Per usual, Emerald City Comic Con outdid itself with its 2024 show. A massive lineup of celebrities, voice actors, cosplayers, and more than 900,000 fans to the gorgeous Summit building of the Seattle Convention Center. The streets flooded with a myriad of anime, movie, and comic cosplays, causing radio hosts to express their admiration and low-key jealousy over the air. The climate was surprisingly temperate and the scent of Seattle dogs clouded the area. This year had a perfect environment to foster filled with excitement and geeky, nerdy camaraderie.
I love hitting on those points in my discussions about ECCC. But this year, I was lucky enough to score big using the “lottery” scratch-off featured within the Treasure Hunt via the ECCC app, and I can’t help sharing the spoils! Guests had an opportunity to win various prizes, including discounts and mystery gifts. I scored a mystery gift and, to be honest, I was expecting a keychain or pin. And, while those items were included, I was shocked when I saw the other items in my bag.
I had to navigate to the ECCC Merch Booth to claim my prize. The attendant was a little confused about what I was asking and how to handle the situation, making me weary about the gift’s quality. The weariness increased when another person handed me a “ticket” that looked like team members had hastily hand-drawn. I was sent to the backside of the booth and told to present it at the window. The window had curtains that did not draw back when talking to the person on the other side, encouraging the air of mystery around the gift. I was then asked what fandom I preferred, to which I gracefully responded, “Uhhh…”
I landed on “Star Wars” because “The Bad Batch” is my current hyperfixation. Again, I figured I’d get a little memorabilia trinket. Imagine my surprise when the attendant sent a tote bag full to the brim with merch through the window. There was a lot of foot traffic in that area, so freezing and awkwardly saying thank you was probably annoying. And yes, I know this seems a little dramatic. But in my years of convention coverage and personal con attendance, I’ve never received a gift like this. This act showed that ECCC is truly dedicated to providing a positive experience for fans and going above and beyond to care for them.
Small experiences like this separate the quick-buck conventions from the truly amazing ones. This happened on my first day attending the show, so I was eager to see what else was in store for the rest of the weekend!
The items in my mystery bag included: an exclusive ECCC 2024 pin, keychain, and lanyard as well as a “Star Wars” Stormtrooper stackable tiki mug, all wrapped up in an exclusive ECCC tote. The tiki was the item that threw me for a loop.
I hoped for an item directly relevant to current content in the fandom, but Stormtroopers are a timeless classic. Now I have a nifty conversation piece adorning my kitchen counter, so, unlike a Stormtrooper, ECCC hit the mark with this gift!
I gave my lanyard to a friend who was disappointed they didn’t win a mystery gift. Still, it was surprisingly good quality and stood out among the standard black lanyards provided with attendance badges.
Of course, they had to include Bigfoot, the PNW mascot, as the exclusive pin. And the UFO keychain added to that cryptid theme. As an avid cryptology and ufology follower, I was stoked to rock those on my convention backpack.
Emerald City Comic Con continues to outdo itself each year and adds exciting fan experiences to keep us running back for more every March. While celebrity experiences and panels are the big draw, small details like the in-app lottery make the convention truly special. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2025!
