#186: C2E2 - APALOOZA 2025

A SUPERSIZED episode packed with tons of interviews with artists, authors, creators, cosplayers and collectors from the first day of C2E2 2025. This year the largest comic and pop culture convention in the region took place from April 11-13 at the McCormick Convention Center in downtown Chicago. 

With panels from such massive fandoms as the Lord of the Rings, and a reunion of the cast of the 80’s movie The Breakfast Club, along with plenty of other celebrities on hand for autos and pictures, C2E2 was set to draw even larger crowds this year, as the numbers have been increasing exponentially since the close of the pandemic years where shows were postponed.

I was able to talk with folks I knew and have had on the show before, and talk to a bunch of new creators and people who were ready to show their wares to the fans coming in. A big thanks to all who gave me some of their time and were so awesome to peel back some of the curtain on how things work if you are there to show off your work. Plus plenty of tips for you if you want to attend and check out some of the show areas.

Check out the full list of people below and be sure to check out, like and subscribe their pages and social sites. They put a lot of hard work in to help make the fabric of the show so amazing.

Once again the 501st, Mandalorian Mercs, Rebel Legion was part of the Family HQ block and had some great displays set up for folks to take pictures.

Featured Guests:

Daniel Govar - Artist

Website: https://www.danielgovar.com

Store: https://danielgovar.bigcartel.com

@saulone on Twitter

@danielgovar on Instagram

Nick & Candace Poblador

CNFactory

https://www.etsy.com/shop/cnfactory

On Instagram @cnfactorychi

Bret Juliano

Artist & Illustrator

@dustbunnymahfia on IG

[e-mail]

Comics.dustbunny.com

Mikey Babinski

Mikey Babinski @mikey_babinski on Instagram

WSTR/BigTLilT Podcast @tizzzzod on Instagram, Twitter @WSTRmedia and @bigtliltpodcast 

WSTR/BigTLilT Podcast 

@tizzzzod on Instagram, Twitter 

@WSTRmedia and @bigtliltpodcast 

Todd Hoffman

Karl Schmidt 

Joe Bialek

Victor @fandads

Ashleigh poppellwell

Arturo Delgado

@Turoseeker

Javier Esqueda TK-265 @joliet_batman

Shawn Mika @fettcicle

Kira Mashado @kirra_karabast

Nicole Markhenke 

Instagram @peacelovefandoms - @PL_Fandoms on X

@red5reading

Bill & Celeste Hjelmgren 

https://www.nonsportcardshows.com/

Karl Schmidt - Collector

@pileo64 on Instagram

Jared Nielsen 

Ultraman Card Game

https://ultraman-cardgame.com/page/us/top

Christopher Brimmage - Author

Mandrill, P.I.

https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/brimmage

Ashleigh Popplewell

Artist

@ampopplewell on IG

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