I've only gone to Comikaze twice. I went to the first one back in 2011 with a group of friends while donning cosplays from Torchwood as a last minute group project. I remember the convention being shoved into Kentia Hall, which is commonly used as a parking lot in the Los Angeles Convention Center. Comikaze is a nice alternative "big" event to San Diego Comic Con. (Wonder Con does not count because it's a subsidiary of Comic Con). Comikaze has always called Los Angeles home. Like Spiderman, it's amazing how much Comikaze has grown in the past few years.

I do like the fact that Comikaze is expanding throughout the Los Angeles Convention Center. I like the fact that panel rooms are being used to house Q&A sessions within geek groups. The first year had panel rooms blocked off by drapes of black cloth, but obstructed by noise of shoppers in Kentia Hall. Comikaze feels like a real convention as opposed to a large dealers hall where one can do everything in less than a few hours. Now, you need to spend a day at Comikaze to really appreciate what the have to offer.

I would have loved to have seen more fandom based panels. As a cosplayer, I did like that there was a cosplay track, but I felt that the topics were too hugbox / tumblr-esque. I grew up in an age where being a minority (culture, orientation, etc) was no big deal in cosplay - we all celebrated fandom no matter where we're from. I don't know what to say what it's like cosplaying while Filipino other than the fact that Manila Luzon and my shoe-loving-aunt would approve. I would have loved to see more panels on craft and how-to's. By fandom panels, I would have loved to have seen more on single fandoms or fandoms that celebrated anniversaries. Because of the Halloween season, I did appreciate a few ghost hunter / paranormal centric panels, but I would have loved to have seen a horror track. I think Comikaze has excellent potential to have the same type of panel programming as Arisia wherein there's a great mix of intellectual and geek-out fan panels.

My biggest issue with Comikaze is the placement of the Hot Topic stage. It's got a neat set up. I do appreciate stages that have quality equipment and presentation. However, there were no seats for the audience. It was standing room only. There were gaps within the people crowd and most of the crowding was outside the stage area. I would like to attend more main events in the Hot Topic stage, but chairs would be a helpful addition to that. There are memes of cosplayers demanding a so-called "rest area," I call those panel rooms or "the nearest chair." When I'm watching the All That reunion, I'd like to also rest up my feet rather than standing on my heels. I'm sure non-cosplayers feel the same way as well.

The overall vibe of Comikaze was pretty friendly. I enjoyed meeting other Back to the Future fans. There were many Back to the Future cosplayers because of 2015 and 30th anniversary reasons. It was refreshing meeting likeminded fans from the same thing and be involved in conversations about why we love the fandom. It's a feeling I haven't had at conventions for a while and I did appreciate the vibe I got from it.

I highly reccomend Comikaze if you consider yourself a geek and live in Greater Los Angeles. If you don't like crowds, Sunday might be the better date. However, check the website if there's a celebrity you would like to meet or snag an autograph from. I was surprised to see Dita Von Teese though I don't associate her with geekdom, but I did appreciate the opportunity to buy her book and have it personalized. Comikaze has a lot of potential to be THE main geek event of Los Angeles. This year was fun, but felt there could have been more to make this satisfactory. It still as a bit of the feel of a large dealers hall, but I look forward to what future programming has in store. See you in 2016!

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