From Friday March 15th to Sunday March 17th fans from every quadrant of the Geekverse descended on The Greater Richmond Convention Center for GalaxyCon Richmond 2024. Since 2006, GalaxyCon has given attendees the opportunity to enjoy, engage and – if they’re interested – even expand upon their appreciation of various portions of fandom. Offering everything from celebrity photo-ops and signings to Q&A’s, GalaxyCon gives many fans an experience they might miss out on since some of us are unable to travel to many of the larger metropolises.
After all while many of us may be California Dreamers the cost to make it out to the coast is quite high. And since I was dragging by about 9pm both Friday and Saturday night I can’t even imagine how I would make it in the City that Never Sleeps. So for me – and I imagine some other fans – I appreciated this location. But if you think that size matters when it comes to a host city first, you may want to pick a copy of Scott Lang’s book. Especially after you hear about all the attractions the organizers behind GalaxyCon packed into this amazing weekend. If you missed out on this year, I suggest you book your tickets for next in advance. Because after what I got to experience Richmond proved it was capable of putting on a show that could put some larger locations to shame.
Ever the Exhibitionist
Before I go any further I must own up to a personal faux pas. I failed to locate any booth specifically dedicated to two guests we lost in February of this year. Sadly the final bell rang for Carl Weathers, who you may know better as Apollo Creed from Rocky. Weathers was set to appear with his fellow Mandalorian co-stars for a Q&A on Saturday. Then, only a few days after Weathers passing we also lost artist Jose Delbo whose work to Transformers is among some of the earliest comics in my collection. As with any loss I send my condolences to their families. Their contributions and untimely passing should remind us of how irreplaceable the human aspect is to all that we geeks cherish. To borrow a line spoken by Creed’s trainer Duke in Rocky IV, “not a machine…a man.”
Now, if I did actually miss the Memorium Booth(s) it was likely because for almost the entire weekend the Exhibit Hall was jam packed; but why wouldn’t it? With the excitement emanating from within the Exhibit Hall it was very easy to become overwhelmed. In fact I found myself having to step out a few times just to catch my breath. Between the crowd in attendance, the creators and celebrities at times it became almost impossible to maneuver. But I actually found that this slower pace wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. With so much on display you could easily overlook an up and comer in an effort to get an autograph or photograph from an established star.
While the main attractions were names you might recognize from the world of comics and television with Greg Pak, Peter Cullen and Tara Strong on hand to name just a few, GalaxyCon Richmond 2024 brought waves of other talented artists and creators. Each one had full tables and booths stacked high to showcase their unique skills in mediums varying from painting to print and even outfits and accessories. If there was a limit to what you could experience, it came from your wallet – or access to the ATM – since each exhibitor I encountered proved their talents had none. Even if you were just browsing most were just as happy to swap stories as they were to make a sale.
The way PLAyers Play
Speaking of abilities, the Exhibit Hall wasn’t the only place you could find folks ready strut their stuff during GalaxyCon Richmond 2024. Anyone passing by The Greater Richmond Convention Center over the weekend probably felt a bit underdressed in comparison to countless numbers of Cosplayers waiting to get inside. While many were there for the chance to compete and win cash in the various costume competitions taking place during GalaxyCon, others I spoke with were simply doing it for the fun (and fandom).
But if dressing up isn’t your thing then taking a stroll across the street to the Richmond Marriott would bring you to the ballroom where event partners Misty Mountain Gaming and C2Z Grip were hosting competitions for both tabletop and console gaming enthusiasts. Featuring MTG – that’s Magic the Gathering , we kept it politic free in Richmond this weekend – as well as Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Bros and more, the stage was prepped for anyone who came to play. Between the combined $40K up for grabs plus the bragging rights there’s no wonder why so many top competitors, including some collegiate ESports teams, showed up to take their fellow gamers to school. Once again, GalaxyCon Richmond had even casual fans in mind with several stations set up to play at. There were even a few arcade cabinets and even pinball machines for your enjoyment.
you can’t buy class
For those souls willing to venture up to the 2nd Floor of The Greater Richmond Convention Center, GalaxyCon Richmond 2024 was host to several insightful seminars. From how-to’s on cosplay, covering everything from lighting to makeup and even modesty as well as a forum on faith in fandom there wasn’t a corner of the geek universe left unexplored. Every panel I attended was fantastic thanks to the efforts of the empassioned individuals conducting them. Every speaker seemed eager to share their years of knowledge plus personal experiences for the benefit of anyone in attendance.
This level of enthusiasm carried over to the featured speakers at GalaxyCon Richmond who we usually only get to see on the screen. While I would never be bold enough to call him Bill, the smile on his face during his Q&A no doubt made the day, weekend – even lifetime – for any fan who made the trek to GalaxyCon Richmond to see the star known as William Shatner. Kirk wasn’t the only Federation officer on hand as Brent Spiner, from The Next Generation, also provided plenty of data from the Main Stage.
Even now, several days since the end of GalaxyCon Richmond 2024 I am still exhausted, overwhelmed by the overall experience and a little ashamed thinking about some of the opportunities I missed. Since neither Spencer Graham or Chris Parnell shared Rick’s cloning techniques, nor did the Clone Wars Q&A offer any clues, I know that you need to set your course in advance, which I plan to do before I attend next year’s event. If you’re someone who plans to make the trip to GalaxyCon Richmond 2025, scheduled for March 25-27th 2025, then you may want to as well. Because if you use the second star to the right strategy, you may miss an out on several exciting constellations.
