Ten Things to See at FAN EXPO Denver

Ever since FAN EXPO took over the flagging Denver Pop Culture Con back in 2021, it's been growing more impressive with each ensuing year, establishing itself as among the — if not the — pre-eminent international fan conventions in the Rocky Mountain region. The 2025 edition — taking place Thursday, July 3, to Sunday, July 6, at the Colorado Convention Center — is shaping up to be absolutely no exception.

Like any comic book hero, the Denver event deserves a quick origin story. It began back in 2012 in response to fans clamoring for an event like other national cons, but closer to home. And back then, it was also a way for the late, lamented Pop Culture Classroom to raise funds. It had an explosive debut but more or less plateaued for a few years before falling victim to the restrictions of COVID, at which point FAN EXPO stepped in with the bucks to resuscitate the enterprise. But credit where it's due: it wouldn't exist today if not for those early boosters and all their work that made the event grow like gangbusters for several years.

FAN EXPO is capitalizing on that legacy, flexing its connections by bringing in a lot of star power. Like it or not, this is much more than just a "comic con." It's celebrities, it's panels, it's cosplay — both professional and aspiring. It's Star Wars and LEGO and voice talent from your favorite animated shows. It's comics, but also merch featuring comics; it's a ton of hobby stuff, sure, but also a lot of shirts and stickers and art and books that celebrate it at the same time. It's a four-day nerd bacchanal.

Here's a list of ten FAN EXPO Denver highlights — can you experience them all? Only if you're worthy.
 
My God...It's Full of Stars
When astronaut Dave Bowman utters the above line in Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey novel, he wasn't talking about FAN EXPO's celebrity line-up, but hell, it works either way. Name a fan property with a huge following, and it's probably on the Fan Expo Denver celebrity docket. Star Wars? We got John Boyega (Finn) and Alan Tudyk (K2SO). Star Trek? We got no less than William Shatner himself. Comics on the screen? The cast from The Flash, John Cena from Peacemaker (and yes, pro-wrestling), and so many Supermen (Brandon Routh, Tyler Hoechlin, Tom Welling, Dean Cain...even Tim Daly [Wings], who voiced good ol' Supes in the animated series) that anyone with a double-L name (Lois Lane, Lana Lang, Lori Lemaris, etc.) will go weak in the knees. The sultry Elvira, Mistress of the Dark? Check. Harry Potter motion picture peeps? Check. The legendary John Rhys-Davies, who, depending on your age, is either Sallah from Raiders of the Lost Ark or Gimli from Lord of the Rings? Check. Brendan Fraser, because he was in approximately 84 percent of all good movies from the 90s? Check. Even Jennifer Beals will be there, which feels sort of random, but also cool. And so many more totally worth meeting and thanking and fist-bumping. Also, Rob Schneider.

Hey Kids! Comics!
It's sort of a shame that comic book pros are fifth on the list of guest categories. Maybe that list isn't in order of prominence (though the fact that it's not alphabetized, and Celebrities are first, might suggest that it is), but comic professionals are the reason these conventions came into being in the first place. (Well, them and William Shatner, but we already talked about the good Captain Kirk above.) The names are big ones for fans of the medium: Joe Quesada (former Editor in Chief at Marvel, now back to art duties); Ryan Ottley (Invincible); Greg Capullo (Wolverine); Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge); as well as current stars of the ink and pen: Stanley "Artgerm" Lau, Scott Snyder, Jae Lee, Derrick Chew, John Giang, Greg Land, Mike McKone and many more. Come get your favorite covers signed!

Catch Effin' Birds
One of the great joys of fan conventions is that they also provide a place to meet some of our favorite creators in other media — in this case, a web-comic that's been shared a multitude of times on social media, moved to calendars and shirts and prints and books, all about the profane utterings of our avian friends. Effin' Birds creator Aaron Reynolds isn't just coming to town for FAN EXPO, but also making a stop at Mutiny Comics in Englewood from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2. Perfect for the lover of birds (or of sarcasm) in your life.

Explore Artist Valley
It's not just the professionals that make up the must-see list in terms of artists — don't forget all the up-and-comers, too. Whether these folks are aspirational in the industry or just hobbyists having fun hawking their stuff, they deserve some oohs and aahs, and some purchasing to boot.

Mosey About Merchant Mesa
We're not sure why it's called Merchant Mesa, other than the alliteration and that it's sort of a continuation of the "Valley" of Artists nearby. If this reasoning seems thin, that's in stark contrast to the plethora of shopping options available at the various vendors around FAN EXPO Denver, where you can buy everything from prints to patches, tumblers to ten-siders, costume horns and custom lightsabers, and pretty much anything and everything that's game, comic or toy related under the bright and unrelenting sun that is American pop culture.
Double Up on Anime After Dark
If you're a fan of anime (a fanime?), you'll want to check out the after-party at Anime After Dark. On from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, July 4 and 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, July 5, the Colorado Convention Center's E Concourse will light up with two electrifying evenings. This is your opportunity to meet anime voice actors who aren't appearing during regular show hours. Rub shoulders with fellow fans and stars alike. Get autographs, or get down to K-Pop tunes. And the best part? Anime After Dark is completely free with your con badge.

Visit Smallville
If you were a super-fan of the proto-Superman series Smallville, you have to catch stars Tom Welling (Clark Kent) and Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) as they celebrate the TV show in all its glory. From reading iconic scenes to directing fans in unforgettable moments, this Saturday-night-only intimate event promises laughter, nostalgia, and a few surprises. Attendees will leave with a special keepsake, and a lucky few will win prizes straight from Tom and Michael’s collection. Totally worth the $200 price tag for admission, if you ever shipped Welling, Rosenbaum or their bromance.

Roll an Audience Crit with Dungeons & Dragons Live Play Nights
If you're a fan of Critical Role or Dimension 20, you're in luck: FAN EXPO has spectator role-playing spread out over three full nights. The first is Roll for Initiative: Legends of Gaming Kick-Off on Thursday night, with Omid Abtahi, Nicolas Roye, Damien Haas, Mela Lee, Justine Huxley, and Pete Capella ushering in a full TPK-possible weekend of D&D. The on Friday comes Roll for Horror: An Evil Dead-venture, which says "Hail to the 5e King, baby" with voice acting legends Anjali Bhimani and Valeria Rodriguez joining some of the previous night's stars to fight some Deadites. And on Saturday night, wonder to Imarian Nights: A D&D Musical Adventure with DM Tommy Gofton taking the crew through an adventure with Nazborah, the musical genie...with some of the decision making done by the fans in attendance. It's three nights of nat-twenty entertainment, free with your convention pass.

Banter with Bruce Campbell
Now here's the grooviest of opportunities: trivia night with no less than Bruce Campbell himself. He'll be around for autographs and fan photos too, but his big event is Saturday night, where for a small additional fee, anyone can be part of the audience for a game called Last Fan Standing. It's a trivia contest with a chainsaw for a hand, where "the mic is live, the questions are brutal, and only one fan will remain standing." Tickets are $20 plus fees, and going fast.

Cosplay, Cosplay, Cosplay
For a hobby that was largely considered niche not all that many years ago, the art of cosplay has certainly come into its own. Not only will FAN EXPO Denver feature cosplay pros on-hand to meet fans, but also panels and how-to workshops, showcases and meet-ups, and a red-carpet runway — one each for adults and kids both — to strut your stuff. And two special offerings this year: a special "Cosplay Hideaway" where cosplayers can go to rest, recharge, and cool down. And of course the Rocky Mountain Qualifier for Masters of Cosplay 2025 at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 5 in Main Theater, in which Denver sends a champion on to compete against seven other FAN EXPO cities for the title — and a cool grand in prize money.

FAN EXPO runs July 3-6 at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street. For more info  — and indeed, there is a lot more — check out the FAN EXPO Denver website.