Geek's Guide to Emerald City Comic Con 2022 in Seattle

Emerald City Comic Con is back this weekend at the Washington State Convention Center. The largest pop culture celebration in the Pacific Northwest brings fans, celebrity guests, comic book creators and cosplayers to Seattle. It’s four days of pure fun for fans of comic books, gaming and sci-fi. ECCC welcomes all levels of fandom.

Celebrity Guests

Brendan Fraser of The Mummy and Doom Patrol will be joined by his The Mummy co-star Oded Fehr, who will be a must-see for fans of Star Trek: Discovery and the Resident Evil film franchise.

The beloved Doctor Who was reborn with star Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor. Whovians can also meet the Ninth’s first companion/co-star Billie Piper.

Speaking of reunions, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Rachel Leigh Cook of She’s All That, along with Tom Welling and Erica Durance of Smallville will reunite. Fans can schedule solo or duel photo ops.

Doug Jones is a must for *this* fan. You may not recognize him without his makeup and masks. This veteran actor has created iconic roles in Hellboy films, The Shape of Water, Pan’s Labrynth and currently appears in Star Trek: Discovery and What We Do in the Shadows.

Along with that roster of celebrities, you can meet more film and television stars, including from One Flag Means Death and What We Do In the Shadows, voice actors, sci-fi and fantasy novelists and learn from famous cosplayers. Cassandra Peterson is another name with a famous face/name – the legendary Elvira Mistress of the Dark!

Seattle drag superstars BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon, who appear on RuPaul’s Drag Race, will participate in a Saturday Q&A panel and photo op session.

Make A Plan

Whether you're a comic con newbie or veteran, here are some good things to know to maximize your con experience.

Take a look at the Emerald City Comic Con website for the panel schedule and map. You'll find what's happening, when it's happening and where to see your favorite celebrity guests. When I was a young geek, I actually made a strategy map for each day! Now you can download the ECCC app to build and access a plan on your phone and get the latest updates.

You know what they say about the best laid plans!

If you miss something, don’t worry. There’s always a cool and fun experience around the corner. Have a strategy, but ECCC is so huge, if one panel room is full, then check out another or visit the Artist Alley. I have had some amazing surprises by just saying, "This looks interesting, let’s walk in," and I was blown away.

Signing and Snapping: Photo ops

Each celebrity guest will have a schedule of when you can book and buy a photo op or autograph session. ECCC brings actors and fans together. This year, you can get a solo photo op or group photo op with stars from Doctor Who (Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper) or the stars of The Mummy (Brendan Fraser, Oded Feh). Celebrity photo ops and autographing are inside the Hyatt Regency. To see the celebrity panels, the main stage is at the Sheraton.

Autographs

ECCC brings legendary and up-and-coming creators to Artist Alley on the top floor of the convention center. This is a huge opportunity to meet the writers and artists who make your favorite comic books. Lines can get long, so here’s advice – listen to the ECCC Minion’s instructions for safety and follow the rules, be aware that creators have to take breaks or may be appearing in panels, so know their schedule. Be selective about comic books you want to have autographed. I take a maximum of four books that have a special meaning. For me, if it’s a number one issue or I love the story or cover. Fans just like you are waiting in line for their moment too so don’t bring dozens of books. Some creators charge for all signatures, some charge after one or two complimentary signatures. Check the signs at each table. Here’s a hint – check the creator’s social ahead of time. Many creators post their schedule, fees and preview some of the cool items like prints, trade volumes and new comics for sale at their table. What I love about Artist Alley is the rare opportunity to talk about the comics we love with the professionals who have the dream job.

Sketches

Imagine having a sketch of your favorite character by a superstar artist! You can look on a creator’s social media feed or their art dealer’s website to see the schedule and fees for commissions. I would recommend contacting them ahead of time via their representatives or stopping by the table on day one to get on their list. The Artist Alley is on Level 6 along with the Writer’s Block for novelists.

Panels

There’s literally something for everyone! Panels to meet celebrities, breaking into comics, secrets of cosplaying and celebrations with fellow fans. Panels with a local tie-in include an exploration of how Seattle is portrayed in the Green Arrow comic book. The DC Comics hero, known as the Emerald Archer, calls the Emerald City home and some of our city’s real-world issues have been reflected in the pages of the comic book. Seattle's BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon will appear in a Saturday Q&A, along with a chance for autographs and photos with the drag superstars.

Attire

Unleash your inner geek! Go full cosplay of your favorite character or maybe you have a t-shirt celebrating your pop idols. I’ll be wearing X-Men on Thursday, Thor on Friday, Doctor Who on Saturday and Star Wars on Sunday. Wear comfy shoes because there’s a lot of walking and standing in line, but it's always worth the wait. Masks are required for safety.

MORE: 31 of the best costumes at Emerald City Comic Con 2021

Expand and Enjoy

• I'll say it again, have a plan!
• Credit cards work, but I always carry cash in case of those impulse purchases.
• Respect your fellow fans, be patient and follow the guidelines.

I recommend bringing an open mind – this is a great time to discover new artists, learn something new, find new fandoms and celebrate the genres we love!

Happy ECCC, everyone!

Will Harris is the KOMO Promotions Manager, proud geek and creator of ComicsBlend.com