This weekend I took my first solo trip to Emerald City Comic Con. This is a bold move considering this event is an absolute mega-event.
As a secret nerd who loves all things fantasy, this felt like the kind of place for me. With so many people wearing elf ears, robes, and lightsabers, not to mention countless panels, events, and exhibits, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Thankfully, there are event apps that can help you plan your panel schedule and direct you to the right location. Without it, I would have been completely lost.
Despite the size of Sunday’s event, I managed to attend three panels featuring the iconic “Twilight” cast, an Addams Family reunion, and the writers of Romantasy, and strolled through Artist Alley. I still felt I had only scratched the surface of what ECCC had to offer.
PHOTOS | ‘Twilight’ star Christina Ricci and her wild cosplay at Emerald City Comic-Con finale
“Twilight” panel
The “Twilight” panel was everything I expected. My heart fluttered when I saw them come out on stage. It’s one thing to see them on screen, but it’s a whole different ball game to see them just a few feet away. The panel consisted of Ashley Greene (Alice), Peter Facinelli (Carlyle), Kellan Lutz (Emmett), and the star of the panel, Jackson Rathbone (Jasper).
The cast came out with a really fun energy, bouncing effortlessly from one topic to the next. They even admitted that they maintain a group chat among themselves called “The Karen Family.” Rathbone led the team with amusing anecdotes and boundless charisma, ensuring there were never any awkward lulls or unspoken thoughts. I waited in line for 25 minutes for a Q&A session just to get Rathbone to say the line “Battle Scars,” but as I approached the microphone, time ran out.
The crew all agreed that their favorite filming location in the PNW was Squamish, British Columbia. “It was so beautiful out there that we had to watch out for bears!” Facinelli said. The cast talked a lot about how Twilight was supposed to be this little indie movie that no one thought would ever happen. When asked if they would be interested in continuing on Twilight, reprising their roles or trying out different roles, Facinelli said, “I think we should all play each other’s roles,” previously joked a little about who would play who. Rathbone suggested she just play a female version of herself, and the audience erupted in laughter.
addams family reunion
I also managed to see the Addams Family reunion panel with the legendary Christopher Lloyd and Lifetime star Christina Ricci, and it was both nostalgic and a little sad. Lloyd, 85, whose films we all grew up with including “Back to the Future,” “The Addams Family,” and “Dennis the Menace,” had a bit of a hard time answering questions from fans. I did, but I often forget my train of thought. At one point, a fan asked about her role in the 1970s sitcom Taxi, and a confused Lloyd turned to Rich for help. I was impressed by the patience, respect, and kindness that Rich showed Lloyd, often supporting him and helping him explain, telling him how legendary he was and how great his acting career was. It reminded me of what I had put in. It was an honor to sit in the same room as Lloyd and Rich. Lloyd and Rich gracefully navigated every difficult moment on stage in front of an audience of hundreds, managing to get through it with wit and smiles.
romanta sea panel
Last, but certainly not least, I have to mention how much I enjoyed the “Rise of Romantacy” panel, which consisted of best-selling author Rebecca Yaross.4th wing), Saara El Arifi (febound), Daniel L. Jensen (kingdom of bridges), Leia Stone (golden city). All of these women joined to discuss the rise of romance and fantasy literature, touched on themes like empowerment and inclusivity, and even sparked a compelling conversation about social media, especially her TikTok .
“I hate the power that TikTok has,” Stone said. “One person can make a video of your book, and it may or may not go viral. So now you’re at the mercy of normal distribution channels. “Sales channels may become unstable.” ”
Jarosz piggybacked on her comment and put a different spin on it. She said: “Book Talk is the only place where readers gather and word of mouth marketing. It’s this huge book club that meets in a non-physical realm. It has the power to uplift and elevate books that aren’t being talked about. It’s a special space. .My problem with this space is that I have ADHD so every time I scroll I get an addictive dopamine hit and my cortisol levels spike before I go to bed!”
Jensen agreed, saying, “TikTok is a beast that no one can control. Booktok is doing its own thing, which is great, but having so little control over the marketing of your book can be frustrating.” .
During the Q&A session, someone asked if their book would work without the spicy romance scenes. The women all agreed that intimacy is essential to storylines and the human experience.
“Is there a bias against romance in fantasy? I don’t know, only men ask that question,” Yaros said with a grin.
Photos | Chris Evans, Elijah Wood, and their flashy cosplay on Day 3 of Emerald City Comic Con
Photo | Incredible cosplay draws attention at Friday’s Emerald City Comic Con
Maddison Newell is an associate producer at Seattle Refined. Follow more of her adventures on Instagram.