For months, we eagerly awaited the arrival of FAN EXPO Chicago 2024. We spent countless hours anticipating the guest announcements, and when they were finally revealed, we all scrambled to schedule our days off, purchase our tickets, and meticulously plan our August weekend with as much detail as General Patton did for Operation Torch.

Time marched on, and opening day seemed like it would never arrive—but in the blink of an eye, it was here. And just as quickly, it was over. Time is such a fragile thing. That’s what I always take away from conventions. The friends you have (or had) become committed to memory—ghosts that walk the empty halls of conventions from years past. Those long-ago panels, the laughter, the screams of excitement, the waiting together to see those we idolized as kids, all so we might taste the sweetness of our youth once more. But also, some of us have aged into the father or mother holding the hand that used to be ours—the little boy or girl with eyes full of wonder. ‘Tis the magic of the convention.

Dear readers, this is not a lament of sorrow or cold nostalgia—it is simply a celebration of the joy found in the past, present, and future memories that FAN EXPO Chicago has created. This year has given us yet another golden memory.

As you read in our last article, Friday night was a lightning bolt of a show. Saturday and Sunday maintained that magnetic energy from day one. Our coverage this year will take you on a walk-through of the entire event. We want you to experience the Con through the thousands of photos and videos we captured. While we’ll be producing content throughout the month, our goal is to convey the essence of the show through sight and sound.

We hope you remember the pure joy of FAN EXPO Chicago 2024.

As you can see the Star Wars theme was hotter than the lava pits of Mustafar!

It’s been a whole two days since our adventure and as the days go on I honestly think this is one of the most eventful FAn EXPOS to date. Why? Because it was filled with wisdom from the guests. From the Gina Caranos positivity to Bobba Fett singing the show can be simplified to one single word – joy.

Looking back, It’s safe to say this convention was the most positive Con I have ever attended. From the positive and uplifting Gina Carano panel to the insightful and inspiring Comic Book Writing panel, we were all left with fuel to feed our goals and ambitions. If this year’s FAN EXPO could be summoned up in one word it would have to be – inspirational.