Con-Man: August Overload

It hasn't even been a month but San Diego Comic-Con seems like a distant memory. Fortunately there are several shows big and small in August to keep us busy. Sadly, I've already missed two of them! This past Sunday saw two shows on opposite sides of the city take place. The one closest to me that I somehow didn't know about, was Carson's inaugural YesterCon, a celebration of comics, movies and cartoons from the 80's and 90's. Exhibition space sold out while guests like Michael Bower (Salute Your Shorts), Hank Garrett (G.I. Joe), Larry Houston (X-Men Animated), Townsed Coleman (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and several Power Rangers met the fans. It looked like a decent sized show with plenty of vendors, a mini arcade and panel space. I still can't believe I didn't know about the show and it was only a few minutes away! Over in Claremont by Pomona is the bi-monthly Packing House Comic Book & Collectible Show. There's free admission and parking with the next show scheduled for September 27th.

A show I won't be missing is this weekend's ScareLA: the Haunt, Horror & Halloween Convention. While I'm not a huge horror guy, it's always fun to check out a new show. Plus it's in picturesque Pasadena where Bot-Con was. In it's third year, ScareLA showcases local haunted attractions, make up and decorating classes, exhibition floor with 150 vendors, speed dating, hours of panels, screenings, nighttime concert and a live exorcism?! Also this weekend north of Los Angeles is Stocktoncon where Pop Culture will be celebrated through comics, gaming, exhibitors and guests like Ken Shamrock, Tone Rodriguez, Ron Lim and Koko. B. Ware?!

The weekend of August 14th - 16th will be a big one for Orange County as Disney's D-23 Expo takes over the Anaheim Convention Center. This will also be a first for us with awesome talent like George Lucas and John Lasseter attending, panels on attractions, Imagineering, The Muppets and A Goofy Movie 20th Anniversary Reunion! Now that Star Wars and Marvel are under the House of Mouse, expect some news and appearances for upcoming films like The Force Awakens and Captain America: Civil War. Unlike this year's WonderCon and Star Wars Celebration at the Anaheim Convention Center, it looks like you can't walk the exhibit floor with booze... Just up the street in Orange, you can hang out with Cable, Deadpool, X-Force creator and O.C. native Rob Liefeld at Big Red Comics on Saturday from 2:00 - 5:00PM.

If that weren't enough, the following weekend there's Nerd Con in Escondido north of San Diego while staple Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention welcomes Agent Carter Hayley Atwell on Sunday the 22nd near USC and downtown. It's been a while since I checked out the LA Bi-Mon-Sci-Fi Con so it will be interesting to see how things have changed or stayed the same. Past guests include Keanu Reeves, Dolph Lundgren, Bolo Yeung, Jackie Chan, Vin Diesel, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Arnold Schwarzenegger!

To wrap things up, Anaheim hosts Anime California on Friday - Sunday, August 8.28 - 30th. Anime and video games are the prime focus here with Artist Alley already sold out, fan-run panels lining up, concerts, cosplay and the SCR e-gaming tournament where video game athletes battle it out in Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat and many more titles.  While Sunday August 30th is the San Fernando Valley Comic Book Convention that touts $5 admission and free parking. Phew! See you at the show(s)!