Your Ultimate Guide to Comic Con Honolulu 2018

Guests include actors from “Harry Potter,” “The Walking Dead” and “The Terminator” at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, Aug. 3–5.

Photos: Tien Enga

 

Comic Con Honolulu returns to the Hawai‘i Convention Center in 2018 with three epic days celebrating comics, costumes, video games, science-fiction and fantasy culture and geekdom. Thousands of fans, many of them dressed as their favorite superheroes or pop culture characters, will gather to watch live stage events and exclusive film screenings, attend celebrity guest panels, compete in tabletop and video game tournaments, or explore the artist alley to pick up original handmade artwork by dozens of local illustrators and craftspeople.

 

“We want to make sure we bring a full comic experience to local attendees,” says Comic Con Honolulu CEO Faisal Ahmed. “All of our directors care deeply about each area of the show, so we’re able to offer a fantastic array of panels, tabletop games and the largest video gaming computer setup in Hawai‘i, in addition to an expansive artist alley and vendors room.”

 

Special guests at this year’s Comic Con Honolulu feature actors Jason Isaacs, of Harry Potter and Star Trek: Discovery fame; Michael Biehn of The Terminator and Aliens; The Walking Dead’s Lennie James; and X2 and Scorpion King actress (and former Miss Hawai‘i USA) Kelly Hu.

 

 

Other guests include voice actors such as Jeremy Shada, who voices Finn in Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time; and Overwatch’s Elise Zhang, Feodor Chin, Josh Petersdorf, Chris Parson and Paul Nakauchi; comic creators such as Usagi Yojimbo’s Stan Sakai, Strangers in Paradise’s Terry Moore and Wolverine and Captain Marvel co-creator Roy Thomas; and comic artists Luciano Vecchio of Infinite Guardians of the Galaxy, Alex Saviuk of Spider-Man and Scott Koblish, who currently illustrates the Deadpool comic.

 

“I’m blown away by how many guests we have this year, especially from the popular video game Overwatch. I feel like we’ve grown so much in just a few years,” says Gina Maeda, director of public relations for the convention. “Comic Con Honolulu is welcoming of a lot of different fandoms, which makes for a great atmosphere.”

 

Tickets to the convention are available by the day or for the entire weekend. Download the official Comic Con Honolulu app or go online here to view a full listing of events, panels, screenings and contests throughout the weekend. Not sure where to begin? Here are a few events we’re looking forward to most:

 

 

History in History with Stan Sakai

Friday, Aug. 3, 4 to 5 p.m., Room 315

Japanese cartoonist creator Stan Sakai, who was raised in Hawai‘i, talks about his award-winning comic Usagi Yojimbo, about a samurai rabbit traveling through feudal Japan, and the importance of incorporating history into the comic medium.

 

Creating Pop Culture with Roy Thomas

Friday, Aug. 3, 6:15 to 7:15 p.m., Room 316ABC​

Comics legend Roy Thomas, who co-created the characters of Wolverine, Captain Marvel, Iron Fist and Ultron, and was Stan Lee’s first successor as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, talks about how he got his start in the industry in this panel. Find out what he thought about working for one of the biggest names in comic publishing and what influenced him while he created some of the most memorable characters of comic history.

 

 

Blizzard’s Official Overwatch Panel

Saturday, Aug. 4, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Room 316ABC​

Meet the team behind the best-selling video game Overwatch at production company Blizzard’s first-ever official panel in Hawai‘i, featuring the game’s head writer Michael Chu and voice actors Elise Zhang, Paul Nakauchi, Josh Petersdorf, Feodor Chin and Chris Parson.

 

The Big Bang Theory Q&A with Kevin Sussman

Saturday, Aug. 4, 2 to 2:45 p.m., Room 316ABC​

If you’ve ever wanted to hear behind-the-scenes stories from CBS’s The Big Bang Theory, actor Kevin Sussman (who plays Stuart Bloom, owner of the comic book shop from the show) is your man. Learn about how he got started in acting and his work on the show, and feel free to ask questions.

 

From Harry Potter to Star Trek and Everything in Between: Jason Isaacs Q&A

Saturday, August 4, 4 to 4:45 p.m., Room 316ABC​

Known for his roles (usually the bad guy) in films such as the Harry Potter series, The Patriot, Peter Pan, Black Hawk Down, Armageddon and others, actor Jason Isaacs will talk about his career on screen and stage, answer audience questions and describe what it’s like to be the latest Starfleet captain on Star Trek: Discovery.

 

 

Cosplay Contest

Saturday, Aug. 4, 6 to 7 p.m., Room 316ABC​

Whether you’re competing on stage or just want to see the great costumes, the annual Comic Con Honolulu costume contest is a showcase of dozens of the best costumed characters at the convention. Cosplayers compete to bring home top prize, graded on their outfits’ creativity and construction.

 

Live Art Charity Auction

Sunday, Aug. 5, 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., Room 314

Enjoy a fast-paced live art auction featuring original artwork. The grand prize is the opportunity to challenge the voice actors of Overwatch to a video game match, for a good cause: Funds raised will benefit Pu‘uhonua o Puna, a grassroots info and supply hub on Hawai‘i Island providing assistance and support for residents affected by the recent Kīlauea eruptions.

 

 

Honolulu to Hollywood: Kelly Hu Q&A

Sunday, Aug. 5, noon to 12:45 p.m., Room 316ABC​

Former Miss Hawai‘i USA and Kamehameha Schools grad Kelly Hu talks about her path from Honolulu to Hollywood. She starred in movies and television shows such as the second X-Men film, The Scorpion King and, recently, on CW’s Arrow and AMC’s Dietland.

 

The Walking Dead Q&A with Lennie James

Sunday, Aug. 5, 1 to 1:45 p.m., Room 316ABC​

Chat with actor Lennie James, who plays the zombie-killing fan favorite Morgan on The Walking Dead and its spinoff, Fear the Walking Dead. This 20-year acting veteran is also known for his roles in Blade Runner 2049, the James Brown biopic Get On Up and Guy Ritchie’s British crime film Snatch.

 

 

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Discounts

In addition to attractions at the convention (which include an alcohol bar on the second floor for 21-and-older guests), con attendees can score discounted prices and various specials at the following locations if they show their badge or wristband:

• 10 percent off your order at Teddy’s Bigger Burgers on Kapi‘olani Boulevard.

• Eight-inch, one-topping pizza and 20-ounce soda lunch special for $7, or a large one-topping specialty pizza for $9.99 at Papa John’s on Kapi‘olani Boulevard.

 

Comic Con Honolulu 2018, Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., comicconhonolulu.com.