Awesome Con is a large comics and pop culture convention held every spring in Washington, DC at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Due to election related events, the convention was held early this year on March 8-10, 2024. The scheduling change (and cooler/rainy weather) did not stop thousands of fans from filling the convention center.

Featured comic guests were Arthur Adams (Uncanny X-Men), Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies), Bryan Tillman (Ninja Empire), Chrissie Zullo-Uminga (Marvel Meow), Christopher Uminga (Batman’s Mystery Casebook), Claudia Gray (Star Wars: High Republic), Craig Rousseau (Young Hellboy), Dan Parent (Archie), David Mack (Echo), Emma Kubert (Radiant Pink), Gavin Guidry (Superman ’78), Jarrett Melendez (Chef’s Kiss), Jeph Loeb (Batman), Jim Salicrup (Amazing Spider-Man), Joe Rubinstein (Wolverine), John Giang (Spider-Man), Josh Trujillo (Blue Beetle), Joyce Chin (All-New Wolverine), Keith Williams (The Phantom), Klaus Janson (Daredevil), Mark Bagley (Thunderbolts), Matt Kindt (BRZRKR), Michael Golden (Micronauts), Mostafa Moussa (Superman), Penelope R. Gaylord (Diana and the Hero’s Journey), Renee Witterstaetter (Sensational She-Hulk), Sarah Myer (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Shawn Crystal (Scarlet Witch), Sorah Suhng (Aurora), and more.

Celebrity guests included Alaqua Cox (Echo), Bryce Papenbrook (Attack on Titan), Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Colleen O’Shaughnessy and Kate Higgins (Naruto), David Yost and Walter Jones (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Dean Norris (Breaking Bad), Hayden Christensen, Rosario Dawson, and Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Star Wars franchise), Rachael Leigh Cook and Tara Reid (Josie and the Pussycats), Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville), Orlando Jones (American Gods), Steve Blum (Cowboy Bebop), and Tom Kenney (SpongeBob SquarePants).

Awesome Con has several special focused areas on their main convention floor, including the Science Fair. The educational area gives attendees the opportunity to learn how science impacts their favorite comics, fantasy, and sci-fi movies, TV shows, and books. NASA was set up at the Science Fair with a display of the Hubble Space Telescope and they introduced a new NASA-themed roleplaying game. The Science Fair was also a spot where kids could do or watch science experiments.

There was a lot for kids to do at Awesome Con Jr. They could draw their own comics, see demos from professional artists, and participate in other family-focused activities. In addition to Artist’s Alley, Awesome Con hosted a Book Fair where comic writers and novelists could promote and sell their work and sign books. The professional cosplay area was a popular destination for photos with Star Wars characters, the Ghostbusters, Power Rangers, and other popular characters.

Another special area is Pride Alley where Awesome Con celebrates LGBTQ+ creators and comics. Curated by Geeks Out, Pride Alley brings attention to queer creators and their work to audiences who might miss it at other cons or in comic shops.

The celebrity guests participated in Q&As and pro photo ops throughout the weekend. Welling and Rosenbaum hosted their comedy presentation, Smallville Nights, and Christensen and Dawson participated in a large Star Wars panel. Comic creators talked about their projects in panels, there was programming focused on anime and cosplay, the Science Fair hosted panels, plus Awesome Con had after parties, tabletop gaming, the short film festival, and plenty more activities.

The vendors sold the usual pop culture-focused memorabilia. There were apparel vendors, prop weapons and lightsabers, jewelry stands, Funko Pops, Legos, Marvel and DC action figures, tabletop gaming supplies, vintage video games, and other goodies. Anime and manga had a strong presence, there was a massive mystery box booth, and one that had vending machines filled with little toys and trinkets.

Comic dealers were peppered throughout the show floor, however there weren’t as many as comic collectors would like. Most offered Silver to Modern Age books, graded keys, $1 back issue bins, and half price graphic novels and trades.

Many vendors reported that they had successful shows, as did the comic artists. The celebrity guest lines were quite packed, and some attendees complained on social media that they waited for up to 12 hours to meet Dawson and Christensen. Both Star Wars actors stayed late to sign autographs.

Awesome Con will return to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center next year on April 4-6, 2025.

To see more photos from Awesome Con, jump to our In the Limelight coverage.