L.A. Comic Con has come and gone until next year, and I’m serious when I say that I was preparing for this convention weeks in advance and anticipating it for months.
Readers who are familiar with my work know this is not my first time visiting Los Angeles and attending its resident Comic Con. Including this most recent trip to L.A., I have been attending this convention for four years as press and at least ten years as a returning attendee. Back when it was known as ComiKaze Expo, this was my first exposure to any multi-genre fandom convention as a teenager, and it arguably changed my life. It was a yearly reminder that hundreds, even thousands, of people loved fandom like me, and I felt less alone, taking more pride in being a total nerd. Overall, this convention has a special place in my heart, and this year, L.A. Comic Con did not disappoint in the slightest, so let’s talk about it! You might feel the strong urge to attend this con in 2026!
Approved to attend as press as early as August, I stayed tuned to event updates via social media. Once the 2025 update was available for download, I reloaded the official Los Angeles Comic Con app to pick between panels and construct a manageable, fun-filled schedule for the two out of the three days I was set to attend. A few of the panels I showed initial interest in sadly conflicted, so I had to prioritize which panel resonated most with my general interests.
Ultimately, I chose panels that were diverse and not back-to-back because I had no interest in running between panels. I burn out fast, and I didn’t want the stress. By Friday, I had two panels planned for Saturday and Sunday, and then loads of exploring in between. I reserved relatively affordable parking spaces near the convention center, plotted my route, and pre-selected what to wear each day. By Saturday morning, I was ready and out the door with a packed bag.
To be expected on a Saturday, L.A. Comic Con was flooded with attendees and cosplayers galore. When I walked in and acquired my press badge, I felt a surge of good energy and bumped immediately into a cosplayer dressed as Brook from the Straw Hat Pirates of One Piece. I also came across a cosplayer dressed as the princess-protector, Hornet, from the indie game Hollow Knight, and another cosplayer dressed as Alastor from the adult animation Hazbin Hotel.
With little time to explore the main floor, I left the lobby to find the Panel Rooms. For my first Saturday panel, I sat down for a live performance from the LA-based community orchestra known as Tonario, which specialized in classical adaptations of pop culture songs. Multiple musicians in the orchestra were in cosplay and costumes, emulating various characters from fandom such as Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda games, Raven from Teen Titans, and Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Tonario began by playing medleys and music from the game Genshin Impact, and if I closed my eyes, I could almost picture the game graphics in my head. As time went on, they played recognizable tunes from the worlds of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars. As Tonario progressed, I recognized soothing and uplifting songs from three Studio Ghibli films, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and My Neighbor Totoro. I was practically entranced when the songs “Merry-Go-Round of Life” and “Cat Bus” filled the air. Part of me was hoping to hear “Ponyo on the Cliff By the Sea” since Ponyo was my first introduction to Studio Ghibli, and I associate a lot of nostalgia with the song. But I was also satisfied with their selection of songs.
After an hour and a half, Tonario concluded their magically powerful performance, and the panel room erupted into applause. I missed the One Piece panel and possibly my only chance to meet the voice actor behind my favorite Straw Hat, Brook, for this performance. But I wanted to believe that Ian Sinclair, or at least his singing skeleton character, would appreciate my great love for music.
After the performance, I entered the South Hall, where the main stage was set, and hundreds of other attendees and I were anticipating a grand panel to take place. Saturday was the day set for the cast of Scream to reunite, and attendees were pumped! Since there was at least an hour until the highly anticipated Scream Reunion panel, I chose to explore more of the South Hall. Remote control droids zoomed across the showroom floors. Attendees, and more specifically, a very brave cosplayer dressed as Luigi, rode mechanical bulls and plucked prizes from claw machines. Tattoo artists had attendees lined up for on-site inkings of their favorite characters. It was only the starting point of L.A. Comic Con, and it already looked like there was something for everybody to enjoy.
While waiting for the Scream Reunion panel to commence, I spontaneously chatted about cryptids with a girl dressed as the Mothman creature from West Virginia, and I spotted a Ghostface cosplayer lurking among the crowd. Then, actors from the original 1996 Scream, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, and Jamie Kennedy paraded onto the main stage, and the crowd erupted in screams of excitement! During the panel, they reminisced about old roles, presented fun facts about the original Scream, and discussed current and future projects. For example, Matthew Lillard was particularly fond of his role as the goofy and easily bribed with food, Shaggy. He also promised fans that the next Five Nights at Freddy’s movie will better emulate the original games with further depth into FNAF lore and more jump scares. Jamie Kennedy said Scream was originally going to be called “Scary Movie,” and Skeet Ulrich risked his literal butt by traversing through the crowd when it came time for questions from the audience!
After the Scream Reunion, I entered the West Hall, where indie games can be demoed before their official release dates, and attendees can meet and greet their favorite voice actors. Among the games available to play, three games caught my attention. I played a demo of a point-and-click stealth adventure game called Asocial Giraffe, where the goal is to solve puzzles and progress without talking to anyone. Otherwise, your head will explode and the game will restart. It made me laugh, with how many times my head exploded, and it resonated with my residual social anxiety! The release date of Asocial Giraffe hasn’t been determined yet, but I would definitely like to play the full version once it becomes available on Steam!
Next, I played a demo of an 8-bit action-adventure called Mina the Hollower, which is anticipated to be released on Halloween, October 31. I greatly enjoyed experimenting with the combat mechanics and appreciated the Gothic atmosphere and pixel-perfect graphics, which reflected a more modern, refined version of the Game Boy Color. When I inquired about the familiar graphics, I learned that Mina the Hollower was developed by the LA-based gaming geniuses who were responsible for the Shovel Knight game series. What a fun surprise! Playing Mina the Hollower may be part of my plans for this Halloween!
Finally, I demoed an escape room game developed by a collective called AlterStaff and titled AI2U: With You ‘Til The End, where the NPC dialogue is AI-powered. According to the booth staff, their developers were behind the Yandere AI Girlfriend Simulator game, which went viral in 2023. With their latest update, AI2U: With You ‘Til The End introduces their original AI NPC, Eddie, with a new look and two new AI-powered NPCs, a witch named Elysia and a hologram named Estelle. I was admittedly wary of its open use of AI, but also morbidly curious to play their demo. The staff assured interested attendees, like me, that only the NPC dialogue was AI-powered and that everything else within the game was developed by human artists, designers, and programmers.
In the end, I chose to demo Eddie’s route, got a goodie bag for achieving one of the better endings, and I left with mixed feelings. On one hand, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing exercise that “talking” to Eddie provided, and the thought of outsmarting an AI made me feel weirdly proud. On the other hand, though, I know that AI overuse has cost many artists, writers, and designers paid work in their creative fields. With AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini readily used by thousands, AI has rapidly become integrated into our everyday lives. Can AI applications make NPCs in games more interactive and alive without destroying the human element behind the games themselves? Tell us your thoughts in the comments, and I can further explore this argument in a future article.
After almost two hours, I demoed the games I was most interested in and chatted with a handful of cosplayers, including a very confused-looking Jack Sparrow who needed directions. I was winding down and felt satisfied for the day, so it was reasonable for me to go home and get rest for the next day. But do you remember when I said that Brook was my favorite Straw Hat and that I missed my chance to meet Ian Sinclair, the voice actor responsible for voicing Brook in the English dub, to attend the Tonario live performance?
One of the Four Gods of One Piece must have been smiling on me because, as I was making my move to leave West Hall and go home for the day, I spotted the empty meet and greet line for Ian Sinclair, with a “Be Back in 5!” sign. In very Brandi fashion, I sped to the front of the line and patiently waited for Ian Sinclair to return. I couldn’t afford his autograph with the budget I set, but I at least wanted to shake his hand and tell him I greatly enjoyed his performance as “Soul King” Brook. I did look at his prices while I waited, though, and to my surprise and great delight, he offered a FREE signature Brook laugh to anyone who told him a joke!
Sadly, I wasn’t the type of person who was funny with wordplay or wit. I was the type of person who often offered dark humor when it felt appropriate. I quickly tried racking my brain for jokes that would’ve suited this moment, but more attendees were lining up behind me, and I started overthinking out of excitement. At last, Ian Sinclair returned to his table, and I was the first to speak with him and shake his hand. He was very nice, to be expected, and he seemed to enjoy my enthusiasm for Brook and the Thriller Bark arc of One Piece. We laughed about scenes from that arc, and I briefly forgot about thinking of a joke to tell him. But it came time, and I threw him the joke about why cannibals don’t eat clowns. You can answer in the comments, if you wish!
He smiled, threw his head back, and gave me his signature, “Yohohohoho!” I laughed with him, and that interaction became a lasting memory for me. I could, for sure, leave for home happy now, and I happily sang “Binks’ Sake” on route to my parked car. One day of L.A. Comic Con complete! One more to go!
On Sunday, Comic Con is noticeably calmer than on previous days, and families make up a grand portion of the attendees. Since I explored the South and West Halls on Saturday, I was set to explore the Kentia Hall, where the LACC Artist Alley was stationed, and Concourse Hall, where the newly added horror activation from last year was relocated. I explored Artist Alley first, and there were tons of artists and creators, selling prints, crochet plushies, art books, comics, graphic novels, jewelry, pins, custom nail art, terrariums, small and full-size canvas paintings, and fandom-inspired piñatas. There seemed to be, literally, something for everyone.
While exploring Artist Alley, I chatted with the vendors and recognized a handful of them from previous conventions. I noticed unusual but fun costume pairs navigating the aisles, such as Lord Farquaad from Shrek and Princess Peach from the Super Mario game series, and Arietty from The Secret World of Arietty and Maomao from The Apothecary Diaries. I also caught sight of more obscure characters, such as Bon Clay from One Piece, King George III from the musical Hamilton, and Alice Liddell from the action-adventure game Alice: Madness Returns. And with Wicked: For Good coming to theaters in November, the sheer amount of Elphabas and Glindas I noted made perfect sense.
As much as I love Artist Alley, I came with a set budget I wanted to stick with, so my spending was more limited than in previous years. However, a week before the convention commenced, I reached out to my friend Abby, who is a digital artist and baker who goes by Nekkokyacafe online. Over the years we’ve known each other, I started the tradition of commissioning her to draw magical-esque girls when we attend the same convention or event. Like previous years, Abby was a vendor in Artist Alley, and this year, I commissioned her to draw Stocking Anarchy from the renewed PSG series for me. I zipped through the aisles, found her booth, and she passed me a complete and adorable rendition of Stocking. We chatted, and when I mentioned visiting Concourse Hall after my panels, she showed interest. Like me, Abby loves horror and creepy, cute things, so we coordinated to meet up later and tour Concourse Hall together.
After Artist Alley, I left to find the two panels I scheduled for Sunday. For my first panel, I sat down for a discussion on mental health and mindfulness that was dedicated to educating and validating attendees who struggled with mental health disorders. Moderated by the CEO of the non-profit known as B.A.D.A.S.S., the panelists delved into their histories of overcoming trauma and even learning to live with it and push forward. As part of a question, the panelists associated their personal struggles with specific characters from fandom. Hulk was attributed to anger issues and management. Iron Man was attributed to PTSD and anxiety. Black Widow was attributed with child abuse and trauma. Professor X and Barbara Gordon were attributed to sudden disability that changes the course of one’s life. Many fans resonate with their favorite characters for a reason, and some of those reasons can align with their mental and physical health.
By the end of the panel, the panelists answered questions from the moderator and the audience. They also offered coping techniques to be used when faced with feelings of overstimulation or overwhelm. As someone who has struggled greatly with their mental health, it was validating to know that large-scale events like Comic Con were bringing mental health professionals and putting a light on the mental health struggles their attendees may face in life. And, when the panel concluded, I exited the panel room with a refreshed sense of community and acceptance.
After the panel on mental health, I left for my next panel discussion, which was diving into the Final Girl trope in the horror genre, was directly next door to my initial panel and starting in five minutes. Yes, I said I had no interest in back-to-back panels because that would mean running back and forth. Lucky for me, though, the two panels I picked for Sunday were directly next door and timed perfectly. And, as a horror nut, I was excited for this panel dissecting myths behind the Final Girl. But some of you reading may be wondering, ‘What’s a Final Girl, or what makes a Final Girl?’
In horror, especially in slasher films, the Final Girl is the last female character alive who is left to confront and often defeat the antagonist. She typically endures extreme violence and trauma at the hands of the antagonist. Popular examples of Final Girls include Sidney Prescott from Scream, Ellen Ripley from Alien, and Nancy Thompson from A Nightmare on Elm Street, but dive deeper into the genre of horror, and there are many more.
In the front row, I was eager to learn from the LA-based female writers, filmmakers, actresses, and directors who composed the panelists. During the panel, they referenced examples of the Final Girl from media spanning the 70s to the 90s, and acknowledged the many challenges women face in the horror industry. They also argued concerning the purpose of horror, and drank from a bottle courtesy of a family-owned wine label called Final Girl Wines. They discussed the common objectification of women in horror and how the last surviving woman was often viewed as a victim rather than a resilient survivor, and the last man standing is typically projected as powerful and triumphant.
They were all wonderfully passionate about horror and its purpose, and I grew increasingly excited when they covered current and past projects. Like me, these women had a profound love for the horror genre and wanted to see it evolve and reflect our societal and individual fears. As a genre, horror is designed to force consumers to face the harsh realities of life, such as buried traumas, mental illnesses, abuse, and all the other things that haunt and scare us all. They argued that the 1996 slasher film Scream, for example, was an excellent commentary on the horror genre, but did not classify it as a prime example of genuine horror, so they elaborated on more chief examples of raw horror.
My final panel for Sunday concluded, and I steered myself to Concourse Hall to meet Abby and see what horrors awaited us. Similar to the other LACC Halls, the Concourse Hall hosted vendors, and a good portion of the attendees inside wore costumes and cosplays that reflected popular and obscure horror media, such as the FNAF Animatronics and the aliens from the 1988 horror sci-fi Killer Klowns from Outer Space. There was also one or two scare actors hiding, lurking, and waiting to give attendees a tiny fright. I myself was startled by a clown girl who suddenly appeared behind me and ran off to scare her next victim.
I was also introduced to a fun group of “scary” ladies known as the Final Girlz, who post weekly reaction videos on YouTube. As a group of friends unfamiliar with horror, they record their first impressions of popular and obscure horror movies. In one of their most recent videos, they watched the 2016 action-horror Train to Busan, which is one of my favorite horror movies. So far, I’ve watched a few more of their videos, and I am fine with admitting it is funny to watch people get scared. I even took a minute to take a quick video and picture with them at their booth, and you may see ME in this latest video! Keep an eye out!
With Halloween on its way, it was great to get into the spirit early and enjoy this part of L.A. Comic Con with a friend. Abby and I have chatted for years, but this was our first time exploring any convention together, and it made us feel like real friends. After a tidbit more of exploring, Abby had to return to her booth in Artist Alley, and I chose to re-explore the West and South Halls before calling it a day and going home.
Back in the South Hall, I took another close look at what was being sold, and I keened in on booths with end-of-day sales. For those with a strict budget and willing to wait, it is worth mentioning that many convention vendors often travel from other states. To reduce the weight of their luggage back home, some vendors typically offer their wares for heavily discounted prices on the last day of a large-scale event like LACC. For example, I bought sweet-smelling, sleepy tea from a coffee, tea, and gaming company called Many Worlds Tavern. It was slightly cheaper than on previous days. And I liked the packaging art, and I knew I would enjoy a soothing cup of hot tea when I settled back at home. Comic Con is fun, but it can also leave you wasted and ready to slip into a small coma.
Last but not least, I returned to a booth I briefly visited on Saturday. It belonged to a comic book seller called Nuclear Comics, located in Orange County, CA. As I mentioned earlier, many vendors who sell at LACC are either based in Los Angeles or from out of state, which can make it difficult, if not impossible, to visit their shops in person. So when I find businesses local to my direct area, I lock on and wanna investigate. Before coming to Comic Con, though, I was actually already familiar with their comic book shop in Mission Viejo. I was introduced to it by a family member, an entire month before LACC was set to start.
During my first visit, I chatted with the friendly staff and bought the first two copies of the Something is Killing the Children series. Then, I came back looking for more books and mentioned to the staff that I was going to L.A. Comic Con the upcoming weekend. By some stroke of luck, Nuclear Comics was gonna be a vendor for the 2025 show. It was a weird twist of fate, and it was awesome!
I found the NC booth on Saturday, flipped through their comic book selection, took a step back when things started getting crowded, and resolved to return on Sunday before Comic Con started to shut down. With thirty minutes left of LACC, I dashed back to their booth, talked with the staff, and purchased a half-off graphic novel called Eve of Extinction, which depicts a gender-divided apocalypse where a strange rain turns the men into full-blown monsters and the women left alive must fight back! There were lots of well-priced books to choose from, but time was running out, and I can be way too indecisive, and Eve of Extinction almost immediately caught my eye! Plus, I plan to revisit Nuclear Comics once I’m fully recovered from Comic Con, so there was no real loss with leaving with just one book!
Eve of Extinction ended up being my last LACC purchase before I charged out of the convention doors to beat the impending traffic that would inevitably be unleashed when Comic Con was officially over. Largely, I had no real complaints about my weekend in L.A. and loved every second! I explored every Hall, connected with vendors, enjoyed wonderful music, sat through insightful panels, and reconnected with a good friend that I love to support! This show has brought me and many fans incredible joy for many years, and I’m certain it will do so for many, many more years to come!
Did reading my recap and review of Los Angeles Comic Con 2025 excite you for next year’s show? Tell us in the comments if you already plan to visit the city of Los Angeles and its resident Comic Con in 2026! And if you attended and enjoyed this year’s show, tell us in the comments what you did during your time at LACC!
