Writer of Pop Culture

This month, two competing comic con events are vying for your attention at the same time – albeit in two completely different locations. Both Fan Expo Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio and Planet Comicon in Kansas City, Missouri will be held March 21-23, 2025. Both are offering numerous celebrity Q & A sessions, cosplays contests, meet-and-greets, panel discussions, etc. You know, the usual stuff. Here are some of the highlights from both:

Fan Expo Cleveland
Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland

With Superman opening this summer, the “Man of Steel” is on everyone minds. The expo s celebrating with a “Super Saturday” with a number of special events:

• Smallville Nights: Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum hosts and evening event offering reading iconic scenes from their show as well as a few surprises. They will be giving away special keepsakes for every fan and a prize or two from their personal collections.
• Superman Panel: One panel will feature five actors (Tyler Hoechlin, Tom Welling, Dean Cain, George Newbern and Brandon Routh) who all have played Superman on TV.
• Super Comics Panels: Comic creators Patrick Gleason and Peter Tomasi will chat about their legacies with Superman and artist Pasqual Ferry and Jesus Merino will go head-to-head on a sketch duel.
• Clark Kent Look-Alike Contest: Anyone can dress up like Superman, but do you have what it takes to pull off Kent’s iconic look?
• Celebrating Cleveland’s Connection to Superman: Siegel and Shuster Society offer a panel discussing the city that created the world’s first superhero.
• A Super Cosplay Meetup: In addition to meetup dedicated to Superman, other meetups offered this year include ones for DC Universe, The Flash, Into the Spider-Verse and the Marvel Universe.
• Super Kids’ Zone: Siegel & Shuster Society are also hosting the “Superman Fortress of Solitude” with games and activities designed just for them.
• Super Parties: Enjoy free pinball at the Superelectric Pinball Parlor or party at The IVY for dancing, themed cocktails and giveaways.

If the TV series Supernatural is your fave, you can snag autographs from DJ Qualls, Amantha Smith or Alexander Calvert for $40 each but if you want the signature of Jared Padalecki, be prepared to shell out $100 more. Want a photo? That will cost you even more. You can get two for the price of one from the Harry Potter twins, James Phelps and Oliver Phelps, who are asking $150 for both of their autographs and $160 for a photo op of the pair.

Greater Cleveland Film Commission President Bill Garvey and Production Coordinator Mike Wendt will share how the city has been shown on the big screen including special behind-the-scenes looks.

Planet Comicon
Kansas City Convention Center

This year’s guests include:

• Malin Akerman and Carla Gugino (Watchmen)
• Chris Bartlett (Star Wars)
• Jim Beaver and Richard Speight, Jr. (Supernatural)
• Harry Belden; Ian Cardoni and Spencer Grammer (Rick and Morty)
• Elizabeth Berkley (Saved by the Bell)
• Don Bluth and Phillip Glasser (animators)
• Alan Oppenheimer, Melendy Britt, Kathleen Herles, Ron Rosa; Tom Reugger, Stan Berkowitz, Tim Daly and Daniel Ross (voice actors)
• Mike Colter and Aasif Mandvi (Evil)
• Vincent D’Onofrio (Daredevil)
• Brian Austin Green and Tori Spelling (90210)
• Legendary actresses Pam Grier, Ann-Margret (Jackie Brown and Bye Bye Birdie)
• Kenny James and Samantha Kelly (Super Mario Bros. voice actors)
• Amy Jo Johnson (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
• Sean Kanan (Cobra Kai)
• Alex Kingston, Catherine Tate and David Tennant (Dr. Who)
• Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich (Scream)
• Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future)
• Ross Marquand; Tony Moore and Tom Payne (Walking Dead)
• AJ McLean (Backstreet Boys)
• Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger (NASA astronaut)
• John Rhys-Davies (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
• Christina Ricci (Wednesday)
• Andy Serkis and David Weham (Lord of the Rings)
• Steven John Ward (One Piece)
• Bob West (voice of Barney the Dinosaur)

A Variety of Panels: These include PCKC Spotlights (separate panels featuring David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Alex Kingston, Andy Serkis, Tim Daly); Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Barney (the dinosaur); Everything Zombies; Skeletor & She-Ra Unchained (with Alan Oppenheimer and Melendy Britt); Feelin’ Supernatural (with Jim Beaver and Richard Speight, Jr.); From Screen to Page: Kevin Smith’s Clerks – Expanding that World; Storytelling Through the Music of Star Wars and more.

PEZ Maker Space: Sadly, this isn’t about the making of PEZ candy dispensers, but a maker space located in the Planet Entertainment Zone where true artists will be showing off a variety of techniques used in the making of costumes, props, foamwork, sewing, metal working…even LEGO!

Planet After Dark: A variety of additional free events which include Doctor Who and Avatar trivia contests, cosplayer appearances, Planet MasqueRave! Party, an improvised space opera called “That’s No Moon”, tabletop gaming, a masquerade parade, a late-night Blood on the Clocktower game time and more.

All Images: Fan Expo HQ