Wizard World Chicago
BY THE POLSKI SAMURAI I JUNE 13, 2008

Children, adults, fanboys and Storm Troopers all come together once a year in the Chicago-Land area for one common interest.  Wizard Entertainment (Wizard Magazine, In-Quest) sponsors Wizard World Chicago along with some of the biggest names in the comic book industry to give fans a chance to meet some of their pop culture idols.   Wizard World does not focus solely comic books but feature video games, gaming, television, and movies, celebrities such as Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings), and Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk, TV Series) have all made past appearances at Wizard World as well as a host of comic book artists and writers who are annually
in attendance.  

2008 has been generous to Wizard World so far with the box office hit Iron Man and upcoming films The Incredible Hulk and The Dark Knight providing their fair share of hype for excited fans.  Wizard World Chicago has an average of 60,000 attendees every year and numbers do not show any indication of decline.  Like any convention, people can gather together for once cause and discuss something they all have
in common.

So what is there actually to do at Wizard World?  Most notably, people buy and sell comic books, but previews of upcoming films and TV series, photo ops with actors and actresses, role-playing games, computer discussions, video game testing, observing new and historic figurines and busts, and listening to Q&A sessions all contribute to this fanboy pandemonium!  This year, Wizard World Chicago brings many new and familiar faces from the comic book industry. Some of these include:

 

• Warren Ellis (Guest of Honor) (Transmetropolitan, Astonishing X-Men)
• Alex Ross (Kingdom Come, Justice)
• Todd McFarlane (Spawn, McFarlane Toys)
• Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man, New Avengers)
• Mike Choi (X-23: Target X, Uncanny X-Men)
• Marc Silvestri (X-Men: Messiah Complex, The Darkness)
• David Finch (Moonknight, Ultimate Ultimatium)

In addition to writers and artists, film and TV celebrities will also make appearances:

• Missy Peregrym (Reaper, Stick-It)
• Sean Patrick Flannery (Young Indiana Jones, The Boondock Saints)
• Lou Ferrigno (of course!) (TV’s The Incredible Hulk)
• Steve Sansweet (Lucasfilm, Ltd.)

Wizard World Chicago will be held in the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.  For more information about tickets, guests, parking, and directions please go http://www.wizardworld.com/.