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ACen or Anime Central is happening this weekend (May 16th through the 18th) at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, and we're psyched! Sandwiched between C2E2 and Nightmare Weekend, but ACen is its own special beast. Known throughout the Midwest as a cosplay mecha, it's not unreasonable to expect more than half the attendees to show up in full cosplay. People watching is one of our favorite activities here, admiring the artistry and detail people put into their work. To go along with this, ACen is host to dozens of themed cosplay meet up groups and one of the biggest cosplay contests in the region.  If cosplay isn’t your thing, there’s still lots to enjoy though-- from anime creator panels, to autograph signings. You can enjoy some video game tournaments, take lessons in Dungeons and Dragons , or even do some arts and crafts: it’s all here for you. Did I mention the two giant dance parties that occur after hours in the hotel across the street? ACen tends to go late into the evenings with these raves as well as old style 80’s anime watch parties in the side rooms. There’s always something going on during ACen weekend, so let’s dive into some of the events you’ll have access to if you are attending ACen 2025! Friday, May 16th Opening Ceremonies start at 10AM and can help you to get sneak previews of what’s to come. Start by the front entrance to see an art piece created by Pepper Ink that will continue to be worked on throughout the weekend. At 11AM check out a spotlight on AMV creators to see what’s new in the fan space regarding some of the best anime of 2023 at the Hyatt. If you are less into that, you could take some lessons with the How To Run Tabletop RPG’s 101 class or go to the community stage for the Super KPOP Random Dance Play . There are also live demos and lessons regarding many of the popular trading card games like Lorcana , Gundam , Dragon Ball Fusion World , Magic the Gathering and Digimon . All at 11AM.  If you are looking to get active , there are formal dance lessons at noon and a virtual reality gaming zone opening at the same time . You can watch a live drawing event with famed anime creator Akio Watanabe at 1PM , and there’s an exciting panel of Hiroyasu Kobayashi and Dan Kanemitsu from Studio Khara who are currently working on Shin Godzilla , Gundam GQuuuuuuX , R ebuild of Evangelion and more at 3:30PM! Then later there’s Sparks and Spirits with Satomi Arai , who has voiced some of anime's most beloved characters. She will be doing a panel discussing her time on Loveless , Digimon Frontier , Trinity Blood , Hell Gir l, and even the video game Octopath Traveler II .  The hot ticket though for Friday is Thunderbolt Fantasy The Final Chapter Movie US Premiere presented by Studio Pili . If you haven’t checked out Thunderbolt Fantasy, it’s a full show created using traditional Taiwanese puppets. It went for a full 4 seasons with the movie being premiered on Friday at 7PM. Also don’t forget the Friday SoapBubble event which is a full on foam party with 7 DJs lined up, so dance the night away! Saturday, May 17th Saturday starts strong with Talking Games with Keith Silverstein , a voice artist providing a history of Voice Over in Video Games panel at 10AM . Then a Sailor Moon panel with famed drag queen Oriana Peron, as she takes time to roast everyone’s favorite anime at 11AM. At noon we’re checking in with The Work of Hiroyasu Kobayashi , a CGI art director who helped build the world of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX . If you want something a little different, check the Health + Medicine in Anime to see how anime has represented our health systems in society at 3PM.   One of my personal favorite events is 4:30 Pm's Oriana Peron’s Drag Cosplay Show . Watch these queens slay in the nerdiest drag show this weekend! Then check out Stage Combat Basics with Kamen Casey at 5PM if you want to get some tips from a hollywood specialist who’s been in the likes of Black Adam and Landman . Then, the biggest cosplay contest in the midwest: The ACen Masquerade at 6PM. This year promises to be one of the best! Also at 7PM is All About Dandadan ! With the cast of Dandadan Abby Trott, AJ Beckles, Anairis Quinones, Ben Diskin, Kari Wahlgren and Kirk Thornton. If you’ve seen any of the anime you know this promises to be a wild ride.  You can close out Saturday with musical Dungeons and Dragons improv, 18 and older Oregon Trail play alongs and finally Synergy, the Saturday night dance party in the main Hyatt ballroom. I’m tellin’ you! These parties go late.  Sunday May 18th After two days of partying, maybe you want to wind down with an Influential Women in Japanese History Panel at 10AM , or take in a rousing Taiko drum performance at 11 . Keith Silverstein is hosting a panel at Noon about The Art of Being Evil , speaking on his time voicing villains in such animes like Hunter X Hunter , Bleach , Naruto , Persona 5 and My Hero Academia . There’s also a Mobile Suit Gundam 46 year retrospective panel at 2:30PM. Throughout the entire weekend there will be gaming tournaments both tabletop and video games, cosplay photo meet ups and children’s read along events every single day. There’s so much to do, so many vendors to check out and a massive artist alley. ACen really is an all around convention that appeals to families and partiers alike. Don’t believe me? Check last years coverage where I wrote about attending ACen 2024 with my mother!

Screenshot: Doom: The Dark Ages. Via Steam. Doom is an iconic franchise. Though there is little resemblance between my childhood Doom and what is being published by Bethesda, I really can’t complain. The Doom franchise popularized first person shooters to the point where the entire shooter genre was known as “ Doom clones” for years before it took on its current moniker. It’s no surprise, then, that there has been some change up to the formula over the years.  Screenshot: Doom: The Dark Ages. Via Steam. While I know Doom: Eternal has a loyal fanbase, I’m someone who much preferred Doom (2016). Doom: The Dark Ages doesn’t exactly return to the 2016 formula, but it gives back the freedom to use whatever weapon you prefer in any given situation. It also takes away the ability to double jump, instead planting the Doom Slayer firmly on the ground. To make up for his lack of mobility, he’s given a shield/chainsaw hybrid known as the Shield Saw and the ability to parry attacks.  The combat in The Dark Ages is definitely a return to form, in my opinion. The ability to choose the weapons I want in the situations I want to use them in is my preferred way to play any shooter. If I want to lean on the super shotgun and use that for most of my run, no problem. Or if I find a new pet weapon–like the Chainshot–I can experiment and find what its strengths and weaknesses are. Screenshot: Doom: The Dark Ages. Via Steam. The biggest change to the Doom formula, and perhaps this game’s ‘gimmick’ is the Shield Saw. It changes Doom from a movement based shooter to a movement based shooter with the ability to parry certain attacks. It’s great. It also benefits from an upgrade system where you can choose between four runes that change the shield’s behavior when parrying.  Because your chainsaw-imbued shield takes up the secondary fire button, that removes the secondary fire function from the game. But that is made up for by a fun upgrade system that takes weapons you already love and turns them into better versions of themselves. Screenshot: Doom: The Dark Ages. Via Steam. The Dark Ages doesn’t shy away from its medieval theme, especially when it comes to the weaponry. I think that’s why The Dark Ages keeps getting compared to games like Heretic, Hexen, and Quake . The original Doom is where the traditional first person weapon toolset originated, so to see the series take on a more fantasy approach to its weaponry is definitely a departure. All of the weapons feel fun to use–even if all of them don’t always sound as chunky or impactful as they should. I’d love to say that I used every weapon all the time, but I leaned on my four favorites and didn’t even touch the others once I got their replacement. One of the best changes to the modern Doom trilogy is how many enemies are thrown at you at once now. I really appreciate the scale of the fights in The Dark Ages . We’re far removed from fighting four or five demons at a time. Expect to encounter entire fields of demonic forces to rip and tear through. Some of these encounters gave me classic Serious Sam vibes, and that’s never a bad thing.  Screenshot: Doom: The Dark Ages. Via Steam. Maps in The Dark Ages  can feel a bit large. There are huge open arenas to accommodate the large fights you’ll find yourself in. Each level has a few secrets scattered about, some of which require a fair bit of backtracking.This is an element that ends up feeling old school in a way. But I was never a fan of collect-a-thons, and while The Dark Ages manages a few amusing puzzles, adding weapon upgrade materials to the list of collectibles makes searching these large maps mandatory if you want to unlock the full potential of your weaponry. I don’t hate the environments in The Dark Ages , but it made me miss fighting through cramped sci-fi corridors with flickering lights. While Doom (2016) seemed to thumb its nose at the proclivity for developers to add too much exposition to their action games, Eternal ignored that, pulling back the curtain a tad too far in the process. The Dark Ages has a similar love for expository cutscenes, and they’re not great. The human character models look strange, and much of the time these cutscenes feature lingering shots on serious, silent faces and the occasional grunt.  The soundtrack tries to do its part, but it's The Dark Age’s weakest component. Nowhere near the greatness that was Mick Gordon’s run at the Doom soundtrack, the backing tracks for The Dark Ages  come and go with hardly a standout. The soundtracks were such a huge part of modern Doom , The Dark Age’s substandard offering stands out–or rather doesn’t stand out.  Screenshot: Doom: The Dark Ages. Via Steam. The biggest blemish on The Dark Ages are the tedious mech and dragon sequences. While seeing the dragon spread its lazer wings the first time is cool, the gameplay does not match up. Dodging projectiles in flight is fine, I guess, but it feels like a chore more than an engaging part of gameplay. The mech sections are even worse, and I found myself wishing for a level skip. I know without these sections The Dark Ages would be hours shorter, but I think removing them would have made the whole experience better. But then Bethesda would have a harder time justifying its AAA price tag. If you would have gone back and told kid me that Doom would turn into a series where you’re flying dragons with lazer wings while battling interdimensional demons on alien worlds, I would have thought it sounded awesome. And it is. But Doom: The Dark Ages is a great eight to ten hour game trapped in a fifteen hour package. Take away the excessive mech fights and flying sequences and you have a much better game. It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t type situation for id Software and Bethesda.  Doom: The Dark Ages is available now on Steam .

Photo: Alex Orona Nightmare Weekend Chicago, presented by GalaxyCon, is a small scale celebration of all things horror for us here in the Midwest. A bit smaller than the C2E2’s and Fan Expos of the world, it had no shortage of star power, events and sights to see throughout its aisles.  Let’s dig into what made Nightmare Weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center a must see con for horror fans.  Starting off with the big ticket items: celebrities. Of course, being a horror con, you’d expect to see classic icons such as Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), but adding in Kayvan Novak and Harvey Guillen from What We Do In The Shadows gives some real star power.  Photo: Marielle Bokor Also amongst the notable celebs was director Sean Cunningham, who appeared with Ari Levine for a Friday the 13th panel, where he teased a brand new video game and upcoming TV series, and Eli Roth alongside the cast of his slasher horror movie Thanksgiving. James Marsters of Buffy fame was also onsite, not just for a panel but for an evening concert, and you could also get autographs or spend panel time with, Matt Ryan, Chris Kattan, Barry Bostwick, Clint Howard, and Dermot Mulroney. These names are massive for what you’d expect at a con like this and it really impressed us how accessible the panels were.  Photo: Marielle Bokor Most celebrity panels were on the show floor with an open floor set up which makes for no limitation on seating capacity. That’s always a plus in my book, when some of the bigger names at other cons tend to fill up instantly, leaving fans with no way to see them without waiting in long lines for hours.  For those of you looking to spend some money, there was so much fantastic horror and fantasy themed art, jewelry and other home made goods available. Everything from candles to plushes, and even hot sauces.  These cons are rough on our wallets personally as we take time to search for some of the best they have to offer, and this con had a lot. Who doesn’t need a custom ouija board or Fallout bobblehead. There’s something here for everybody.  Another thing that stood out about Nightmare Weekend compared to other cons is that this one tends to skew towards the late night, with events occurring all the way until 2am. Cosplay Burlesque, horror comedy shows and late night dance parties were all on the docket here and they were bumpin’. There was even a cosplay wrestling event with a full cast of horror icons duking it out in a giant ring set up on the main show floor! All in all, we had a great time feeling our spookiest, and welcome the return of Nightmare Weekend next year.

Screenshot: Drop Duchy. Via Steam. An ancient video game proverb says that you shouldn’t mix too many genres together, lest you water them both down and end up producing some hodgepodge creation that ends up not being very fun. That hasn’t been true for a long time now, but sometimes it pops back up in my mind when I play a game that fails to blend genres in a satisfying way. And I couldn’t get that out of my head the entire time I was playing Drop Duchy . Drop Duchy is a puzzle game that mixes tetrimino puzzling and a bit of real time strategy. I mean, kind of. It’s not really fair to call it real time strategy, but it’s not quite a colony builder, either. On Drop Duchy ’s store page on Steam, it describes it a “rogue-lite hybrid,” which is another ingredient in this slurry: roguelite deckbuilding.  Screenshot: Drop Duchy. Via Steam. All of these things are things I like. I admit I haven’t been playing a lot of real-time strategy games and colony builders lately, but I’m a sucker for Tetris , puzzlers, and I’m always up for some roguelike deckbuilding, especially Monster Train and Slay the Spire .  Drop Duchy plays out in essentially two phase: the puzzle phase, where you place your blocks and your enemy’s blocks in a pseudo game of Tetris . Like Tetris , all of the regular tetriminoes are there, but there are a couple of extra shapes. The Tetris portion of Drop Duchy is a head scratcher to me. The challenge behind the original Tetris is the time pressure as the blocks descend. Drop Duchy has no such time pressure. This makes sense, as you would have to strategize where to put your pieces while also figuring out what those pieces do. Each completed line in Drop Duchy gives you the resources based on what was on that line: gold, wheat, or wood.  The challenge of the Tetris portion isn’t just whether you can make the pieces fit together (which is mostly simple with no time pressure) but also to make them fit where they optimally contribute. Some pieces benefit from being next to certain terrain types (wood vs plains) or in line with other units, etc. Some of these bonuses can give you extra resources, but often these bonuses go towards the amount of soldiers you will accumulate for the combat phase, if there is a combat phase. One huge complaint I have is the fact that while pieces don’t drop like in Tetris , there is a bit of a time pressure as the pieces will automatically place if you hold it in position for too long. And there isn’t an “undo” button to get rid of any misplacements.  Screenshot: Drop Duchy. Via Steam. Combat in Drop Duchy is not great. It uses a rock, paper, scissors type system where one unit type can dominate one other unit type, but is weak to the other one. Except here, the units you gather in gameplay don’t matter as much, as you can use any unit type to reinforce any other unit type.  Just like most other roguelike deck builders since Slay the Spire there is a map between encounters that allows you to choose which of two paths to take. These paths can lead to extra resources, a puzzle scenario, or a combat scenario–along with a few others. Between matches you have the ability to add to the pieces you have by choosing a card to add to your deck. In most roguelike deck builders a lot of the fun comes from the synergies you can get through clever (or lucky) deck building. Drop Duchy doesn’t have that same thrill. Screenshot: Drop Duchy. Via Steam. I hate to condemn Drop Duchy , but it’s a game I couldn’t get into at all. I tried. On paper, it sounds amazing. It has even picked up some decent reviews from players on Steam, where it’s sitting at a 89% user score. Some players seemed to love it so much I even went back in to see what I was missing, purely based on their enthusiasm. But Drop Duchy ’s mixture of mechanics and genres never fell into place for me.  Drop Duchy is available now on Steam.

With con season well under way, it’s time for some of the area’s more specific flavors of convention to shine. Something wicked this way comes this weekend with the kickoff of Nightmare Weekend Chicago in Rosemont at the Donald E. Stephens Convention center, and we’ll have all the freaky, spooky, silly fun on tap all weekend long here at Culture Combine. This is a party that doesn’t stop once it starts, with Friday and Saturday’s schedule stacked from morning til, well, morning again, since some events go straight until 2 am, to say nothing of area after parties.  If you’re the sort of person who starts the countdown to Halloween the day after, has dark decor out all year long, and who loves a great fright, get out your pencils or at least bookmark this post so you won’t miss anything creepy and crucial to your enjoyment of this horror fan fest. I mean, Elvira’s gonna be there!  Friday:  While we do highlight all the celebrity panels, a lot of what makes a convention great comes in the smaller events, where you can meet more people who love the same things you do and hang out while doing fun things.  This is why you should look out for Nightmare Weekend’s Video Game Open Plays, Magic: The Gathering games, and Dungeons and Dragons campaigns , which will be running throughout the convention and are open to everyone from beginners to experts. Kicking off the celebrity panels on Friday is horror icon Clint Howard , whose 5:30 Q&A on the Main Stage in Hall G will get things started right. And yes, his brother is director Ron Howard. If your favorite franchise is Halloween though, you may want to head to Sandy Johnson’s panel instead, which will be at 5:30 on the Fright Stage (Rm 52-53) If you’d rather debate about evil dolls , we suggest Panel Room 2’s Top Ten Evil Dolls and Puppets in Film panel beginning at 5:45 Gamers who love the horror genre might want to step into the G aming Spotlight in the Video Game Area of Hall G for a spotlight on Zombie Shooters which will begin at 6 and run through 8:15. Play your cards right and you might be able to get some zombie shooting in and then have Dana Snyder Waste an Hour of Your Time on the Fright Stage from 6:30 to 7:30 . We’re not sure what to expect, but it will probably be weird and hilarious. If Constantine is a staple film in your world, don’t miss Matt Ryan’s Q&A at 6:45 - 7:30 on the Main Stage. If you’re a little tired of panels and walking the floor , we recommend hitting up Bad Horror Movie and Color in Rm 41, 7:30 -9 pm . It’s bound to be relaxing and gives you a little time to refresh before all the late night stuff, to include… Friday’s VIP party (which you do need a VIP badge for) which kicks off at 9pm back on the Fright Stage , and the Nightmare Weekend Chicago After Dark Cosplay Contest (18+) which runs from 9:15pm - 10:15 on the Main Stage. The free-for-all party starts at 10pm with Rave to the Grave ft. DJ Awesomus Prime , but if you really want to get saucy, GalaxyCon After Dark will be presenting nerdlesque in video format at its 10:45pm show on the Main Stage (18+) only.  Saturday:  Saturday begins bright and early but it also runs straight through to 2 am, so pick your battles. You COULD play Floor is Lava with your kids in the Family Zone any time from 10 am to 8 pm , so don’t think you’ll miss all the fun if you take some time to sleep in. Another fun family move would be to head to Marty Grabstein’s Q&A at 11 am on the Fright Stage where he’ll talk Courage the Cowardly Dog. Meanwhile, Jack Dylan Grazer will take the Main Stage to talk It and probably lots of other things, including his role in the DCU, beginning at 11:30.   If you’re at all into effects, you know who Robert Kurtzman is, and you’re going to want to make sure you make it to his panel, which is also on the Main Stage and begins at noon . We’re sure he’ll have plenty of amazing things to show and tell. Gamers who want to play some favorites with a twist may want to check out Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate - a run of Betrayal with a Baldur’s Gate spin, over in Hall G from 12-1:30 pm. Local “ghosties” if we can call you that, you’re going to want to find out more about The Haunting History of Lincoln Park: Spirits of the Old City Cemetery from 12:15- 1:15 pm in Panel Roo m 1, and then plan your next trip! Trekkies and horror fans alike will have a great time sitting down with William Shatner , whose featured panel is at 12:30 - 1:15 pm on the Main Stage. Expect space talks and whatever else he feels is important to come up. The real horror royalty takes the stage at 1:30 pm though, since Cassandra Peterson, who’s also known as Elvira herself , will be in attendance and ready to tackle fan questions. She’s on the Main Stage , obvi, and is one of the panels we think you’ll want to bookmark to make sure you get to on time or early. Get some practical knowledge and find out more about SFX at the SFX Makeup Panel  in Rm 2 from 12:45 - 1:45 pm.  And, at 2:30, if you’re a Walking Dead fan, you should be shambling towards your seat in the Main Stage for the Walking Dead Q&A, which will feature Chandler Riggs, Denise Crosby, Ross Marquand, Michael Cudlitz & Greg Nicotero Meanwhile, Chicago local and Cloverfield star Michael Stahl - David will have his Q&A  on the Fright Stage in Rm 52, 53  at 4:15 -5:00 pm. Unless you’re totally terrified of clown s, Joey D’Auriam, who played Bozo the Clown, shouldn’t scare you too much, but if he’s a big part of your childhood like he was ours, you’ll want to head to his Q&A from 5:15 to 6 pm on the Fright Stage.  Friday the 13th is a big franchise for so many, and if you’re one of those many, make time to see the Friday the 13th Q&A featuring Ari Lehman and Sean Cunningham from 5:30 - 6:15 on the Main Stage.  There’s no shortage of Trekkies wandering around a horror convention, and no shortage of Trek folks who have amazing horror resumes, so if you’re one of us and want to get a little Trek in your con experience, trek over to Panel Room 2 at 5:45 to discuss Star Trek’s Scariest Shows!  Buffy fans should really check out James Marsters in Concert , a paid event that will nonetheless absolutely slay. This begins with a Sound Check at the Fright Stage at 7:30 followed by the concert at 8. If you’re super hyped for all things What We Do in the Shadows , then you’d best be headed for Fangs for the Memories: A What We Do in the Shadows Fan Panel in Panel Room 1 (Rm 48) at 8 to get all the hype for the cast appearances coming on Sunday. If you can’t get enough cosplay, head to the Nightmare Weekend Chicago Costume Competition on the Main Stage at 8:30 - 9:30 pm. This one’s not an after dark, so all ages can attend. One of our other strong recommendations is that you do the time warp again. Midnight Madness: Rocky Horror Shadow Cast ft. Barry Bostwick, showing from 10 pm to 12:15 am features Barry Bostwick himself , has a full shadow cast, and will likely be some of the most fun you’ll have at a convention.  Want more? Vampires should block off 11 - 1 am for Main Stage Nightmare Weekend After Dark's Club Vampyre But if you’re a little more low key after a long day , you should think about hitting up Panel Room 2 from 11:15- 1am for the  B Movie Screening of Swamp Ape which might not be a good movie, but it’ll certainly be a good time. Sunday:  Sundays are usually good days to bring your kiddos along at a convention , as they’re a little less crowded and there’s a little less rushing around to do. (But also, sales! Most vendors tend to have some pretty kick-ass booth specials as they’re tearing down, if you stick around that long) In the Family Zone, kick it off with Spooky Cartoons and Coloring or fort building. Hit up the Walking Dead Cosplay Meetup for some run-ins with other zombies and survivors in the Cosplay Lounge at 11 , and then wind up for the day’s first celebrity panel, which is… Butch Patrick, aka Eddie Munster, will be available for his Q&A beginning at 11 am on the Fright Stage. Usually, your kids can’t get in on the fun of a fresh tattoo, but everyone can enjoy the Temporary Tattoo Shop which’ll pop up in the Family Zone from 11:15 to 12.   Find something spooky or cool and get it on your skin before you head over to the Hocus Pocus Q&A, featuring Omri Katz and Vinessa Shaw, who will grace us with their presence at 11:30 am in Hall G on the Main Stage Wrestling fans at the horror con should check out Mick Foley and Gangrel’s appearance on the Fright Stage at 12, while the rest of you may want to head over to the Saw retrospective at 12:15 in Room 42. If you’re a Buffy fan, you know what you’ve been waiting for, and it’s Spoike…er, James Marsters. He’ll be doing the Q&A song and dance at 12:30 on the Main Stage , and we can’t wait. He’s frequently been one of our favorite panelists to appear at any con - Intelligent, musical, funny and thoughtful.  Meanwhile, if you’ve been like “Hey, why are all the ghosts haunting Chicago, and not Schaumburg?”, then find out more about your Libertyville spookies and Gurnee ghosties with the Voices from the Grave: Haunted Legends from the Chicago Suburbs in Panel Room 1, Rm 48, from 12:30 - 1:30 pm. Rocky Horror fans, don’t miss Barry Bostwick on the Fright Stage at 1pm.  Finally, if you lived through Scream times, it’s Scream times again on the Main Stage at 1:30 pm and you’ll have Dermot Mulroney and Liana Liberato to bounce questions off of. Scary little children should line up early for the Nightmare Weekend Kids Costume Contest which will kick off at 2 on the Fright Stage, and parents might want to stay put right after, as the What We Do in the Shadows Q&A with Harvey Guillen and Kayvan Novak is right after at 2:30. Ancient Aliens folks? Your ship has finally come in (again, for some of you, we’re sure) as Ancient Aliens’ star Giorgio A Tsoukalos has his Q&A moment on the Fright Stage from 3:15-  4. If you’re stuffing your schedule full of good horror things, then think about Thanksgiving as a way to round out your time at Nightmare Weekend. This Q&A -  with Alex Armbruster, Eli Roth, Gabriel Davenport, Jeff Teravainen, Joe Delfin, Karen Cliche, and Nell Verlaque will have you feeling full of thanks.  Or, kick back with some healthy debate before you go and discuss the Best Horror TV Shows -  in Panel Rm 1 from 4:45 - 5:45. Friends will be made, voices will be raised…and maybe you can get a nice dinner afterwards with your brand new con friends. Any way you slice it, this is a weekend to embrace the spook, shop for your next ritu…Halloween party or get some horror memorabilia you couldn’t find elsewhere. But also: shake the hands of the ones who scared you, and dive deeper into all things horror. That’s what these things are about. We’ll see you on site all weekend!

Our only hope as of 3 am ET 4/24. Not lookin' too good. It's no secret we here at Culture Combine are (usually) buying what Nintendo's selling. Most of us are lifelong fans of all things Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Kirby, Yoshi, Toad and, well, everything. Some of us even pre-ordered Alarmo. So it's no surprise that at this time there's at least 2/3 of our staff looking to snag a release day Switch 2. And...at least based on our research here in Chicago, we're in line with pretty much everyone else, several hours past the midnight ET pre-order window opening. Wal-Mart and Best Buy are our frontrunners but at nearly 3 AM ET, we're pretty sure the Switch 2 is going to be in another castle. We'll wait and see what develops though, as Nintendo promised we wouldn't see the scarcity we saw with the original Switch.

Sean Astin, Elijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd and John Rhys-Davies @ C2E2 2025. Photo: Marielle Bokor Full cast reunions are hard to come by, but this year’s C2E2 boasted one every single day of the con . And when you kick off the entire event with the Lord of the Rings cast, you know you’re starting on a great note. The filming of an epic adventure based on one of the most influential fantasy novels of all time is in itself an epic adventure. There’s nothing simple about taking Tolkien’s work and translating it to the big screen in a way that accurately represents the scale and scope of the story. But that’s exactly what Peter Jackson did with his amazing trilogy of films, alongside an amazing cast that provided some truly once-in-a-lifetime performances.  LOTR Cast Members: John Rhys-Davies, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, Elijah Wood and panel moderator Ashley V Robinson @C2E2 2025. Photo: Marielle Bokor Friday’s Lord of the Rings Reunion panel included Sean Astin, John Rhys-Davies, Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd, and it was clear from moment one that they weren’t just happy to see each other - they were thick as thieves, and as a fan of the series who loves nothing more than the power of friendship, watching the cast hug, laugh, and make playful jabs just brought a smile to my face - and I’m sure the faces of many of the packed room’s patrons. The making of such a film series is no easy feat, and while all the cast members ultimately remember it fondly, they all also recall how difficult it was. Sean Astin remarked that at one point, as the filming in New Zealand hit the five month mark, he wondered if he could go on, though he was also quick to mention that he “could not possibly have greater fortune in life than to be in Lord of the Rings. " Sean Astin, Elijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, and John Rhys Davies @C2E2 2025. Photo: Marielle Bokor It’s clear that the time spent on set was emotional for everyone though. Even Rhys-Davies, who, with a glint in his eye made mischief during the panel, joking about everything including ‘those bloody elves' in true dwarven fashion, had emotional moments they recalled.  Several of the cast mentioned moments like when Frodo and Gandalf sail to Rivendell, recalling that the scene absolutely destroyed them, as well as in Return of the King, when Aragorn says “you shall bow to no one, my friends.”  Sean Astin, Elijah Wood and Dominic Monaghan @C2E2 2025. Photo: Marielle Bokor There was also a lot of talk about what “precious” items the cast may have kept from filming. Dominic Monaghan seemed like he had a lot to say about this, mentioning that he once saw a fake auction for the sword he carried (which was actually presented to him) before Astin quipped that Monaghan couldn’t assume we’re all friends here when ‘they’re asking about larceny.’ S Still, it turns out the cast was actually gifted with many precious items, including the hobbit feet they used, backpacks they carried, swords and parts of their costumes, as filming wrapped. Photo: Sean Astin @C2E2 2025 But Astin had a more personal story to tell that made him emotional even in the panel room. When filming in New Zealand on sacred land, the film’s production team wanted to pay proper respects. This meant the inclusion of Maori tribe elders, who impressed upon the cast and crew their need to respect the land and be stewards of it while they were there. At the time of this first meeting with the tribe, Astin’s daughter, who played Elanor in Return of the King, was just a baby.  Two years later, as filming wrapped up, and the Maori tribesmen returned with blessings for the cast, they also presented his daughter with a sized up version of the dress she’d worn originally. Another full circle moment, and another wonderful story we’re so glad to have gotten to hear. We could’ve listened to them reminisce for hours, but alas, we had other amazing fandoms to celebrate and plenty more to do on the show floor.

Photo: Julian Ramirez When you start off a convention with a healthy helping of Hobbitses, dwarves and all manner of Middle Earth folks, you know it's gonna be an epic journey. C2E2 certainly doesn't believe in the slow start, although as of publishing time today Friday was a walk in the park compared to trying to get anywhere near the convention center for the 40th anniversary of a seminal film of our time by none other than John Hughes that features the first ever convention appearance of the full cast right here where it was shot. That's another story (Spoilers: we actually made it and we'll post that article ASAP just in case you were caught in the world's most intense traffic like half our team was. That Breakfast Club panel likely broke records though. More on that later. For NOW, rest your weary feet (since you probably walked from lot X) and check out some of the amazing cosplay we saw at C2E2 for Day 1! Photos by: Julian Ramirez, Marielle Bokor

Photo: Aaron Cynic It'd be hard to talk about Saturday at C2E2 2025 without using words like huge, gargantuan, insane, packed, crazy and ... at capacity. Ask anyone, including our amazing team of writers and photographers. The Breakfast Club reunion caused the Lake Shore Drive ramp in Chicago to back all the way up on to I-55 from around 9 am to 11 am, with lines to park and drop off congoers stretching at least four blocks. Now, we've been to a few of these. One of us has been to 11 of these. But we've never quite seen anything like the pull of a full on cast reunion for one of John Hughes' most revered films. Was it hectic? Sure. Was it disappointing for a lot of fans who hoped that a con held at a place like the largest such building in the Western Hemisphere would have room for everyone who wanted to see the panel to see it. Alas, such things are not possible at most major conventions featuring ridiculous celebrity lineups. And that's why you have to meet a convention where it's at, and learn to enjoy the things you do have access to. Like cosplay. The thing about C2E2 is that without realizing it, all the people packing Saturday's halls are also mingling with cosplay royalty. And since there's a global championship to decide at night, no one else who shows up on Saturday in cosplay wants to look like a slouch. Indeed, Saturday's the day to see and be seen with your finest cosplay, and everyone knows it. Lucky for us, when it's so many everyones, that means a massive gallery of insane costuming prowess thanks to our amazing con photographers: Julian Ramirez, Aaron Cynic, and Marielle Bokor. Feast your eyes on these amazing cosplayers fantastic Saturday 'fits.

Photo: Aaron Cynic Saturday morning opened up with a very special reunion from the cast of the iconic John Hughes movie, The Breakfast Club, celebrating the 40th year since its release.  “This is like having your high school reunion filmed on camera in real time,” Josh Horowitz, host of the Happy Sad Confused podcast and moderator joked to Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Emilio Estevez, and Anthony Michael Hall as they took their seats onstage.  For the first time in 40 years, the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess, and the criminal shared a stage together in what really did feel like a high school reunion. Photo: Aaron Cynic “I feel really very emotional and moved to have us all together,” said Ringwald. “This is the first time Emilio has joined us. We don’t have to use the cardboard cutout anymore. I feel really moved that we’re all together.” Estevez joked that while he skipped all his high school reunions, “this was something I finally felt I needed to do for myself.”  “This one felt special, it’s here in Chicago where we made the film, obviously the 40th anniversary,” said Estevez. “And it just felt like it was time. Somebody told me ‘does Emilio just not like us’ and that broke my heart. Of course, I love all of them. And it just made sense, so here I am.” Photo: Aaron Cynic Nelson said that while The Breakfast Club doesn’t come up every day with people, it holds a special place in a lot of hearts.  “Certain people, you can see it in their eyes, that they have a memory of you and it’s from that film. And it’s very specific, it’s very recognizable to me, and I’m very flattered by it,” said Nelson. “I consider The Breakfast Club to be an incredibly fast horse. You don’t need to use a crop, you don’t need to use your spurs, you just gotta try and stay on till the end of the race.” Photo: Aaron Cynic The cast spent some time reminiscing about shooting in Chicago at a young age.  “I remember John taking us to all these great places like Kingston Mines and all these great blues clubs. He would take us to record stores and all this fun stuff,” said Hall.  “We saw Prince here. And James Brown,” added Ringwald.  “We work six days a week so you have one night off, Saturday night. Emilo and I and Ally are old enough to legally drink. Molly and Michael are not," noted Judd. "They also have to log hours in school with a tutor during the day while making the movie. Ally stays in her room mostly. I have no idea what goes on in there. So Saturday night, Emilio and I would drive into Chicago from Des Plaines. It’s 1983/84. We cannot find a single place on Division or Rush streets that will let in a guy wearing sneakers and a guy wearing motorcycle boots. We find one place called the Jazz Bulls which no longer exists anymore. They let us in and didn’t care, so we enjoyed Chicago - the city - for three hours once a week.” Photo: Aaron Cynic Ally Sheedy said she didn’t see a script for the film until after she was cast. “John just called up and said I want you to come in,” said Sheedy. “He didn’t give me a script. He was just talking to me about Allison, just a little bit. What do you think about this, what do you think about that? I don’t think I saw a script until after I was cast. I had an idea of who Allison was.” Estevez had his own memories of the script and the original readthrough to share. “The first time we all got together, John had organized a readthrough of the script at a hotel in Century City. The night before, I had all my wisdom teeth pulled and I was on pain pills." My agent called and said, "You have to do the readthrough." I said, "Look my face is swollen, I’m on pain pills, I’m bleeding out. " "They said 'No, it’s really important. You have to be there.' "They sent a car for me. Got to the hotel, we did the readthrough and at the end John says, 'I brought the first cut of my movie Sixteen Candles and I want to show it to you.' " He puts the film on and we’re sitting there and I didn’t think I made it through the opening credits and I passed out from the ordeal. I woke up at the end credits and looked at Judd and Judd says ‘I think you’re getting fired.’" Photo: Aaron Cynic Estevez said The Breakfast Club is a movie that stands the test of time. “The fact we’ve all ended up in this film and have this on our resume is…this is one of those movies that stands the test of time,” he said. “Generationally, it’s a crossover film and how lucky we are to have at least one. Many of us have more than just one on our resumes…it’s an extraordinary thing. I think that’s something that people miss out on. That director chose us, we were lucky to be in the right place at the right time to be involved in something like that."

C2E2 has been poppin' off this week at the McCormick Place in Chicago and one of the big highlights was the announcement of the new DC Elseworlds limited series Immortal Legend Batman ; a six issue series co-written by Mat Groom of Radiant Black and art by Erica D’Urso of Captain Marvel. The series will be taking inspiration from Japanese tokusatsu superhero stories and classic westerns mixed with its own Batman spin. With it being an Elseworld series, that means it’s a complete reimagining of that Batman mythos.  “Batman is fiction’s greatest hero, and we wanted to find a way to take everything that’s so great about him—his immense determination, resilience and selflessness—and explore it in a totally new way,” said Groom. “So ,  we’re taking Batman to the stars, turning him into a wandering hero, exploring humanity’s final frontier… and searching out deadly threats he inadvertently released upon the galactic community.” Preorders begin Friday May 23rd with its official release Wednesday August 27th. Follow the adventures of Immortal Legend Batman, Robin and Nightwing as they take on the Shadow creatures that threaten to destroy the universe.

This year's 'premier' Chicago convention really snuck up on us. Just yesterday we were complaining about the snow that was falling...just yesterday, after Third and Fourth False Spring came on a little too intensely. Anyway, that's neither here nor there other than to say, take a jacket but wear layers to this year's convention. Our second piece of unsolicited advice? Plan to arrive early, because most of the panels expected to be the most highly attended have been pushed to the beginning of the day, which means parking will fill up fast and lines will form very early. This is especially relevant to LOTR, Breakfast Club and Critical Role fans, whose panels are the "headliners" of this year's event. You don't have to make a Main Stage panel to have a complete blast at C2E2 though, and we hope you check out some of the lesser known programming. This year there's all sorts of interests represented from the standard comics, superhero and pop culture fare to bellydancing, soldering, fitness, cooking and more. There's a lot of different paths you can take to a good time. Attend a meetup for your favorite fandom. Do some Star Wars Yoga, or pull up a story rug for Drag Story Hour. Check out the new comedy track featuring some amazing improv, standup and more... the con's your oyster! Make your own pearl! It's overwhelming staring at that panel schedule, so we've gone ahead and started you down the DIY Con Weekend Track with this Choose Your Own Adventure Preview. Now it's your job to download the app (so you can set reminders for panels you don't wanna miss and get notifications of time/location changes), find your comfy shoes, pack some snacks and get on the road bright and early for the official opening of con season in Chicago. Friday, April 11th, 2025 'Dawn is ever the hope of men' and if you're an LOTR fan wanting to go on an adventure with the lion's share of the cast of the Lord of the Rings, then it's gonna be when you need to get up and get on the road to get to C2E2. This year's kickoff is for you. There and Back Again: A Lord of the Rings Cast Reunion features Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, John Ryhs-Davies, and Andy Serkis. Crowds are expected for this first big panel on the Main Stage at 11 am , and there's already an overflow room set up for it, so you need to be parked and inside at least an hour or two beforehand if you want to get up close or even in the same room for this one. OR If you're into being a maker and want to take some time to make something fun, head over to Friendship is a Superpower and make and take friendship bracelets in the N137 workshops at 11:00 where some of the best maker fun can be had. If you'd rather catch some great gaming action , head over to Side Quest on the show floor at 11 am, where local friends I Play Games! is hosting the Chicago High School Esports Exhibition. Cheer on your favorites, and learn how you can be competitive. Continue on in your game inspired journey by heading over to the FromSoftware Games Meetup in N135 at 1:30 if you'd like to find other souls who have been hurt by the Anor Londo archery club, developed trust issues due to mimics or had to chase crazy head caged men around a level. Clearly there's a lot to unpack, but the costumes should also bring Fashion Souls to life. OR If you're a foodie or an aspiring chef or a Pokemon fan (or both!) don't miss From Screen to Kitchen: Creating Recipes Inspired by Pop Culture/Media Live in S401 at 1:30 , where cookbook and comic book author Jarrett Melendez is going to show you how to make chocolate macaroons from scratch -- and they'll have beaks! The next big event is something that'll be on a lot of gamers' can't miss lists , as the Rolling the Dice: The Cast of Baldur's Gate 3 panel will be on the Main Stage at 2pm. This panel, put on by Popverse, features Neil Newbon (Astarion), Devora Wilde (Lae’zel), Jennifer English (Shadowheart), and Aliona Baranova (Corinna the Squirrel, Motion Capture/Performance Director) and should have lots of behind-the-scenes stories, with a few surprises also in store. Later, if you've got talent or simply want to see if the rest of those folks you've been pushing past on the floor all day do , crowd yourself back into the Main Stage at 4:30 and get cozy for C2E2's first ever Talent Show . According to the panel info, we should be seeing singing, dancing, juggling, comedy, and plenty of other things. Grab the popcorn and get into it! Otherwise, TV fans who love Psych might want to catch Kurt Fuller and Kirsten Nelson's "The Psychologists are in" rewatch podcast live at 5pm in S404 and featuring one of its stars, Maggie Lawson . This is a separately ticketed event and you must also have a valid C2E2 Friday badge for entry. If you're just here for the party, party with Chicago's own Jackbox Games when they host the Jackbox Games Party Power Hour at 5:15 in S403 , where you can play a proper party pack with some local improv stars - and look for Jackbox all over this year's show schedule and floor with plenty of time for fun and games, and lots of room to see some of your favorite guests step in to play a round of Quiplash. Finally, if you're a fan of comedy of the finest caliber , count your lucky stars, since the WorkJuice Improvisers, who include the likes of Craig Cackowski, Jonathan Dinerstein, Mark Gagliardi, Marc Evan Jackson, Hal Lublin, Annie Savage, Paul F. Tompkins, Janet Varney and a few as yet unnamed special guests. They'll be there for Workjuice Improv: featuring cast from the Thrilling Adventure Hour . This 18+ event is separately ticketed but happens on site at 9:30 pm in S404. Saturday, April 11th Now, it wasn't just the Lord of the Rings fans who have to take the L in the sleeping in on a con weekend category. You're also gonna have to shake off the previous night's tomfoolery in time to line right up for another giant 11 am panel on the Main Stage . And don't you forget about it. That's right. It's a panel 40 years in the making right here where the action happened. Don't You Forget About Me: The Breakfast Club 40th Anniversary Reunion . Honestly, if you're a John Hughes fan...you need to be there . Or at least try to make it to the overflow. Who will you be seeing there? Well, Molly Ringwald (Claire), Anthony Michael Hall (Brian), Judd Nelson (Bender), and Ally Sheedy (Allison) are all on the roster. Find out all about the making and revel in the nostalgia and feeling of superiority knowing even more about a classic film will give you. If you for some reason can't make it off the hotel room floor, you can also livestream this panel . Don't say we didn't help you out in your hour of need. If for some reason that doesn't get you pumped up, you might want to hit up S402 at 11 and join Patton Oswalt, Jordan Blum, Scott Hepburn and friends for Welcome to Twilight . You can ALSO make a difference as a cosplayer or a fan by having some thoughtful conversations at the convention , by interacting with the panelists at A Guide to DEI in the Cosplay Community in S401 at 11 am . This panel features cosplayers who are LGBTQ, disabled, POC and plus-sized and who can share their real life experiences (good and bad) Booklovers should hustle over to the Main Stage at noon when Tomi Adeyemi of the Legacy of Orisha series where she'll be talking about the conclusion, Children of Anguish and Anarchy, in a moderated panel also featuring host Ashley Leggs, founder of the AshMedia Network and host of the Slay Girl Slay podcast. Those who love stage shows and comedies and podcasts and, well, fun , should really make an effort to get to S404 for the Thrilling Adventure Hour's 20th Anniversary at 12:30 . If you're not familiar with the longrunning show that's been a darling in LA and come to Chicago a few times before, don't worry, it's full of an amazing cast of incredibly funny people who've done everything from Brooklyn 99 to Legend of Korra , Drunk History , Venture Brothers and everything in between and it could not be a better time. We say that because we're certain, and we'll have an interview with the cast to prove it shortly after this convention! BUT If Star Wars is where your heart lies , don't miss the John Boyega Spotlight on the Main Stage at 12:30 instead . You'll get to hear about his journey to being an actor and eventually how he got to Star Wars - that's a pretty meteoric rise and Boyega's charm is sure to delight. Those who want to do something wholesome, fun and relaxing should pull up a little piece of floor in Family HQ Interactive at 1 for Drag Story Hour . This show features a rotating cast of Chicago's favorites, and today's lineup will include Amanda Lynn, Coco Sho-Nell, Miss Muffy and Mrs. Yuka all in their convention finest ready to read some great stories to people of all ages who have ears to hear it. If you don't wanna leave the jungle, crawl out through the fallout and meet your fellow Vault Dwellers over at the Grand Concourse for the Fallout Series Meetup , where you can admire all manner of interesting cosplay and show off your perfectly shined up Pip Boy. This will start at 2:15 until whenever the Super Mutants start to cause major issues. We're from Chicago, so we're gonna suggest yet another Jackbox Games Party Power Hour for you at 2:30 on Saturday in S401 . Why? Because it's fun. And also because this time, it features members of the Thrilling Adventure Hour podcast , who we also love. Just...do yourself a favor and have a blast with some of the funniest people playing some of the best party games ever. We'd be remiss to leave out horror fans , so join some of Chicago's finest horror authors for The Horror That Made Us and find out what inspired them to create their own horror tales, and what they're liking now. There's not always a ton of chances to get into the horror at C2E2 so do horror fans a favor and make sure you attend at 2:45 in S402-B so these panels keep happening. Voice acting aficionados and animation lovers should be THRILLED about the good news on Saturday at 3:30 on the Main Stage . What's the news? Well, that's when Good News, Everyone! a Futurama Cast Reunion hits the stage, and this one features Billy West, John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal, Phil LaMarr and Lauren Tom . Just...get your butt in the seats, ok? Trust us. Action movie fans might want to shift to S404 at 3:30 though, where Peter Weller and Nancy Allen will be appearing in the Dead or Alive: A RoboCop Reunion panel . If you're torn between the two, join the rest of us in trying to somehow make both panels. Kids and people who just like slime should head over to Family HQ Workshops at 4pm and learn more about slime in A Hands On Look At Slime . Don't worry, it's also hands on, so you won't just have to sit back, you'll get to do something (hey, millenials were raised on slime, ok?). Find out more about this viral sensation that first got popular during the glorious age of Nickelodeon. Then, if you're in Chicago and you're not gonna go see Svengoolie , what are you even doing with your life? You've got time to sit with a Chicago horror icon , so head to S403-AB at 5pm and get educated! One thing we've always liked about C2E2 is how much it shows off Chicago's best sides , and nowhere is this more clear than the Second City Improv Show at C2E2 . This kicks off at 5:30 on the Main Stage and if you've never seen a Second City show correct that at this con. Name a comedy legend- any comedy legend, and you'll find that there's only a handful who haven't graced the hallowed halls of Piper Alley. Webcomic fans will want to head to S401 at 5:30 meanwhile, when the legends that are Cyanide & Happiness' creators take the stage and show off their process and some behind-the-scenes goodies. Then cosplayers and just people who want to see something amazing should make their way to the Cosplay Crown Championship Regionals, Finals and Globals , all happening at 7:30 pm on the Main Stage. This isn't just a standard convention cosplay competition- it represents the best of the best from all over the world and you will see costumes that it is hard to believe could even be real, so delay your dinner and get in the mood for some amazing sights. For your late night entertainment, stick around for the C2E2 Chicago Stand Up Comedy Showcase (18+) at 9 pm in S402 to see the class of 2025 here in Chicago to make you fall out of your seat laughing (just make sure you don't crush your cosplay. ) Once this finishes off, GO TO YOUR ROOM, because you've got one more day of show to go! Ok, fine, go drink at the Hyatt bar. But don't miss out on Sunday, y'hear? Sunday, April 13th Ok, I feel like we've been repeating this a lot, but you're gonna want to get up early for this one. Why? Well, if you're into DnD, or y'know, you watch any TTRPG content at all , it's pretty exciting that the first big thing that happens on the Main Stage on Sunday is the Critical Role panel. This one kicks off at 11 (but parking and security mean you'll need to, what's that again, GET UP EARLY) Everyone's gonna be there, or at least Matthew Mercer, Laura Bailey, Travis Willingham, Ashley Johnson, Liam O’Brien, Marisha Ray, Sam Riegel, and Taliesin Jaffe will be. If you're feeling grumpy from all the getting up early and you want to argue, or you just like movies and spirited debates, go ahead and pack up your stuff to get a seat in S402A at 12:15 for the Movies Everyone Disagrees With You On panel , where you'll get to agree to disagree agreeably. Maybe. Or at least you'll get some hot takes out there. OR if you were enamored with the amazing ghouls and boys of Monster High , you CAN go back with the Monster High School Reunion in N135 at 11 am . If you love parody and bugs and sci-fi movies that are eternal classics...you're going to want to hit up the Main Stage at 12:30 for The Only Good Bug Is a Dead Bug: A Starship Troopers Reunion which will feature Casper Van Dien (Johnny Rico), Jake Busey (Ace Levy), Denise Richards (Carmen Ibanez), Dina Meyer (Dizzy Flores), and Michael Ironside (Jean Rasczak) Gamers, there's reason to hang around, especially if you're Nintendo stan s. That's because at 2pm in S403, your quest to trivia greatness begins when you appear at Double NintenDare- a Retro-Fueled Nintendo Game Show . And yes, there's really prizes. So, shape up and get in there. Win one for us! Or, you know, for you. Well, it's time for keyboard cat to play us out, we're gonna need to get to bed for some actual sleep before all the lining up and trying to get you the best from the show floor and beyond. Stay tuned to our socials and right here for daily wrap-ups and cosplay galleries. And repeat after me: Programming is subject to change and this is not even a full slice of the fun you can find on the full schedule.