This year marked the first ever Atlantic City Boardwalk Con (ACBC), and although the event produced some disappointments, its ambitiousness was commendable.
ACBC took a gamble (pun intended) and aimed considerably high
for its first ever event, and who can blame them? NYCC became the biggest comic
convention event last year so it’s easy to understand others would try to
follow suit in hope to mimic its success. Unfortunately, ACBC didn’t hit a
jackpot.
ACBC was held at the spacious Atlantic City Convention
Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The floor was so spacious that it made walking
around surprisingly enjoyable and stress-free. Granted, the number of attendees
is nowhere near NYCC’s, so foot traffic angst was a non-issue. Other great
things about the event’s location: transportation hubs, shopping outlet,
hotels, casinos, boardwalk and beach all within walking distance.
The exhibits, panels, shows, and events were all
satisfactory. However, ACBC was also plagued with multiple cancellations and
last minute changes that left plenty of attendees confused and disappointed. Numerous
celebrity guests were not able to make it including the cast of Agents of
S.H.I.E.L.D. and Tom Cavanagh of the hit TV show, The Flash. Some panels were also
cancelled and some were changed but the biggest letdown was the no-show of
Stan Lee. People who paid big bucks for a VIP meet and greet with him cried
foul and demanded a refund.
The official ACBC Saturday Night Afterhours Party, hosted by
Club Cosplay didn’t exactly leave up to the attendees’ expectations as well. The
most epic costume party it was not. Yes, there were some good beats and
energetic DJs but that’s about it. There were neither props on display nor
strobe lights directed on the dance floor that would really make you get on the
groove. Aesthetically, it was bland.
Just as any other newly born cons, a few hiccups are to be
expected but it is how the organizers handle said hiccups that make the
difference. They get a slight pass for being a rookie but with all the big cons
as a reference, they should have had a better contingency plan – especially a
refund policy. Fortunately, they will learn from this and will only get better. Despite
some obvious misgivings, ACBC did its best to accommodate everyone by providing
eclectic choices for all types of fandom and that for me is a win. It may not
be a jackpot but it’s a win nonetheless.
BY: Jovanni Febrero
