Because of life, these Missouri Comic Con posts are finally getting published—and I’m excited to start sharing them.
I arrived at Missouri Comic Con early Saturday morning to pick up my press pass. Badge pickup opened at 8:30 a.m., while the convention itself didn’t open until 10:00 a.m., and I’m glad I got there early. Parking was easy to find, and everything was well organized. Traffic was a little heavier than I expected, but nothing unmanageable—though that wouldn’t last long.
Even at 8:30 a.m., there was already a long line to get in. Thankfully, it moved quickly. Since Missouri Comic Con is held at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, the line was outdoors. A light rain started while we waited, but no one got too wet before being let inside.
The convention layout was spread across multiple buildings, each about a five-minute walk apart. There were three separate show floors, which was different compared to larger conventions but ultimately worked well. The setup made it easier to explore each area without feeling overwhelmed by the sheer size of a single massive floor.
The main panel room was a curtained-off area adjacent to the main show floor. While it served its purpose, it wasn’t ideal. Seating was limited, which negatively affected one of the panels I attended. From the back of the room, it was difficult to hear both the guests and the audience questions.
The convention officially kicked off with a fun opening ceremony featuring voice actor Scott Innes. Known for voicing Scooby-Doo and several other Hanna-Barbera characters, Innes entertained the crowd with his iconic voices and even sang some of the classic songs we all love.
While walking the show floor, I received a text from an old friend, Chris—someone I hadn’t seen in more than 20 years. He and his wife were heading to the convention and wanted to know if I was there. I told him I was covering the event for Geeky KOOL and would love to meet up
This was Chris’s first ever comic—or geek—convention. He’s recently started investing in geek trading cards and comics and wanted to see firsthand what a convention experience is like, as he’s even considering becoming a vendor in the future. Attending Missouri Comic Con gave him valuable insight into how these events operate.
It turned out to be a great first convention experience for Chris and his wife. Getting the chance to catch up after so many years was the perfect cherry on top of an already fantastic first day at Missouri Comic Con.
More coverage is coming soon. I attended several panels and have plenty to share, and my goal is to have those posts finished and published this week.
Stay Geeky!
