The Heroes & Villains Fan Fest convention is the brainchild of actor Stephen Amell (Oliver Queen on Arrow) and James Frazier, organizer of the zombie and horror convention Walker Stalker. The Heroes & Villains convention debuted last November 21st and 22nd at the San Jose Convention Center. The event included panels with cast members from Arrow, The Flash, and other fan favorites, as well as a couple of cosplay-related panels and other fun stuff.
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According to Michael Guthas, the press manager for Fan Fest, there were about 12,000 attendees for the San Jose event. “We had a lot of neat experiences for people that you wouldn’t find at your typical con,” Guthas said. “Things like a zip line, bungee jump, Velcro wall, etc. We plan to bring all the excitement and fun to New Jersey and Chicago just as we did for San Jose.”
For the New York/New Jersey event, guests include a healthy portion of actors from The Flash, Arrow, and Gotham, plus Karen Gillan from Doctor Who and Guardians of the Galaxy, Jason Mamoa from Game of Thrones and Aquaman, and Robbie Kay who plays Peter Pan on Once Upon a Time. Comic book and online artists also appear on the guest list, as well as David Rapaport, the casting director for David E. Kelley’s Wonder Woman, Arrow, The Flash, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, and other fan favorites. Fan Fest has been announcing more guests regularly, so check their guest list to see if your favorite celebrity has been added.
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Although the Heroes & Villains is definitely focused on fan interaction with the celebrities and creators behind television shows, movies, and comics, there should be plenty of other action going on. The Dealers Room will be filled with vendors and artists where you can purchase geeky goodness. As with many comic related conventions, you can expect to see many people decked out in their best cosplay.
However, if you want to guaranty some face-time with your favorite celeb, you can buy tickets for a “photo op.” There are also premium tickets (for a premium price) that include early admission and photo ops with your choice of celebrity. If you miss the New York/New Jersey event in January, don’t fret; you can catch it again in Chicago come March.
