Thanks to Nerd Street Events, the Long Beach Comic Con has returned to Southern California for another two-day weekend at the Long Beach Convention Center for over this Labor Day weekend. While on the smaller size, LBCC is a very good convention for first-timers and those new to pop-culture conventions because the larger events can be overwhelming.

Buy Star Wars: Original Trilogy

The Exhibit Hall was not very full in comparison to similar events. Attendees walk into the Colombian Memorial Space Center / Space Expo of Downey, CA. Behind it along one wall are a number of fan clubs, such as the 501st Legion, “an international costuming organization dedicated to celebrating Star Wars;” the Orange County Ghostbusters, a costuming/volunteer group; and the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society promoting LOSCON, Los Angeles’ longest running Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention, held Thanksgiving weekend.

Spreading out, attendees can find comic-book sellers, independent comic-book writers and illustrators, and comic-industry veterans, such as Chuck Patton, best known for his work on DC Comics’ Justice League of America during the 1980s and is was awarded the Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program alongside others who worked on Todd McFarlane’s Spawn.

There are numerous artists selling their wares, from artwork to frame on one’s wall to jewelry one can wear. And if inspired, one can take some art away with them on their skin if they visit Mr. Inkwells Tattoo & Piercing.

There are several celebrities to get autographs from and pictures with, such as voice actor Billy West and Phil Lamarr, or you can show people you’d vote for Pedro by buying something from Efren Ramirez. Fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies better have plenty of spending money in their budget because on hand are Brian Tochi (voice of Leonardo) and Robbie Rist (voice of Michelangelo) from the first three live-action TMNT movies. And physical actors include Kenn Scott (Raphael, The Secret of the Ooze); Ernie Reyes Jr. (Donatello, suit actor for in the 1990 film); and François Chau (Shredder in The Secret of the Ooze).

The Programming was held in four rooms, the Main Stage and three smaller panel rooms. The Main Stage began with the debut performance of the Con Orchestra, a 13-piece chamber ensemble. I got to hear The Manadalorian theme, a number of pieces from Avatar: The Last Airbender, and original music for co-organizer/clarinetist Josie Hoh’s short film, Steven Spielberg and the Return to Film School. Most of the remaining panels in the room featured folks from the celebrity area, such as Vincent Martella and David Errigo Jr., the voices of Phineas and Ferb.

I walked into the middle of Cerebro Broadcast: Creators on the State of the X-Men Universe. There were nothing to identify the speakers so didn’t know who they were. Apparently, podcasters and cosplayers talking about people actually involved with the X-Men ’97 show that they know. Could have used more engagement with the audience and less name-dropping because simply having a panel doesn’t elevate one’s opinions over other fans.

GeekFilmFest had the Panel 2 room for the majority of the day. Their panels highlighted filmmakers and they screened shorts grouped together by genre. Unfortunately, the staging of the room is terrible for watching movies in the dark as the doors are behind the audience, so people walked in and out in the middle, causing sunlight to bleed in.

The event is also running on Sunday, September 6 with both the Exhibit Hall and the Programming running from 10 AM – 5 PM. Tickets are still available as of the time of this posting, available at the venue or https://longbeachcomiccon.com/, and the latter offers a code for free kids tickets. VIPs get in 15 minutes early each day, but I don’t think it’s worth the cost for such a limited-time window. To learn the Sunday Programming, visit the LBCC site.