con - which I will not be going to, but am still loosely following. And while all tickets but Thursday are officially sold out, Friday and Sunday were available until recently.

Which makes this a bit puzzling: people are lining up to get those tickets for a tremendous markup on Lyte. Friday is currently available but for $80 - almost double what it went for from ECCC. Sunday tickets are $85 and currently have a waiting list of 18 people. Saturday tickets? $99, with 13 people waiting.

That last I can understand, since Saturday sold out fast. But I don't understand why those people don't pony up an extra $30 for the 4-day tickets, which are going for $129 and only have 6 people waiting. (You're welcome, whoever bought my two turned-in tickets.) Maybe they're confident more Saturdays will be returned?

I'm being petty, and yes, I realize people don't always have the funds when they need to buy Comic Con tickets. But overall - the patterns and prices of ECCC 2019 shows that it doesn't pay to wait until the last minute to grab your tickets, Lyte availability or not.

And in case you missed the real message here amidst my musing - ECCC tickets are still available. Thursday on the site, Friday on Lyte, and maybe Saturday/Sunday if you make it through the waiting list.

Good luck and have fun this week. Send me pictures. I already miss you.

Lyte pays the full price for ECCC tickets

27 FEBRUARY 2019

I'm unhappily able to report that Lyte, who is handling Emerald City Comic Con ticket exchanges for the first time this year, will pay full price for your tickets. At least if they're 4 day tickets, they will. I know this because Fate is a ruthless cannibal that devours all my time and now I can't go to ECCC.

So instead of arranging a sale to a stranger, I turned my tickets over to Lyte. It worked smoothly enough; if you also find yourself with extra tickets on your hands, I'd recommend going that route instead of StubHub, Craigslist or some other dodgy means. All you need to provide is your order ID and then they make an offer and send you a UPS label. It's pretty painless. Except for the bitterness burning in your heart because you can't go to ECCC.

As for ticket availability - I don't really know how many full tickets they have on hand. Maybe they're rare and I just made 2 PNW nerds very happy, or maybe they have a decent supply. At any rate, it doesn't hurt to check. And of course, you can get Thursday, Friday and Sunday right from the ECCC site.

Have fun at Emerald City, you lucky bastards. See you at a Comic Con soon.

Emerald City Comic Con still has Thursday, Friday and Sunday tickets available

16 FEBRUARY 2019

Emerald City Comic Con ends a month from today - but they still have tickets for 3 out of the 4 days. That's weird, isn't it? Especially given the rapacity with which full tickets sold out (pretty much immediately.)

What I think it means: that even though outsiders like me creep into the ticket sale like an invasive species, we're still limited in number - and locals are more leisurely about getting their tickets. I know several people in the PNW who plan on going for at least a day, but aren't obsessive about getting the whole show. They'll get their tickets when they have a better idea of their schedule.

Or maybe it means that with the advent of the Lyte Ticket Exchange, people feel more confident about their ability to pull down all four days. Maybe their confidence is well placed; I have no idea. In other years, people turned to StubHub or Craigslist or other places to watch for ECCC tickets, and those often came with a hefty markeup - assuming they were legit.

All this said, it's safe to assume that tickets will sell out for ECCC - so don't dawdle too long before buying. The next 4 weeks will go by in a flash.

ECCC panels, artists and exhibitors are live

24 JANUARY 2019

Emerald City Comic Con STILL has tickets available for every day but Saturday - and if you buy by tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 25, you can still get your tickets mailed to you.

On the fence? Lucky for you, ECCC published their list of exhibitors, artists and panels today - so take a look and see if you're swayed.

Here's my quick panel assessment:

Thursday: Heavy on cosplay and comics. That's traditional for Thursday. Since I may not roll into ECCC until Friday, I was relieved not to see anything I couldn't miss - but there are definitely some good choices, especially for creatives.

Friday: This day is more mixed, with still plenty of creative panels, creator spotlights, paranormal stories, LGBTQ+ this and that, cosplay and science. And you get to bask in the splendor of Boy Meets World, George Takei and Ian Somerhalder.

Saturday: Another mixed day, with plenty of fandom panels for Doctor Who and Star Wars and other fans, sci-fi, cosplay and some random panels celebrating cats in comics, goths and other niche nerdness. I'm here for it, but I still like Friday better.

Sunday: Stranger Things kicks off the day on the Main Stage but overall it's kind of a light day. A sprinkling of comic content, cosplay and nerd culture, pretty much. And of course there are panels for little nerds as well.

Overall ECCC seems to be sticking with the diversity, comic and creative panels that have made them so popular in the past - but there's plenty of other fan, cosplay and science material as well. My day of choice is Friday but YMMV.

Now. Let's talk about your nocturnal Con life. You'll be in Seattle so obviously you can find something to do by just walking outside your hotel. But you have a few official options open to you as well:

• A Star Trek lecture involving "rare photos, memos and footage" (Thursday)
• A Battlestar Galactica discussion involving the same (Thursday)
• Guardians of the Sexy burlesque show (Friday and Saturday)
• Kracklefest 9 with rappers and bands (Friday)
• ECCC Western Championship of Cosplay (Saturday)

Finally, don't forget the photo op and autograph sales are live - and you can sign up for the Funko lottery on 4 February.

Emerald City is just weeks away!

Catching up with ECCC

6 JANUARY 2019

Emerald City Comic Con is just 9 weeks away - which feels pretty crazy, since some of us are still recovering from New Year's Eve. And surprisingly, even though the 4-day tickets and Saturday sold out almost immediately, Thursday, Friday and Sunday are still available. Also, for the first time, ECCC is partnering with Lyte to offer up refunded tickets. So you might get a full ticket yet.

Let's review the reasons why you want to go - or what you can anticipate, if you already have your tickets.

• The best comic book creators will be there. I'm not just talking about the same faces you see at all the other Cons, but writers and artists you won't see anywhere else.

• The celebrities on deck so far include the Boy Meets World cast (yes, Cory and Topanga are coming to Comic Con), some of the Stranger Things kids, Brienne/Gwen Christie, George Takei, assorted actors from Battlestar Galactica, Vampire Diaries, The Walking Dead, Wynonna Earp, etc

• The extensive gaming area will include tournaments and free play, console gaming, board games, RPG and an indie games showcase.

• Not too many parties are listed so far - just the Guardians of the Sexy burlesque - but you can bet they're coming.

• Penguin Random House is holding exclusive "Book Club" sessions at the Con that sound like they're cross-genre.

• The cosplay is top notch. I won't get too political here, but anyone in Nerd World is aware of the resentments brewing over "real" cosplayers and the ones assumed to have more impure motives, such as launching their modeling careers or advertising various websites and products. I can promise you that ECCC will offer up some inventive and deep-nerd cosplay.

Also keep these deadlines in mind:

• Photo ops and autographs go live at noon PST on 17 January. 
• If you want your tickets mailed to you, buy before 18 January.

I know 2019 is just starting to crawl out of time's womb, but now really is the moment to think about which Con you're going to attend this year. You already know if you're not going to San Diego Comic-Con; as you consider all the other Cons filling spring, summer and fall, think about starting off your nerd calendar with ECCC, one of the best Comic Cons in the world. You'll get all of the fun of a bigger Con and hardly any of the stress. And right now it's completely within reach.

ECCC tickets are live

17 OCTOBER 2018


12:20 pm

And I've gotten my first complaint about full tickets being sold out. Apparently some people still think of this as a sleepy 2nd-tier Con that's easy to get badges for. While it's not quite as competitive as SDCC or NYCC, it's still highly popular and not an easy get.

I'd advise jumping in now to get all 4 days if you want them.

12:14 pm

Looks like full tickets are gone - but you can still get all 4 days separately. You'll just pay a bit more.


12:13 pm

Just a reminder - you can book your hotel too when you're done. I booked a room at the Sheraton, natch, and rooms with double beds were already unavailable for Wednesday night (king rooms were available.) In my experience, ECCC hotel rooms tend to look booked and then be available again - but it's best to book your room now.

12:06 pm

That was painless. I was in the queue at noon and into the buying session at 12:02.

How are you doing?


11:58 am

Tickets for Emerald City are about to go live. The sale should go smoothly - but I expect full tickets will sell out quickly. If you are planning on going and want the full show, make sure you get in at noon PST on the dot.

Tomorrow is the ECCC ticket sale

16 OCTOBER 2018

The ticket sale for one of the most exciting Comic Cons happens tomorrow - Wednesday, 17 October, at noon PST. I'm referring, of course, to Emerald City Comic Con.

I've sung Emerald City's praises many times - you can see two examples here and here. But here's a quick summary of why I love it and why I think you could love it too:

• ECCC feels like a real comic book convention - not a booming Hollywood hype machine with a few boxes of back issues crammed in. 
• The Artist's Alley is like no other. It's not shoved in some ignored corner of the convention center. It's a major part of the Con and it's spectacular.
• Their guests are on point. Generally speaking, there is one room that functions as a Hall H and that's your main option for seeing TV and movie guests (who tend to be really good.) In some ways, that simplicity adds up to an easier and more satisfying Con.
• In fact, pretty much all of ECCC is easier. Lines are shorter or non-existent, your hotel will be very close and so will most of the events you go to. 
• Eating, drinking and sleeping is more civilized than at NYCC or SDCC. There are plenty of bars and restaurants right there. And you can sleep in without missing the day's events, because you can usually get into them last minute.
• The cosplay is world class. 
• The tickets and hotels are at a friendlier price point than San Diego and New York.

And - sorry to rub salt in your wound - this is a very attractive option for those of you who didn't get an SDCC badge last weekend. Open Registration offers you a second chance but the competition will be stiff. Putting Emerald City in your back pocket can take the sting out of missing San Diego.

Conquering the Sale

• There will be a queue, as with most big Con ticket sales. Put aside some time for this.
•  Full tickets will go fast. You should be able to still get all 4 days separately but Saturday has sold out within a week the past 2 years. 
•  Hotels will go live at the same time.
•  Don't spin out with anxiety - this isn't as ruthless as a SDCC badge sale. Just be prepared with your hotel choice and your credit card and you'll do okay.

To get tickets, go here tomorrow and wait for the sale to go live.

And if you're on the fence - say yes to this. ECCC has gone from a cool local Con to a semi-secret gem popular with comic fans to one of the highest-rated Cons in the world. Take a chance and go. I don't think you'll regret it.

Get ready for Emerald City Comic Con registration - press, pros and attendees

13 SEPTEMBER 2018

If you're a comic book nerd, you obviously have Emerald City Comic Con on your mind right now - because this is the season tickets go on sale. And now ECCC has announced a few dates for all of us:

14 September: This is when Press and Pros can apply. If you get your application in by the 28th, they'll get back to you by 12 October - so you'll know if you need to buy a ticket the old-fashioned way on...

17 October: This is the open ticket sale for ECCC. It's on a Wednesday, so you don't need to worry about it conflicting with SDCC Returning Reg, which is usually on a Saturday morning.

Emerald City happens 14-17 March in Seattle. And yes, you want to go.

Stay tuned!

ECCC hints about their ticket sale

1 AUGUST 2018

Today is Lammas, the first Pagan harvest festival - so it's fitting that Emerald City Comicon ponied up and offered a cornucopia of updates designed to put new comic books in our hands. Such as....

• New monthly pull lists to help you find new comics and graphic novels. You can find August's list here.

• Various nerdy events like Geek With Drinks and signings and more.

• A hint that "Big announcements are coming soon" and a reminder to sign up for their newsletter. In other words, their ticket sale is this fall and honestly, it could be just weeks away in September or later in October - so set yourself up to stay informed of the actual date. Because you definitely want to go to Emerald City Comicon.

Just something to keep front and center in the Comic-Con part of your brain.