A Teens Perspective: C2E2 Returns For Its 15th Year And Still Wows Comic And Entertainment Fans From Far And Wide

Apr 13, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

By Lucas Currie

C2E2 2025 Review – A Celebration 15 Years in the Making

C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) returned to McCormick Place for its 15th anniversary this year, and it was nothing short of a pop culture explosion. Running from April 11th to 13th, the convention pulled out all the stops to make this milestone unforgettable — and for the most part, it delivered.

My personal favorite things I like seeing and doing at C2E2 are number one, seeing all the fans costumes, meeting with and making new friends. The people are so nice there. I really like how people gather in areas like the main entrance stairs by the C2E2 sign and DJ both. Everyone checks each other out, congratulating and comparing notes. This is something I look forward to all year around. I wish this was longer than just 3 days or happened more than just once a year.

The other top things for me are all the collectables available. Everything from rare comic books to vintage toys and all the vendors selling props and costume parts.

A recent like for me has been the Artists Alley. As a budding young comic book artist, I really appreciate the amazing work people do. I hope to one day be as good as them and maybe I’ll be showcasing my comics in person right next to them.

I have to give special notice to a man, no a legend, that I’ve literally known all my life. Thanks to my dad, Svengoolie has been in our family in one way or another for over 16 years. And for my dad even longer! Rich Koz is one of the nicest and funniest guys around. We watch his show all the time. We go to events around town he is a guest at and this place is like no other. He’s right up there with Hollywood movie stars signing autographs and taking pictures with his fans just like the people he shows on his TV show.

Star Power and Reunion Magic

The biggest highlight of the weekend? The insane lineup of reunion panels and celebrity guests. Fans were treated to nostalgic and fan-favorite cast appearances including the original crew from The Breakfast Club (my mom’s favorite), voice talent from X-Men ‘97, soldiers from Starship Troopers, and the ensemble from the upcoming Superman 2025 movie. Add to that the beloved faces behind Baldur’s Gate III, Lord of the Rings, and the always-iconic RoboCop, and you had a convention that felt like a three-day time-travel trip through some of the best moments in modern entertainment.

John Boyega from Star Wars brought serious energy to the floor with meet-and-greets and a panel that had fans lining up for hours. Patton Oswalt, comedian and voice actor legend, was a fan favorite as always — equal parts hilarious and heartfelt.

Cosplay & Community

One of the best parts of C2E2 is always the cosplay, and 2025 might’ve had the most diverse and creative crowd yet. From intricate anime builds to Marvel and DC showdowns, the creativity was through the roof.

This year seemed dominated by characters from Lord of the Rings, Five Nights At Freddy’s, X-Men, Princesses, Furries, Soldiers and Star Wars. Missing was characters from Horror and Sci-Fi. There were a few like Michael Myers, vampires and werewolves, but not as many as I remember in the past.

One standout moment? A guy dressed as Steve from the new Minecraft movie — and the wild part was he looked exactly like Jack Black. No exaggeration. People followed him around thinking he was Jack Black, posing for photos and even getting mock autographs. Ok, that was my dad, but he was still incredible! I couldn’t believe he did it, but so glad he did. It not only put smiles on so many Minecraft fans faces, but mine too.

The Star Wars cosplay area is really cool. One of my favorite places to hang out. They have scenes set up from the movie like Darth Vader busting in through the rebel ship doors from Rogue One, a speeder bike scene that you could actually sit on for a photo and rebel base with droids set up all over the place. Many of which actually work!

There are lots of places to hang out, play and try things out. Like the Galloping Ghost arcade where you can play vintage arcade video games, larping areas to learn how to sword fight, dance and cosplay, desktop video games to play and even a lego area where you can build anything you can think of with millions of bricks laid out on tables.

The Merch Madness

Let’s talk shopping: the vendor floor was absolutely stacked with everything from rare collectibles to fan art, comics, and branded gear. The downside? Prices were high! Even for a con, the markup was noticeable. You could easily find the same Funko Pop or T-shirt online for sometimes half the price. So while the selection was great, it felt a bit like paying “anniversary pricing.”

Food

Same story at the food courts. $15 for a beef sandwich felt like a stretch, even for McCormick Place. Fans were definitely grumbling over the price tags, though many opted to pack snacks or eat before coming in. And the water coolers are always welcomed but never full. Besides Friday, the rest of the weekend had us searching for coolers that had water like looking for Waldo!

Final Thoughts

Despite the wallet burn, C2E2 2025 was a triumphant celebration of 15 years of fandom, community, and creativity. I’d like to ask the convention hall to please add more seating in the general floor areas. There were lots of open spaces but nowhere near enough seating for everyone. People were laying out on the floor, against walls, in walk ways and stairs trying to take a break, eat some food or just talk with others. Time to add more seats and tables. You have the space for it and the fans want it. Even for me a teen, I needed a break throughout the days.

The incredible guest list, the pure joy of cosplay, and the electric energy of fans packed into McCormick Place made it a weekend to remember. If you’re a pop culture junkie, this con belongs on your bucket list — just maybe bring your own lunch.