Features Reporter Brian Raica Jr. and Opinions Reporter Athena Reum with Mark Hamill, The Xavierite
The annual Fan Expo Chicago took place from Aug. 16–18 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Alongside the vendors and cosplayers was an incredible lineup of guests for fans to meet.
The headliner of the convention was the one and only Mark Hamill, best known for playing Luke Skywalker throughout the Star Wars franchise.
Additionally, notable guests included Ella Purnell (“Fallout”), Matthew Lillard (“Five Nights at Freddy’s”), Linda Hamilton (“Terminator”), Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld”), and Peter Cullen (“Transformers”).
As fans thundered into the convention center on Friday afternoon, there was a strong sense of excitement. Not only was it an unworldly rare occurrence that Mark Hamill was attending, but his photo ops and autographs were set to begin as soon as the convention did.
Fans lined up the halls, eagerly awaiting to meet the Jedi. I was one of those lucky people, and boy was it worth the immense price. As I went up to Mark, he insisted on shaking my hand and asked how I was. He seemed so happy to be with the fans, which is always amazing for a star.
Although the experience was short, it was unforgettable. The next guest on my bucket list was Sean Gunn, brother of James Gunn. Sean Gunn is a staple of both the “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Gilmore Girls,” and he was such a kind actor.
He expressed that he is truly proud of what the upcoming DC series, “Creature Commandos,” is shaping up to be. He mentioned that fellow co-star Alan Tudyk, who also was at the convention, was additionally excited.
Up next, was meeting the one and only Temura Morrison. Many fans greeted him, saying how happy they were to see him appear as Captain Rex in “Ahsoka.” I was not one of those people. I instead asked him about the Polynesian Spa, a meme that trended in summer 2021.
He told me that, truthfully, a jacuzzi is all you need in life, and it is best to use one in the islands near New Zealand. However, when it comes to future acting, he did not receive a phone call regarding “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” which hits theaters in May 2026.
Shortly after, it was time to meet Robert Patrick. He sported a beautiful Harley Davidson jacket and spoke highly of the brand.
While leaving Patrick’s line, I had noticed that the line to meet Giancarlo Esposito was incredibly short. Inevitably, I stopped by to get a quick photo with him. I informed him of my excitement for “Captain America: Brave New World,” which releases in theaters on Valentine’s Day.
It was then time to roam the show floor until the convention closed for the day. Comic book artists held a major presence throughout the floor. Perhaps the most well known artist in attendance was Ryan Ottley, who worked on comics such as “The Walking Dead,” and “Invincible.”
As I approached Ottley, he was working on a hand-drawn sketch of Mark Grayson, aka Invincible. Seeing an artist drawing a character is such a surreal sight. It makes you wonder how long it takes for comic books to be drawn in their entirety.
That marked the end of day one. However, day two began with a bang.
After receiving early entry to the convention, I continued to walk the show floor. Fan Expo sells almost everything you can imagine: props, masks, candles, mugs, clothes, and countless other items.
Surrounding me were bright-colored handbags, people cosplaying their favorite heroes, and the sweet smell of homemade fudge.
My bucket list for the day consisted of meeting Patrick Warburton, Gina Carano, Peter Cullen, and Jim Cummings. I ended up doing that!
Just the day after this, I would fly to Florida to go to Disney World. So, I had Patrick Warburton sign a poster for the ride “Soarin’ Around the World.” He added many inscriptions to the poster, causing it to be one of my favorite autographs I’ve ever received.
Gina Carano was very kind, and gave fistbumps to me and my group. She was extremely talkative and very happy to be in Chicago.
Perhaps the greatest celebrity interactions were my final two meet and greets. I got to thank Peter Cullen for being a hero to not just myself, but all who need a voice of strength.
Additionally, I got to do voice impressions of Star Wars characters alongside Jim Cummings.
Overall, it was a jam-packed weekend filled with so much fun. Comic cons have something to offer for all that attend. Although they can sometimes be costly, they leave memories that last forever.
Fan Expo Chicago will return to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center from Aug. 15–17 next year.
About Post Author
