My C2E2 2025 Panel Schedule
All the discussions I hope to attend at this year's C2E2 (even though that's impossible)
Hello! I try to get this posted a couple of weeks ahead of time, but the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) is early this year, from Friday, April 11 to Sunday, April 13. I already got my Professional badge in the mail, and I’ll try to have the next NEWS Digest ready before Friday (fingers crossed!) so I can make it to the Hyatt Regency lobby to hang out and meet people. As always, I plan to cram as much experience as possible into my two remaining days!
I didn’t submit a panel for this year, partly because I’ve been too busy and partly because it was difficult to find panelists. I’m glad, because if the Nostalgia Critic left me feeling bitter last year, the Timothee Chalamet Look Alike contest would’ve made me inconsolable. (Kidding, Chalamet fans! Don’t come after me.)
As usual, I’ve included everything in which I’m even remotely interested in attending, regardless of whether this means I’ll have to be in multiple places at once. Half the time, I end up skipping things to spend time with friends or wander Artist Alley. I hope I get to the Pride Lounge more often this year.
What sounds interesting to you? Do you enjoy panels at conventions or skip them altogether? Feel free to share your thoughts below!
My C2E2 Schedule
Saturday, April 12
A Guide to DEI in the Cosplay Community
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM • S401-D
I’m not a cosplayer, but I admire those who are, and I’m definitely ready to support anyone who stands up for DEI, which has become another right-wing bogeyman for various reasons. One of the best panels I’ve ever attended was one devoted to Black cosplayers at FlameCon and I hope this one is similar.
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM • S401-ABC
I don’t usually attend any of the many overcrowded Big Two panels, but faithful readers of this newsletter know I’m a big fan of Superman.
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM • S501
I’m also a fan of all the chefs/artists on this panel, but there are several similar panels to this one, so I can attend one of those if I miss it. Either way, I’m making it a point to meet Jarrett Melendez, Kim-Joy, and Sarah Becan.
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM • S401-ABC
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM • S401-D
AI, the Googleverse, and the Library: Researching Your Novel in the 21st Century
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM • S402-B
From Screen to Kitchen: Creating Recipes Inspired by Pop Culture/Media Live!
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM • S402-A
Another of the cooking panels. Yum!
The Thrilling Adventure Hour 20th Anniversary
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM • S404
I’ll be seeing Varietopia at the end of the month, which will undoubtedly share much of the same cast, but I know a lot of fans of this show, so I might try to catch some of it.
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM • Family HQ Interactive
See my above comments about DEI. I may not be able to make it to this, but I support it and I hope everyone reading this does, too.
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM • S402-A
I’m a big fan of indie publishers and Bad Idea has been around for a while.
The Future Is. . . Comics and Hacking
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM • S401-ABC
Similarly, this looks like it’s going to be a spotlight for REKCAH! Publishing, which appears to be the comics publishing arm of Black Hills Information Security. I’ll admit to being curious, but I might pass on this one because my day job is in cybersecurity.
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM • S402-B
BLACK MIRROR: How to Convert an Iconic Show into a Comic Book
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM • S402-A
LFP–Looking for Party! Speed Friending
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 4:00 PM - 4:45 PM • S501
The description for this reads like it’s for people looking to fill out their D&D campaigns, so I’m not sure if it’s a mingling event or not. I’ve had poor luck with joining tabletop gaming groups, so this might be a fun opportunity either way.
Dragsplay: The Cross-Section of Cosplay and Drag
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM • S401-D
Then again, how can I say no to this?!
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 5:15 PM - 6:00 PM • S402-A
I’m always looking to learn more about manga, and I’ve already learned about a lot of great titles from the person running this panel.
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 5:15 PM - 6:00 PM • Family HQ Workshops
I’m very much outside the demographic for this book, but I’m in a Discord server with the creator, Kelly Leigh Miller, so I want to show some support.
Wonder Women - Female Comic CEOs
Sat, Apr 12, 2025 • 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM • S402-A
This is the Saturday panel that I will not miss, even if I fail to make it to everything else. I respect and admire all of these people and I’m very interested in what they have to say.
Sunday, April 13
Sun, Apr 13, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM • S402-A
From Screen to Kitchen: Creating Recipes Inspired by Pop Culture/Media Live!
Sun, Apr 13, 2025 • 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM • S402-A
The cooking panels continue!
Not Your Model Minority!: Asian Media in Fandom Spaces
Sun, Apr 13, 2025 • 11:15 AM - 12:00 PM • S401-D
I’ve been to panels with this title before, but I don’t recognize these panelists and it looks to be focused more on fandom than media. I want to show my support, and maybe hype the work of my friend Dr. Mark Martell.
How to Not Suck at Being Scary
Sun, Apr 13, 2025 • 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM • N137 Workshops
Cospositivity: Fitness and Body Image in the Cosplay Community
Sun, Apr 13, 2025 • 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM • S401-D
This is another topic close to my heart, so I might go to the author signing of the previous panel afterwards.
Sun, Apr 13, 2025 • 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM • The Yard
Sun, Apr 13, 2025 • 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM • S402-A
H.M.S.Z. Podcast on How to Start Your First Manga/Comic Project!
Sun, Apr 13, 2025 • 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM • S402-B
Sun, Apr 13, 2025 • 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM • Family HQ Interactive
Age Positivity in Cosplay - Over30 Cosplay
Sun, Apr 13, 2025 • 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM • S402-B
Since the panel I’ve been trying to organize and submit to several conventions is all about first-time creators in their forties, I feel like I have to show up to this one out of solidarity.
That’s everything! Hopefully, I’ll be able to provide a retrospective like I did last year. What do you think? Am I leaving out something important? I’d love to hear from you! If you’re going to C2E2, please leave a comment about what you’ll be doing. Maybe we can meet up!
The Comics Book Club will be meeting again on April 16 to discuss Tender by Beth Hetland. Take care, everyone!