C2E2 2022 was three days of pop culture greatness. It's a fantastic convention with celebrities, wrestlers, creators, vendors and events like panels and screenings. It's a challenge seeing everything, but it is fun doing it all.
My main interest is the celebrity guest lineup. On the first day, I met with my pal Joey Roth and his wife Roxi Heart. Pictured below, I met artist K Lynn Smith, All Elite Wrestler and Chicagoan CM Punk, an Aquaman cosplayer, wrestling legend Scott Steiner, WWE Hall of Famers Amy "Lita" Dumas and Trish Stratus, comic creator Michael Kingston, actor Barry Gordon, Roxi Heart and artist Franco.
On Sunday, I was joined by my friend Tony Feddeler and we met illustrator Kelly McMahon, the icon Svengoolie, Sven's Executive Producer Jim Roche, WWE wrestler Trinity "Naomi" Fatu, WWE Hall of Famers Amy "Lita" Dumas and Trish Stratus, WWE wrestler Sasha Banks, Pro Wrestling Tees owner Ryan Barkan, AEW wrestler Danhausen and indy wrestler Chris Castro.
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We also met creator Dirk Manning, artist John Marroquin, illustrator Enerjax, artist K Lynn Smith, artist Art Baltazar and his family, artist Franco, illustrator Courtney Cusack, artist Chrissie Zullo and creator DJ Corchin.
That's an amazing amount of talent and all extremely nice folks.
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Some of the highlights included Trish and Lita (aka Team Bestie) calling me by name, after seeing them several times over the last few years. I loved talking to Barry Gordon about his many tv appearances, including Barney Miller and Fish. I dragged a few scoops out of creators like Dirk Manning, but I can't reveal them yet. Stay tuned.
One of the coolest parts though, was being able to share these experiences with my good friends Joey, Roxi and Tony. That's really the fun part of any convention. I have met most of these folks already, but sharing the moments with friends brigs a whole new experience.
We also roamed the vendor area. I picked up a couple Aquaman pieces to add to my overgrown Aquaman collection.
I have gone to C2E2 for many years, almost from the very beginning. Last year, I added its sister, New York Comic Con, also produced by ReedPop and I will be "On teh Beat" there again in October. That's only 59 days away and yes, I am counting.
