ECCC 2022: Back in Business
by Transmute Jun
Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC) 2022 returned post-COVID in December, 2021. The unusual holiday timing of that event was fun for attendees, but had a lower attendance (from official guests, exhibitors and fans), resulting in a smaller, more casual event. ECCC 2022 also had atypical timing (August 18-21), but the intervening eight months since the previous con made a big difference. The fans were back, as were the guests and programming.
While not as crowded as in 2019, there were significantly more attendees in 2022, as compared to 2021. The Exhibit Floor was crowded with fans on Friday and Saturday, and many panels (including those for The Mummy reunion and the Cosplay Championships) were filled to capacity. Celebrity guests such as Brendan Fraser (Doom Patrol), Christopher Eccelston (Doctor Who), Harvey Guillen (What We Do in the Shadows), Doug Jones (Star Trek: Discovery) and cost members from Our Flag Means Death created excitement. A full slate of writing/author panels, cosplay seminars and gaming events rounded out the show.
The only thing missing from the convention was a couple of large booths to anchor the show floor. Exhibitors such as Funko, Dark Horse and Skybound were missed, and the empty places where they should have appeared were noticeable. It is hoped that these companies will return to ECCC in 2023, completing the show’s comeback post-COVID.
Attendees are already excited for ECCC 2023, scheduled for March 2-5. Tickets for 2023 are already on sale.
Did you attend ECCC 2022? Join the conversation on the FoCC forums!
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