Tips and Tricks for Dragon*Con 2016

It’s that time of year again! One of the biggest sci-fi/fantasy conventions will take over Atlanta on Labor Day weekend: Dragon*Con. If this is your first year attending, or if you need a little refresher, here are some suggestions on how to make your experience even better.

SCHEDULING YOUR DAY:

After purchasing your ticket, you should have received a booklet in the mail listing out all the events, panels, and guests at this year’s con. However, there were no dates and times. The Dragon*Con app changes all that.

You can see everything that’s going on throughout the con. You can follow a certain track, or you can attend the major events. Planning your day with the app makes things so much easier. However, you need to have some flexibility with your schedule. Some events might cancel without warning, the lines might be so long you don’t want to deal with it, or the weather might not cooperate.

TRANSPORTATION:

The ideal way to experience everything that Dragon*Con has to offer is if you stay downtown the whole 4 days. If you’re lucky, you can grab a hotel that’s close to all the host hotels and just walk to the convention. There are events and panels that last well into the night that you would miss if you have to leave early. It might not help you out for this year, but for next year, check out the hotels. Usually right after the convention ends (or maybe a week or two after), the host hotels will offer deals for next year so you can actually stay where the action happens!

If staying downtown isn’t your thing, try using MARTA (our public transportation system). There are buses and trains that will take you into the city, it’s relatively cheap, and there’s free parking in the MARTA lots!

TICKETS:

When picking up your tickets, make sure you arrive early. It doesn’t matter if you preordered your ticket or you’re buying that day, everyone gets to wait in line at the Sheraton. To make things easier on yourself, make sure you have two things with you: the blue postcard that Dragon*Con sends you in the mail, and your photo ID. If you don’t have those, things could get messy.

PARADE:

The Dragon*Con parade happens on Saturday (usually around 10am), and this is the only event that is open to everyone, ticketholders or not. Naturally, the parade route is packed. If you want to see it in-person, try to get there as early as possible to stake out your spot…and then just sit there until it stops. There will be a wave of people trying to get there and leave at the same time, so you might want to find a spot to wait it out until it dies down.

If attending it in person isn’t your thing, the Atlanta CW channel will be airing the parade live on television and rebroadcasting it later in the evening.

SAFETY:

Sometimes you get a huge case of the hangries or you’re getting dehydrated. Dragon*Con has a Con Suite staffed by volunteers who can take care of your sustenance needs.

If you need to report an incident, the Atlanta Police Department are on duty throughout the entire weekend. There is a security office stationed in the Marriott, complete with an APD officer. Also, security has a right to check your costumes and accessories (mainly your cosplay weapons) to make sure they’re acceptable. If not, they might be confiscated.

COSPLAY:

Cosplaying, or dressing up as one of your favorite characters, is such a fun way to experience the con. You’re walking around and seeing all these people in great costumes. You just want to go up there and talk to them! And take their picture!

You can.

Most people are totally fine with getting their picture taken. Just be polite and ask them if they would mind, and most of the time they’ll strike an awesome pose. As a warning, some costumes might be a little more skin-baring than others, but the rule of asking is still a thing. Cosplay is not consent. Don’t assume that since someone is dressed like that, they want a certain kind of attention. They don’t. They want to have fun like the rest of us.

Dragon*Con is a wonderful event that you really have to experience for yourself. You'll meet some interesting people, see awesome stuff, have the best shopping experience ever, and overall have a great time. Stay safe and get your geek on!

Future Quest #4

Review: Future Quest #4 “How the Mighty Fall”

Submitted: Ken Trickey, Comic News Writer

31 August 16

Writer: Jeff Parker

Art: Jeff Parker, Evan “Doc” Shaner, and Randall

Our story begins 45,000 years ago when a terrible sky god named Omnikron has returned to wreak havoc on an ancient civilization. Tor, a great warrior, says farewell to his mate, Teela, as he journeys to fight the sky god. When he prepares to do battle, we witness his transformation to Mightor! Springing into action, Mightor cracks Omnikron with a club and takes the monster down before we’re returned to the present day with the Quest Team.

On the Dragonfly jet, Dr. Quest along with Birdman and Gravity Girl endeavor to figure out what is causing the vortices, what creatures are falling out of them, and why F.E.A.R. is so keen on them. Gravity Girl is still recovering from her crash landing in a previous episode and can't yet remember her own name, much less Space Ghost and their battle with Omnikron.

Another vortex appears in front of the Quest jet, causing serious turbulence forcingRace Bannon to make an emergency landing. Space Ghost surfaces briefly in the vortex, and we see a small child separated from his parents. An allosaurus spills out the vortex and attacks the boy, but before his short life is ended by this malicious monster, he is scooped up by a Neanderthal and rushed through the woods towards the Quest Team. Race eliminates the allosaurus with one shot. Lastly, Blip, Gravity Girl’s monkey companion, draws a picture that triggers her memory so she can recall her name.

In the next panel, we realize that Dr. Zin and his F.E.A.R. Agents have captured Jace from the same crashed spaceship Jan arrived in. Zin has realized that Omnikron is too dangerous to allow him to come through the vortex. He sends orders to F.E.A.R. Agent Jade to capture one of Zin’s old colleagues, Linda Kim-Conroy. They plan on retrieving Kim-Conroy by abducting her son, Buzz. But they won't get away with it if his robot friend, Frankenstein Jr., has anything to say about it!

The Verdict: This comic is a fun romp through time and space, combining some of Hanna-Barbera’s greatest heroes into one grand adventure. Omnikron is both terrifying and interesting. For anyone who was a fan of He Man, Johnny Quest, and Space Ghost, it is very cool to see them all in one place and with a few more friends. This is a fun, lighthearted comic that would be suitable for anyone who wants a comic that isn't dark and gritty or one not too interested in realism.

Justice League of America # 9

Review: Justice League of America # 9 “Power and Glory Part Eight”

Submitted: Ken Trickey, Comic News Writer

31 August 16

Writer: Bryan Hitch

Inker: Daniel Henriques

Justice League of America #9 is the eighth installment of the “Power and Glory” story arc. Before diving into this review, a word of caution—if this is your first issue in the series, I would recommend you go back and read the previous issues first. The story is difficult enough when it’s read in the proper order. I doubt anyone would be able to understand it otherwise.

At the conclusion of the seventh issue of “Power and Glory”, Batman and Cyborg managed to disconnect the Kryptonian god, Rao, from his billions of followers on Earth. Victory, however, came with a heavy cost. Clark Kent, Superman, is dead. The Green Lantern is still stranded on Krypton 250,000 years in the past. Lastly, while Rao’s connection to his followers has been severed, he is still a Kryptonian under the glow of the Earth’s yellow sun, and therefore possesses the same abilities as Superman. Without our own Kryptonian available to fight him, Earth is in grave peril.

The initial two thirds of this issue shift between the Flash and Green Lantern on Krypton.

If you've been keeping up with this story arc, you may remember a scene in part six involving the Flash and Vince’s team in which their location was mysteriously labeled, “Somewhere”. That somewhere is Rao’s cathedral, traveling through space before it landed on Earth. The Stones of Forever have brought them here in search of Rao’s Stones of Life. Vincent, the Flash, Alexis, and Jane dash out of the Infinity Corporation building as the Forever Stones continue to act erratically, emitting dangerous amounts of energy and singing, “They’re here. They’re here.” As the four exit the building bickering at one another, they are met by Rao’s prophets. Surrounded, it appears Rao’s prophets are prepared for a fight when Rao himself emerges and tells them there’s no need for violence. Rao explains that Vincent’s Stones of Forever from Earth are singing to Rao’s Stones of Life from Krypton. This intrigues Vincent, and he agrees to show Rao his stones, hoping to gain vital information that has eluded his team for years.

It is during this conversation that the Flash reveals he has only met one other Kryptonian, Superman, on Earth. If this seems strange, remember this is before the Flash fought Rao in part seven. In fact, it appears that Rao’s knowledge of Earth and Superman spawned entirely from this moment.

As soon as Rao feels he has heard enough of the information Vincent has to offer, he betrays them by ordering his prophets to convert them. Vincent is struck, but manages to resist the conversion. No doubt this will be an issue of importance in a future installment of the series.

The Flash easily dispatches Rao and his prophets. Without the yellow glow of Earth’s sun, these Kryptonians aren't any more formidable against the Flash than normal humans. The Flash and Vince’s team manage to escape and are transported back to a power plant to fight Rao and Parasite in the scene from part seven.

Back on Krypton, 250,000 years in the past, Green Lantern has had better days. He is currently being held captive in the citadel of Argo by the Rao from the future. Rao has disabled Green Lantern’s ring, and there doesn't seem to be any viable method of escape.

The Rao from the past and the Rao from the future argue about their legacy. Past Rao believes his future self has lost touch with their original intention: to serve Krypton and to calm the people who war on themselves so they may advance and better their lives. Rao from the future argues his world no longer experiences hardships such as war, disease, and famine. His followers call out his name in worship and joy. The fact that he will live indefinitely and his followers will die a few years before their time seems a fine trade off to this Rao.

After this discussion, Rao from the past brings food to Green Lantern in his cell. We learn through their conversation that Rao from the future is converting all of Krypton’s warriors and siphoning off their power. Slowly but surely, it becomes clear Rao arrived on Krypton in this distant past directly after the final battle on Earth in part seven. His intention is finally made clear: to transport ancient Krypton back to present day Earth for a rematch with the Justice League of America (JLA). With an army of thousands of super charged Kryptonians, does the JLA stand a chance? Certainly not without Superman.

Back on Earth, Diana has been administering CPR to Superman for fifteen minutes. The remainder of the JLA tries to convince Wonder Woman there's no hope at this point. Superman isn't coming back. Unable to accept the death of their friend, Diana lashes out with the thunderbolt of Zeus, striking Superman in the chest with what essentially becomes a divine defibrillator. Finally, after much hand-wringing, our Man of Steel draws breath once again. The celebrations are cut short, however, by the arrival of ancient Krypton.

Finally! At long last all of our heroes are in one place, relatively speaking, and more importantly at the same time. But does the JLA stand a chance of combating an army of Kryptonians with the same abilities as Superman? How much more dangerous can Rao be now as he feeds from their life force? What hope could Earth possibly have? We will have to wait for part nine for the answers to these troubling questions, but the Rao from the past has placed his bets on Green Lantern, who has just escaped from Argo with his ring restored.

The Verdict: Although this story arc is difficult to follow, it is a fun ride. Rao is a compelling character. A Kryptonian god? I don't believe DC has explored a story similar to this one. It is interesting to imagine what must be going through Superman’s mind. Krypton, an ancient dead world, has suddenly not only sprung to life but arrived on his adopted doorstep. Upon meeting Rao, Superman was enamored with him. Now he knows Rao has tampered with Kryptonian DNA to elicit this response. Superman has been genetically modified to worship Rao without question. But for the distrustful nature of Batman, and his heeding for Clark to come to his senses, Superman might not have been able to break Rao’s spell until it was too late. This issue is intended to explain Rao’s plan. While it can be a bit confusing, when you finally grasp what his intentions are, it is both satisfying and exciting. I’m looking forward to an epic battle between the JLA and Rao’s Kryptonian army in the upcoming ninth installment of “Power and Glory”!