This year marks my sixth time attending Emerald City Comic Con. I first started going in 2018, when a single day led me to meet Chris Claremont (yes that Chris Claremont) and David Yost, who played Billy Cranston on Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. Each year since (barring 2020, where the con was canceled due to COVID) has brought plenty of guests as well as warm memories.
It also features booths that bring plenty of Seattle’s unique nerd flavor to the table. The beauty of ECCC is that while it may draw in some big comic creators and celebrities, it’s the chill vibes that make it a standout compared to cons like San Diego or NYCC. Three of those booths in particular have stood out to me.
First up: Phantom Zone Comics. This booth has perhaps the largest collection of comics I’ve seen at a con. But what’s even more impressive is how it’s arranged: there’s a section for DC, a section for Marvel, and a section for indie comics (Dark Horse, Image, BOOM!, etc). There are also racks spotlighting various titles. Want to catch up on Void Rivals? The first trade is available. Want to get Chip Zdarsky to sign Spider-Man: Life Story? There’s signs saying “Get it signed!”
Another hometown delight is the Museum of Pop Culture. True to its name, this museum features various exhibits dedicated to science fiction, fantasy, and film. This year, the MoPOP dedicated a room to its upcoming exhibit “Massive: The Power of Pop Culture,” which launches March 16.
One wall featured the evolution of Nintendo’s various consoles, from the 64 to the Wii. The other half of the room was a tribute to the ’90s; various movie posters lined the wall, while guests were allowed to play rounds of Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. The cherry on top was the piles of ’90s-era comics scattered around.
Finally, 100 Yen Life set up a Japanese-style arcade on the fourth floor. An entire row of machines was dedicated to Tekken, with a solo setup for Tekken 8. Other video games, particularly Dance Dance Revolution and The Simpsons Side Scroller, made for a great mix of options. I chose to play a few rounds of Tekken 8 yesterday, with Yoshimitsu as my main.
These booths are a great offering of the various pop culture institutions in Seattle and a taste of what gives Emerald City Comic Con its homegrown flavor. I’m sure they’ll be back next year – as well as booths that offer up wholly new experiences.
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