Article and Photos by Derek Orchard
               Stan Lee’s Comikaze Expo was held October 30 through November 1, 2015. At the Los Angeles convention Center in California.
               This is Comikaze’s 5th year. I was looking at it as a another young convention. I wasn’t expecting a big set up. I know it’s got Stan Lee name on it, I had been hearing more and more about the show and I knew it was growing. I was not prepared for what I saw at the show. It was huge! they have broken it up into two separate halls.
               They had so many guests, I really don’t know who I should mention I mean, of course, they had Stan Lee, Elvira, Carrie Fisher, Grant Morrison, Summer Glau and not to mention Costume makers Vampy BitMe, Riki Lecotey(Riddle), Genevieve Marie, LeAnna Vamp. And we can’t forget the artist like Art Adams, Ashley Riot, Francesco!, Joyce Chen, Mike Mignola, Crystal Graziano, Todd McFarland, Tom Hodges, Camilla D’Errico.
               In all the different panels they had here. I mean they had stuff, ranging from how to write what writing methods you should use. Panels on cosplay making costumes, how to think about the costumes you’re making and how you should feel about wearing your costume. There is all sorts of sci-fi panels, on Star Trek, on Star Wars, there was panel for Babylon 5, Spartacus. they had panels on drawing, in voice acting, 8 bit video gaming and of course Horror.
               Comikaze introduced on the main stage, Stan Lee and Yoshiki’s “Blood Red Dragon” which is a motion graphic novel, later we have the two main actors from the movie, “2001: a Space Odyssey”. They had a lot of fun talking about different things that happened during the making of the movie and some of the adventures in their lives. William Shatner also made an appearance with his “Man O’War: Cinematic graphic novel” talked about the changes that were coming in season two, what they were doing to make it better and they really wanted feedback from the audience of what they should be doing next to improve the experience. DMC was they are on the main stage talking about his impact on music his career and his current endeavor, “Darryl makes comics”.  And more than $10,000 cash and prizes was up for grabs as in the best cosplayers in the country come for the Cosplay National Championships. Stan Lee’s, ComiKaze was proud to launch the Prop Making National Championship which also had a 2nd category for fans choice that you were able to vote on the props. That were on display until the last day of the show.
               Those are just some of the few highlights of the show. My small little review of this convention cannot convey the size of this show. The crowds they had on Saturday and Sunday were comparable to San Diego comic con. Personally this is a show that I have been trying to go to for the last 5 years for one reason or another, I have not been able to go, but this year I finally made it and this was an amazing show. It seemed like this show was centered around the fans. Seem like everything was made really accessible to everyone, even though you may end of standing in the line for a while. You had a really good chance of getting what you wanted.
               ComiKaze Expo, is an accessible show, you can still buy tickets during the show. So even at the last minute. If you want to go to the show, you can. it’s not one of those shows that you have to plan months, years in advance to get tickets to go. I really like the fact that a young fan just discovering conventions can make a to a show like this. To be able to meet his or hers heroes, whether they be fictional or real, A show like this allows them to have the opportunity to have that moment where the line between fantasy and reality can meet for a moment.
Check back for more photos from Stan Lee’s ComiKaze Expo 2015 in our J!-ENT 2015 Annual scheduled for November 2015