I must admit, when I first heard that GSCF promoter Dave O'Hare was going to hold an event in AC, I was initially skeptical. There have been several promotions that have not done well in AC over the last several years, and I would really hate to see that happen to GSCF, which is a show that I love. Would people from Northern NJ and NY be willing to travel that far? Would holding a comic convention in a town known for gambling and nightlife be a good idea?
Well, I am VERY happy to announce that my fears were unfounded! Even though it was a dreary day at the Jersey Shore, the show was well attended, and everyone seemed to be enthusiastic and having a great time!
I'd like to start with a few words about the venue. For those that don't know, the Showboat is no longer a casino. It is now solely a hotel/convention center. What was interesting was the fact that all of the decor associated with a casino was still there....the colorful carpets, the flashing lights, the ornate chandeliers.....all there. Add in tables of comic artists and vendors and cosplayers, and it made for a very interesting setting!
Having been to Atlantic City many times in my life, it was odd to see a casino that was no longer a casino, even though it still felt like one, but as I said, it made the event more interesting than other, similar shows.
Celebrity row had a nice mix of guests. Eric Roberts is always very nice to his fans. Oh, and a Horror Nerd fact....Eric and I were in a film called "Black Wake" together!. Summer Glau was on hand as well, signing autographs and taking photos with fans. David Dastmalchian ("Gotham", "The Belko Experiment"), and Marty Grabstein (the voice of Courage, The Cowardly Dog) were two of the more notable guests appearing at the show.
This is just my humble opinion, but I like the fact that GSCF does not focus solely on having "big name" guests at the show. They have a handful of well known people, which is great, but the focus remains on the fact that this is a COMIC convention!
There were a ton of cosplayers walking around the convention floor as well, and once again, the casino atmosphere made for some great photo ops. The fact that the hotel is on the beach provided a fantastic backdrop for photos as well.
If you're into comics, graphic novels, books, cosplay or all of these things, you should definitely check out one (or ALL!) of the GSCF shows.
Cheers!
The Horror Nerd