8Bit/Digi

The Fan Expo SF 2024 Weekend at a Glance

After a day of festivities with the family, the fandom community of the Bay Area came together for Fan Expo San Francisco 2024. Be it wanting to meet your favorite stars or enjoying one of the last major conventions of the year, this was one of the highlights of the Thanksgiving Weekend.

Fan Expo San Francisco 2024 was an event that brought together pop-culture icons, acclaimed performers along with famed comic book artists and writers. Hosted at the Moscone West; fans from all over the Bay Area gathered for an eventful weekend. 

Dealer’s Hall and Artists Ally 

The dealer’s hall is where guests can find vendors like their local comic book shop or sellers of collectible merchandise. The artist’s ally is where one can meet comic book artists and creators along with independent artists, and self-published creators. Even if you have no shopping agenda, it’s still fun to look through all the cool stuff and meet the many artists and vendors.

Daniel Barnes is a comic writer and narrative designer. He is the co-creator of The Black Mage graphic novel and is also best known for his work on the Sonic the Hedgehog and Aggretsuko comics. During the weekend, fans could meet him and purchase copies of his work.

GONKBONK is an e-commerce platform dedicated to comics, manga, and anime. During Fan Expo, they were promoting their upcoming service Blind Box. This is a subscription service that will mail fans a random set of comics.

Anique Inc. has partnered with GONKBONK to celebrate the 26th anniversary of Serial Experiments Lain. During the event, guests could purchase commemorative art, cell art replicas, and more.

George Michail is a comic writer and the co-creator of Cover of Darkness and Resilient. Fans got the chance to meet him and learn more about his work. New readers also had the chance to be introduced to his work.

Dope Cat Comics is a comic series that is created and independently published by Mike Boheem. It’s about a cat that smokes dope and experiences mind-blowing adventures. Fans of this cult series could meet its creator, pick up some issues, or buy some merch.

Community Zone

The dealer’s hall was not just a place for merchants and companies to promote their work but also a gathering of local fandom communities. The Community Zone was home to a number of local fan groups. These are communities dedicated to bringing fans together or uniting the fandom for a noble cause.  

Terror Dog Squad is a non-profit Ghostbusters cosplay group based in Sacramento. They use their admiration of the acclaimed series to raise money for charity. During the Fan Expo weekend, they were raising funds and promoting Toys for Tots.

Byways LARP is a community that gathers in a sandbox environment for a day. This science fiction fantasy live-action roleplaying game allows members to explore a new world while meeting new friends.

Wolves of Mandalore is the Bay Area branch of the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club, dedicated to helping fans create their own custom Mandalorian cosplay, complete with a unique artistic style and the background of their character.

Cartoon Art Museum is dedicated to the history and preservation of cartoons of all kinds. Staff and associates were present to bring greater awareness to the museum and showcase some of their ongoing work. 

Panels at Fan Expo SF 2024

Fan Expo is not just about meeting new friends or exploring the dealer’s hall and artist ally, it’s also a chance to gain some insight. The event organized a series of panels that discussed a variety of topics. They would feature major stars, industry insiders, or community organizers. 

These are some of the panels I got to attend during the weekend:

Chainsaw Man’s Denji! Q&A with Ryan Colt Levy was a chance to learn about the hit series from one of the stars. Ryan Colt Levy who plays Denji shared some behind the scenes stories along with what he enjoys about working on the series. This was followed by the audience asking their own questions. The event was hosted on Friday in Theater #2 located on LVL 3.

You’re Yor! Spy x Family Q&A with Natalie Van Sistine was an opportunity to learn about one of the most popular anime series from one of the stars. The panel presented a chance to look into the character’s duality, family dynamics, and the skill it takes to bring her to life. The event was hosted on Friday in Theater #2 located on LVL 3.

The Flash: A Heroic Journey With the Cast was an inside look at the hit show. The panel featured Grant Gustin, Carlos Valdes, Danielle Panabaker, John Wesley Shipp, Candice Patton, and Tom Cavanagh sharing their best stories about working on the series. The event was hosted on Saturday in the Main Theater located on LVL 3.

The Foundation for the Eradication of Gen 5 Pokemon have been a staple of the con scene for some time. So it was expected they would be at Fan Expo SF. This year they presented the classic Make Anime Great Again, Pokemon Film Review Hour, along with Sonic: An Unfortunate History. 

Things to Do at Fan Expo

The weekend was not just about panels and shopping but also about having fun with friends. From tabletop games to cosplay gatherings and more, there was no shortage of activities. Here are some of the activities one could stumble upon:

Fan Expo organized several Cosplay Meetups during the weekend based on the most popular franchises. Those wanting to participate could meet at one of three spots for a photo shoot while networking with other fans. There were also a few unofficial gatherings, these were meetups organized by fans. 

While not organized by Fan Expo, there were random moments in which guests would gather for a game of Pokemon Go. With several gyms around the convention center, there were moments when guests would gather to participate in raids. Others would take a break and catch any Pokemon within their area. 

Comic Xplosion was a live art showcase featuring icons like Fabrizio De Tommaso, David Messina, and Ben Templesmith. They would create artwork on the spot to the beat of the music. All this was done in front of a live audience next to the Artist Ally. After each work was completed, it would become available for sale.

Did you get a chance to check out Fan Expo SF 2024? If so then share your story in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: Fan Expo provided me with a pass for the weekend.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.