Awesome Con was held last weekend and the showrunners couldn’t have come up with a more apropos name for the Washington, DC convention. The three-day con, held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center was a comics and pop culture extravaganza. There were plenty of shopping opportunities, chances to meet comic artists and writers, celebrity guests, educational activities, artistic exhibits, and plenty of panels.

Media guests were Adam West and Burt Ward (Batman), Elizabeth Henstridge and Brett Dalton (Agents of SHIELD), Billy West and Phil LaMarr (voices Futurama), Charles Martinet (voice of Mario in Super Mario Brothers video games), Count Gore De Vol (horror host), David Prowse, Tim Rose, and Ray Park (Star Wars), Georgina Haig (Once Upon a Time), Grey Delisle (voice actor The Fairly OddParents), Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman (Doctor Who), Jeremy London (Mallrats), John Barrowman (Torchwood), John DiMaggio (voice actor Adventure Time), Karl Urban (Dredd), Kevin Smith (writer, director, actor), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy), Robin Lord Taylor (Gotham), Summer Glau (Firefly), Will Friedle (voice actor Batman Beyond), Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter), and Ron Simmons (pro wrestler).

Fans waited in long lines on Sunday to meet Doctor Who stars Capaldi and Coleman. There was such an onrushing of fans that the pair stayed late to accommodate requests for autographs and photos.

Celebrity guests had just as much fun as the attendees. “Yes, I am, I’m enjoying myself,” Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse said about the con. “A very nice crowd of people came to see me. I’ve been very busy for the last two days. Long may it go on.”

Prowse also voiced his enjoyment at spending time with other guests. “It’s been a great pleasure meeting some of the other personalities that are here. Ray Park is a great friend of mine and it’s nice to see him again. Then I had the pleasure of meeting Peter Capaldi, who I never met before – that was nice,” Prowse said.

“I’m having a wonderful time, it’s a really well put together convention. Lots to see, lots of people,” actor Jeremy London echoed.

London also shared that he had explored the con floor outside of the signing and photo area. “I have and the diversity of stuff here is mind blowing to me. It’s incredible, very impressive,” London said.

Not only did fans seek autographs, they wanted to talk about the actor’s projects. “Oh my gosh, people have been asking me what’s going on in my life now, really,” London said. “I started an acting school called The London Arts Acting School down in Biloxi, Mississippi, in Ocean Springs, Mississippi where I live, and in New Orleans. I just directed a movie called Monsters Anonymous. I’m hopefully looking to direct another movie soon. I’m still doing the acting thing whenever I can.”

Prowse talked about the enduring love of Star Wars fans and seeing the new movie. “I was invited to see it [The Force Awakens] at the cinema when it first came out. The fans there, literally hundreds of fans, knew that I was going to be there as well, so there was a huge crowd waiting for me when the film was over. I sat in the foyer at the cinema – I think the film finished at ten o’clock and I got out of there at two o’clock in the morning. Four hours of doing nothing else but sign autographs,” Prowse shared.

Writers and artists included Mark Waid (Black Widow), Carole E. Barrowman (Exodus Code), Amy Reeder (Batwoman), Andrew Aydin (MARCH), Arsia Rozegar (Iron Man), Bill McKay (Zombie Tramp), Brandon Montclare (Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur), Bryan Tillman (card game designer), Bryan Turner (Fanboys vs Zombies), Curls Studios, Chris Pyrate (Feral NYC), Darin Henry (Futurama), Fred Van Lente (Amazing Spider-Man), David Rodriguez (Skylanders), Jeff Shultz (Archie), Jerry Gaylord (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Jeremy Whitley (Princeless), Jim Calafiore (Red Lanterns), John Gallagher (Buzzboy), Joe Harris (X-Files), Justin Jordan (Luther Strode), Marc Hempel (Sandman: The Kindly Ones), Laura Lee Gulledge (Page by Paige), Mark Mariano (The Other Side of Hugless Hill), Matthew Dow Smith (Doctor Who), Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster), Mike Raicht (The Stuff of Legend), Rafer Roberts (Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream), Penelope Gaylord (Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake), Super Art Fight, Sean Von Gorman (Toe Tag Riot), and Timothy Zahn (Star Wars).

Scoop stopped by Black Widow writer Mark Waid’s table to catch up with the writer. “It’s been really good. Nice fans, good crowds, good venue, I’m pleased.”

“Exhausting and very successful. A lot of fun too,” artist Mark Wheatley said about the weekend. “Predominately here, people seem to be predisposed to buy prepackaged stuff that’s on the table. I haven’t been doing much in the way of commissions at all, but I’ve been selling a lot of art prints and books.”

Both Waid and Wheatley noticed buying trends for their art and comics. When asked if fans were asking about particular titles, Waid said “Mostly Archie, of all things, which would’ve surprised me a few years ago, but the work on Archie that we’ve been doing with Fiona Staples and Annie Wu has been very well received.”

“Doctor Who, Doctor Who, Doctor Who,” Wheatley said about what people requested at his table. “Not just Capaldi, but there’s a real strong fan contingent here. I’m sure it’s because of Capaldi, but they have wide ranging interests. I was surprised, I think the most popular print I have here was David Tennant. I was thinking Capaldi would be strong, and he sold well, but Tennant outsold him. In fact, I just sold my display copy.”

“I’m working on Doctor Cthulittle, which we just announced on our panel here at the show,” Wheatley also shared. “It’s a really wonderful book G.D. Falksen who is a really great author and it’s going to be a profusely illustrated hardback book with color illustrations and text.”

Awesome Con hosted some special events and mini exhibits throughout the weekend. On Friday night An Evening with Kevin Smith was held with the writer, director, actor, and comic book man. The Backlot was home to Geppi’s Entertainment Museum’s exhibit and movie related exhibitors. StarTalk with Bill Nye and Eugene Mirman and Science Fair presented by Science Channel featuring everything smart, techie, and cool provided educational fun for attendees. Additional special events and exhibits were Destination America, a Brickfair Derby Racing area, and Sonicboombox presented the official Awesome Con After Party with dancing, drinks, cosplay, and giveaways.

Vendors sold a wide variety of collectibles from comic books to video games to toys. The comic book stands were very busy, selling Golden, Silver, and Bronze Age titles, a plethora of Modern titles, and lots of hardcovers and trade paperbacks. Some sold classic video games, vintage toys from the 1970s and 1980s, the currently hot collectibles, Steampunk gear, stylish art prints, and plenty of geekcentric clothing.

Q&As with celebrity guests were held throughout the weekend. Jeremy London, Wes Johnson, Matthew Lewis, Adam West and Burt Ward, John Barrowman, Summer Glau, Robin Lord Taylor, Karl Urban, Will Friedle and Grey DeLisle, Georgina Haig, Peter David, Timothy Zahn, Ron Perlman, Michael Rooker, Billy West, Mark Waid, and others participated in Q&As.

Panels focused on comics in World War II, live podcasts, background for media arts, ask the editor, classic Doctor Who, writing the hero’s journey, fandom and burlesque, women in nerd media, Star Trek Ultimate War Games, film screenings, Valiant 101, sci-fi speed dating, cartooning, pitching and promoting projects, and lots more.

There were plenty of gaming events, panels, and demos including game shows, gaming discussions, dice gaming, tournaments, free arcade game play, and roleplaying games.

Cosplayers brought their A-game, dressing up as characters from Doctor Who, Star Wars, and their favorite comic books. There was a zany Francis, nay, Ajax cosplayer, impressive heroes and villains from Marvel and DC, and embodiments of popular movie and cartoon characters. Awesome Con hosted cosplay tutorials and events on foam bracers, leveling up, family cosplay, foam armor, empowered by cosplay, the LGBT community, and cosplay group Q&As. Costume contests were held for adults and kids with some impressive entries.

Many of the guests are already scheduled for more conventions over the next few months. “Indy Pop Con in a couple of weeks then Baltimore later on this year,” Waid said about his schedule.

“Oh I’ve got a lot, gosh, I think I have six more lined up for the rest of the year,” London said. “I wouldn’t even begin to know what all the names of them are. There’s one in Connecticut, Vermont, San Antonio, there’s a bunch of different ones.”

“Every weekend. Every weekend I can be somewhere in the world,” Prowse said. “I get so many requests to do personal appearances at conventions around the world. Next, I’m coming back to Houston in two weeks time. I’ve got a big one in England next weekend too. So come see me.”

“My next one is the San Diego Comic-Con, then after that is the Baltimore Comic-Con,” Wheatley shared.

Considering how much fun was had by guests and attendees, it is likely that Awesome Con will turn in another awesome event next spring.