C2E2 2014 Preview & Guide

C2E2 2014 is nigh and we have everything you need to know about this year's Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo! The guests, the panels, the companies all the glorious nerdom and everything else you need to know to navigate this year's convention! Better hurry too because after midnight tonight (April 24th 11:59pm CST to be exact) ticket prices go up!  Here's just some of what you can expect to see this year:

THE GUESTS
C2E2 is first and foremost a gathering of comic book fans, so of course comic creators dominate the guest list roster: Artists Neal Adams, Adam Hughes, Mark Bagley, Lee Bermejo and writers Brian Azzarello, Dan Jurgens, Gail Simone & Scott Snyder join indie giants Eric Powell and Tony Moore. Not to mention legends Stan Lee and Neal Adams! They join dozens more as this years comic guests.

But we all know the con isn't just about comics anymore! Game of Thrones stars Alfie Allen, Natalia Tena and Kristian Nairn, comedian Brian Posehn, motherfuckin HULK HOGAN, Warehouse 13 actors Allison Scagliotti and Eddie McClintock, Rider Strong from Boy Meets World, Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Nicholas Brendon and much more guests from the geekier side of entertainment will be in attendance as well! This year The Block section of the con features Adam Z Litvack, Alexis Ziritt, Ben Spencer JC Rivera and more. There's also a plethora of literary guests attending this year including writer Charlaine Harris (creator of The Sookie Stackhouse Series aka The True Blood series) Patrick Rothfuss writer of The Kingkiller Chronicle Trilogy and C. Robert Cargill author of the critically acclaimed fantasy novels DREAMS AND SHADOWS and QUEEN OF THE DARK THINGS. So whether your fetish is comics, books, pro wrestling, TV or movies there's a little something for everyone at C2E2 this year!

There's even a couple of random guests to come as well, such as Tom Cook - an animator on the classic 80s cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe! My personal favorite surprise guest however is none other than Bruce Leroy himself; Taimak from Berry Gordy's classic Kung-Fu movie The Last Dragon! You can find him at Black Action Tee's booth # 461. They're even selling a limited edition Last Dragon design as a t-shirt to commemorate the occasion!

THE EXHIBITORS
Of course no comic con would be complete without the big two (or at least half of them that is.) Marvel Entertainment will be there exhibiting at booth 327.  If you're afraid of the absence of DC you can rest easy that the void will be adequately filled with the "medium three."  Dark Horse Comics will be at 619 while recently rebirthed Valiant Entertainment will be at 317 in case you want to see how classic characters Bloodshot, X-O Manowar and Harbringer have been reborn.  Of if you're curious on how Hack/Slash is doing or the comic adaptations of GI Joe and Voltron you can head over to 643 to see Devil's Due Entertainment.  American Anime production company FUNimation will also be exhibiting along with fan favorite t-shirt company Graphitti Designs at booth 627.  You can preview upcoming toys and figures at Diamond Select Toys in 713.  If you're hankering for toys you can buy here and now however you can head over to Toynk.com at their big combo booth 1079 + 354 or check out local designer store Rotofugi at 755.  You can also see the ever-present t-shirt giant Stylin Online at 349, 237 and 343.

THE PANELS
Some of the best things to check out at any cons are the panels and C2E2 2014 is no exception!  For the budding comic creators you can find out what you need to know about publishing deals & contracts in room S401ab on Friday at 10:15am, return to the same room at 11:30 for Breaking Into Comics and Staying In!, attend the Self-Publishing for Comic Creators: C2E2 Workshop Meetup on Saturday at 12:15pm or come back again to room S401ab on Saturday at 4pm to find out Everything you need to know about Kickstarter and Comics.

TV panel highlights include the Power Rangers 'reunion' with Steve Cardenas and fellow Power Rangers cast members, Paul Schrier & Jason Narvy Saturday 1:30pm at N427 - and the 24 reunion with Carlos Bernard, Louis Lombardi and James Morrison Saturday at 5:30 at the Main stage S406. You can also join Kristian Nairn and Natalia Tena as they share their stories of filming in exotic (and cold) locations, memories from working on the set of Game of Thrones at the Main stage on Friday at 6pm

If you want to go the more traditional route you can check out the MARVEL: House of Ideas panel Friday at 1:45pm in room N426 or see DC comics discuss The New 52 at N427 on Saturday at 11am.  The Diamond Select Toys team will run down every non-Minimates item DST has coming up at 3pm on Saturday in Room S401cd. Be sure to go to room S402 for The Crow – 20th Anniversary Panel Saturday 1:45pm. And if you can tough it out until 8:30pm you can attend the C2E2 Friday Night Comedy Event with Comedy Mutant’s Brian Posehn and Kyle Kinane!

SPECIALS & EXCLUSIVES
There's also a host of special events and exclusive swag to be had as well!  C2E2 will be teaming up with The CBR (Comic Book Resources website) to take over the Hyatt’s M/X Bar all three nights of the show. Mingle with C2E2 Staff, CBR, Exhibitors, Creators and fellow Fans while you enjoy local brews, specialty cocktails and wines!  Along with their usual selection of self-branded gear you can also find exclusive, limited Marvel designs for sale such as an awesome Rocket Raccoon & Groot shirt and a Winter Soldier hoodie!

There will also be an onsite Titanfall tournament going on with C2E2 livestreaming the gameplay all weekend!  You can also download the C2E2 mobile app to keep up with the massive list of exhibitors, guests and panels.  Remember to buy tix before midnight to get them at the lower price and to stay hydrated, deodorize and motherfucking shower!

Buy Tix Here: http://www.c2e2.com/Tickets/

Exhibitor List: http://c2e2.com/Exhibitors

See the Panel Schedule Here: http://www.c2e2.com/Events/

See the Autograph Signing Schedule Here: http://www.c2e2.com/AutographSchedule

C2E2 is being held April 25-27, 2014 at:
McCormick Place (South Building)
2301 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60616

Show Floor Hours: Friday, April 25 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Professionals and Press Only)
Friday, April 25 – 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Open to the Public)
Saturday, April 26 – 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday, April 27 – 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Finally, don't forget to check us out on www.twitter.com/idolthreatblog to see us live-tweeting with news and pics from the con!