8Bit/Digi

Campbell Con was back for a third year of bring together pop-culture icons, local artists and fan clubs for a day of fun. This was the perfect event for anyone who enjoyed a weekend at FanamieCon or Sillicon Valley Comic Con but  wanted something more low key.

Halloween is almost here and Campbell Con was the perfect event for anyone who wanted to do a little Season of Fear pre-gaming.

Vendors and Fan Groups

Campbell Con had over 50 merchants and artists vendors along with several local Con’s promoting their upcoming event. Here anyone could find collectible merchandise or one could pick up some amazing designs from respected artists. Even if you had no shopping agenda, it’s still fun to look through all the cool stuff and meet the many artists.

Even though there were many vendors, these are among the few that stood out or we just spent a lot of time chatting with:

Wolves of Mandalore is the Bay Area branch of the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club, a Star Wars cosplay non-profit organization. Like the 501st Legion, the Wolves of Mandalore help enthusiasts design their own original cosplay while working to raise money for local charities.

Hardly Heroes is a pop-culture podcast based in Sacramento that is always present at major fan events in the inland’s and Central Valley. They were at Campbell Con to host the panels and they had a booth setup outside the main hall.

Kraken Con was present to promote their 2018 event along with the next Hydra Comic Con. Fans could learn more about the event or pick up a few souvenirs from past Kraken Con events.

Laser Tag

The crew from JRL Xterm Laser Tag had set up an arena that allowed participants to battle it out over a game of laser tag. Some guests even took the setup as the perfect opportunity for a photo shoot.

Panels

Cons are not just about meeting celebrates and making new friends, it’s also a chance to gain some insight into the culture or industry. Campbell Con organized a series of panels that were moderated by the team from Hardly Heroes.

These are some of the panels I got to checkout during the day:

Power Rangers Secrets featured Mike Ginn from Power Rangers RPM and Deborah Estelle Philips from Power Rangers Time Force. They both shared how they got their respected role along with a few stores about the behind the scenes shenanigans and their relationship with former Rangers.

Working in Classic Hollywood was inside look into the career of Beverly Washburn from a child star to iconic actress of the 60’s and 70’s. Fans were also eager to learn more about her role in the cult classic, Spider Baby.

Creating Black Panther was a special panel that featured Don McGregor, a Marvel Comic icon and the creator of Black Panther. Fans got the chance to learn the story behind the characters creation. It should be noted that this will be McGregors last appearance at an event in the West Coast, hence it was a special treat for everyone who attended.

Food Truck

I Love Cheesesteak was back again to provide a tasty meal for all the Campbell Con guests. Patrons had the choice between the classic Philly Cheesesteak or the Bulgogi Cheesesteak along with a side of normal or bacon and cheese fries. They also had a good selection of drinks from classic coke and water to Gatorade and Monster Energy.

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Cosplay

Campbell Con story is ever complete without mentioning all the amazing cosplayers that were present. Some worked for authenticity while other added their own personal style. It was not just a photo op with your favorite character but also a chance to learn some tips for anyone who is trying to make their own costume.

If you had a chance to check out Campbell Con 2016, share your story in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: I bought my ticket for Campbell Con.

You could also checkout our coverage of last years Campbell Con.