You’re now standing at the entrance to Fan Expo Denver-Denver’s ultimate gathering for fans of all things awesome! Picture this: it’s 2012, and the very first Denver Comic Con has just kicked off. The air is buzzing with excitement, folks in costumes everywhere, some so creative you start to wonder if you’ve stepped straight into your TV at Saturday morning cartoon time. Even the volunteers look like they could be superheroes in disguise. That weekend drew nearly 28,000 fans, all coming together because they love stories-whether in books, comics, movies, games, or TV shows.
But this is no ordinary convention. It was launched by Pop Culture Classroom, a non-profit group with a mission to educate the next generation using the fun of comics and stories. Their motto? Turn fandom into learning power! Over the years, as Denver Comic Con grew (and grew… and GREW!), soon there were over 100,000 fans by 2015. Not bad for a bunch of comic book lovers! Of course, when you’re throwing a “Comic Con,” you might get a knock on the door from the lawyers over at the even-bigger San Diego Comic-Con. Yep, Denver had to switch things up and became Denver Pop Culture Con in 2019.
Imagine the energy inside during peak years: panels with big-name celebrities, hands-on workshops with comic artists, and the ever-popular Cosplay Classic. The costumes are next-level, from gentle princesses to brooding Batmen, and every flavor of sci-fi hero and villain you can dream up. And don’t forget the special beer, brewed each year with names like “Brews Wayne” and “Snape-ricot”-that’s right, even the drinks are in on the fun!
Then, 2020 hits, and the city goes silent-no crowds, no capes, just the echo of would-be applause. But you can’t keep a good convention down! In 2021, the world-famous Fan Expo HQ adopted Denver’s show and rebranded the festival as Fan Expo Denver. Pop Culture Classroom still plays a big part, keeping the focus on learning, creativity, and inclusion.
And speaking of inclusion, specialty tracks now highlight Colorado creators, women, LGBTQ folks, and more. There’s even a Kids’ Lab devoted to STEAM topics, where young fans draw comics, animate cartoons, and experiment with science and art-basically, they get to be both Tony Stark and Iron Man.
So if a caped crusader sprints by on roller skates, or if someone offers you a taste of the latest themed beer, don’t be surprised! At Fan Expo Denver, everyone is a fan-and maybe, just maybe, a superhero in disguise.
