The Convention Collective

EMERALD CITY COMIC CON 2026: RSVLTS returns to the PNW! The 2026 convention year is about to really kick off (and I'll be, hitting up 3 different cons across the country in March), and our friends at RSVLTS are bringing some hot new exclusive shirts to this weekend's Emerald City Comic Con. Among the 5 new shirts are one for everyone's a Voltron one, a Mickey Mouse one, and 3 some Seattle themed shirts (one of which is a floral shirt which I'm going to get for myself).

EMERALD CITY COMIC CON 2026: RSVLTS returns to the PNW!

The 2026 convention year is about to really kick off (and I'll be, hitting up 3 different cons across the country in March), and our friends at RSVLTS are bringing some hot new exclusive shirts to this weekend's Emerald City Comic Con. Among…

SCREAM 7 review – Scream 7 Produces Only a Modest Flesh Wound Director: Kevin WilliamsonStarring: Neve Campbell, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, David Arquette, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Mckenna Grace, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Sam Rechner, Mark Consuelos, Tim Simons, Matthew Lillard, Joel McHale, and Courteney CoxMovie Length:

SCREAM 7 review – Scream 7 Produces Only a Modest Flesh Wound

Director: Kevin WilliamsonStarring: Neve Campbell, Isabel May, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Anna Camp, David Arquette, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Mckenna Grace, Asa Germann, Celeste O'Connor, Sam Rechner, Mark Consuelos, Tim…

NECTAR #1 review – Scary butterflies everywhere! (Robinson, Martello, Francini, Canon, Campbell) Vault Comics Review by Jason Herschkowitz Writer/Creator: Jeremy RobinsonArtists: Annapaola Martello and Francesco FranciniColorist: Steve CanonLetterer: Jim Campbell with Andworld DesignMain Cover Artist: Chris ShehanEditor: Kane Gilmour Thanks to Vault Comics for the review copy! It is 1837 in a quaint island village off the coast of Salem, Massachusetts where a strange species of bloodthirsty butterflies spread a mysterious dancing plague.

NECTAR #1 review – Scary butterflies everywhere! (Robinson, Martello, Francini, Canon, Campbell) Vault Comics

Review by Jason Herschkowitz Writer/Creator: Jeremy RobinsonArtists: Annapaola Martello and Francesco FranciniColorist: Steve CanonLetterer: Jim Campbell with Andworld DesignMain Cover…

WEBTOON is Attending ECCC for the first time this year! Emerald City Comic Con is just around the corner (pretty much a week away), and the more I find out who's going to be attending and what panels are taking place - I just can’t wait! Every year, attending this convention is so much fun and this year I am very much looking forward to it. I recently heard that…

WEBTOON is Attending ECCC for the first time this year!

Emerald City Comic Con is just around the corner (pretty much a week away), and the more I find out who's going to be attending and what panels are taking place - I just can’t wait! Every year, attending this convention is so much fun and…

Baldur’s Gate 3 Treasure Packs from Sirius Dice – Pulling Five Packs! Treasure Packs from Sirius Dice are back with a new set that I couldn’t wait for - Baldur’s Gate 3 Treasure Packs are here! And I got to pull five of them! Each set has a stylized dice bag, a collectible coin, and (most exciting to me) one of over 40 unique d20s. There are rare, legendary, and artifact level pulls to be found, and the truly lucky may find themselves with a limited Replica Astral Prism.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Treasure Packs from Sirius Dice – Pulling Five Packs!

Treasure Packs from Sirius Dice are back with a new set that I couldn’t wait for - Baldur’s Gate 3 Treasure Packs are here! And I got to pull five of them! Each set has a stylized dice bag, a collectible coin, and (most exciting…

This past weekend we attended the @annieawards.bsky.social once again and were set up on the red carpet to take pics of all the well dressed attendees. Check out the pics here: drive.google.com/drive/folder... (also there's a subfolder from our correspondent Maddie w/ pics she took there).

Valentines Day Anime Recommendations! Valentines Day! A day for all couples to be extra romantic and gushy, but if you’re like many others…you might not have that partner in your life right now and would rather have some other fun! Like always, making plans with friends is a great way to go! Even if it’s just getting together to watch some anime, especially with this great…

Valentines Day Anime Recommendations!

Valentines Day! A day for all couples to be extra romantic and gushy, but if you’re like many others…you might not have that partner in your life right now and would rather have some other fun! Like always, making plans with friends is a great way to go! Even…

“WUTHERING HEIGHTS” movie review – Emerald Fennel’s interpretation of the classic novel Review by Allie G. Director: Emerald FennellStarring: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, and Ewan MitchellMovie Length: 2 hours 16 minutes What it's about: An interpretation of the classic novel written by Emily Brontë about an adopted boy and girl who grow up together and fall into a heated and forbidden romance.

“WUTHERING HEIGHTS” movie review – Emerald Fennel’s interpretation of the classic novel

Review by Allie G. Director: Emerald FennellStarring: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi, Hong Chau, Shazad Latif, Alison Oliver, Martin Clunes, and Ewan MitchellMovie Length: 2 hours 16 minutes What it's about: An…

2026 Annie Awards preview – celebrating animation in all forms In 3 weeks (February 21st to be exact) the Annie Awards ceremony will once again take place. The awards will recognize the year’s best in the field of animation with the ceremony taking place once again at UCLA’s Royce Hall...and we will be in attendance yet again! With the award season in full swing nominations for the Annie Awards, which are often seen as a precursor for the Oscars Awards animation categories, were announced a few weeks ago.

2026 Annie Awards preview – celebrating animation in all forms

In 3 weeks (February 21st to be exact) the Annie Awards ceremony will once again take place. The awards will recognize the year’s best in the field of animation with the ceremony taking place once again at UCLA’s Royce Hall...and we…

SEND HELP movie review – Raimi’s Send Help Has All the Help It Needs Director: Sam RaimiStarring: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O'Brien, Edyll Ismail, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang, and Dennis HaysbertMovie Length: 1 hour 53 minutes Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS - © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. We tread into dangerous territory with this review; almost as treacherous as the island that stars Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien’s characters encounter when they’re involved in a plane crash.

SEND HELP movie review – Raimi’s Send Help Has All the Help It Needs

Director: Sam RaimiStarring: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O'Brien, Edyll Ismail, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang, and Dennis HaysbertMovie Length: 1 hour 53 minutes Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS - © 2025 20th Century…

We aren't done with San Diego screening passes yet! This one is very short notice though. The animated sports comedy film GOAT at Edwards Mira Mesa tomorrow (Jan 31st, 1030am). As always, passes & seats are 1st come 1st serve so sign up quick & get there early.

SCARLET RSVP When: Monday, February 2, 7:00 PM Where: AMC Fashion Valley Please note that RSVP does not guarantee admission—seating is first come, first served. Arrive early to secure your spot!

Hey San Diego, it's screening time! Monday Feb 2nd 7pm at AMC Fashion Valley to see SCARLET. As always passes & seats are 1st come 1st served, so sign up quick & get there early!

The Start of the 2026 Anime Season Walking into 2026, we got some amazing new anime to watch this season! Some follow up seasons and long awaited new series. I know I have been waiting years for some of these series follow ups and new series to finally be released. Going from an anime slump, with only a few to watch at the end of 2025…I’m jumping straight into the deep end with all of these new and continuing anime’s this season. 

The Start of the 2026 Anime Season

Walking into 2026, we got some amazing new anime to watch this season! Some follow up seasons and long awaited new series. I know I have been waiting years for some of these series follow ups and new series to finally be released. Going from an anime slump, with…

MERCY movie review – No Mercy for criminals Director: Timur BekmambetovStarring: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, and Kylie RogersMovie Length: 1 hour 40 minutes What it's about: In the future in a crime ridden Los Angeles, criminals who have been charged with a violent crime are given a 90 minute trial by The Mercy Capital Court.

MERCY movie review – No Mercy for criminals

Director: Timur BekmambetovStarring: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, and Kylie RogersMovie Length: 1 hour 40 minutes What it's about: In the future in a crime ridden Los Angeles, criminals who have been charged…

All the Events & Conventions starting off 2026 Starting off the year with a packed schedule for the first few months of 2026 is crazy, but there are some new events and good conventions coming up fast, so it’s worth it. It’s also exciting to be seeing all these new fan run events happening, for anime and games. Last year was super fun with these happening around the convention down times, and being a few hours during a weekend.

All the Events & Conventions starting off 2026

Starting off the year with a packed schedule for the first few months of 2026 is crazy, but there are some new events and good conventions coming up fast, so it’s worth it. It’s also exciting to be seeing all these new fan run events happening, for…

ROBERT PICARDO: In Conversation with The Convention Collective’s Darren Shulman (July 2020) The Convention Collective's Darren Shulman has been very lucky to get the chance to speak to STAR TREK: VOYAGER / INNERSPACE / STARGATE: SG1's Robert Picardo about his career, his relationship with ge...

With the premiere of #StarTrekStarfleetAcademy now airing, lets throw it back to 2020 when our own Darren Shulman had a chance to speak with @robertpicardo.bsky.social. theconventioncollective.com/sandbox/robe...

NYCC 2025: The Convention Collective in conversation with Timur Bekmambetov This past October, The Convention Collective's Senior Editor Dan Berry was given the opportunity to attend New York Comic Con in New York City. While he was there he had the chance to speak to some of

Opening on January 23rd 2026 is the new movie starring Chris Pratt, MERCY. Lets flashback to this past October when our own Senior Editor got to sit down with the film's director Timur Bekmambetov about the movie. soundcloud.com/englishman-i...

PRIMATE review – Primates get a bad rap Director: Johannes RobertsStarring: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, and Troy Kotsur Movie Length: 1 hour 29 minutes What Mike thought: As I compose this review, I can’t help but wonder about the thousands, perhaps millions of calls that the Simian Anti-Defamation League has received recently. After all, they’ve hit a rough patch in the arena of motion pictures.

PRIMATE review – Primates get a bad rap

Director: Johannes RobertsStarring: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, and Troy Kotsur Movie Length: 1 hour 29 minutes What Mike thought: As I compose this review, I can’t help but wonder about the thousands, perhaps millions of calls that the Simian…

Time for another screening pass for San Diego. This time it's the new Chris Pratt movie MERCY, 7pm Jan 21st at Edwards Mira Mesa....and it will be in IMAX 3D! As always, passes & seats are 1st come 1st serve, so sign up quick & get there early! mgmscreenings.com/PrattCon

FAN EXPO NEW ORLEANS 2026: New Year and new exclusive RSVLTS shirts The 2026 convention year begins this weekend, and our friends at RSVLTS are bringing some hot new exclusive shirts to this weekend's FAN EXPO New Orleans. Among the 5 new shirts are one for everyone's favorite card throwing mutant Gambit, a Mickey Mouse one, and 3 New Orleans themed shirts (one of which is a floral shirt which I'm going to try to get someone to get for me).

FAN EXPO NEW ORLEANS 2026: New Year and new exclusive RSVLTS shirts

The 2026 convention year begins this weekend, and our friends at RSVLTS are bringing some hot new exclusive shirts to this weekend's FAN EXPO New Orleans. Among the 5 new shirts are one for everyone's favorite card throwing mutant…

Year in Review: Conventions of 2025 I feel like this year just flew by, one minute it's March and we are slugging through the month and then BAM! It’s kind of wild to look back at 2025, cause it doesn't feel like anything was a few months ago, but years ago (I feel like I’m a completely different person then I was at the start of this year). 

Year in Review: Conventions of 2025

I feel like this year just flew by, one minute it's March and we are slugging through the month and then BAM! It’s kind of wild to look back at 2025, cause it doesn't feel like anything was a few months ago, but years ago (I feel like I’m a completely different…

Los Angeles Comic Con Announces 60-Day Extension to Its Fan Investment Campaign

One of the bigger shows in SoCal has extended their fan investment campaign for an additional 60 days! Los Angeles Comic Con earlier this year announced that they were starting a fan investment campaign that would let…

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH review – A great return to Pandora Director: James CameronStarring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate WinsletMovie Length: 3 hours 17 minutes Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS - © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved. What Leo thought: The movie picks up less than a month from where 2022's Avatar: The Way of Water…

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH review – A great return to Pandora

Director: James CameronStarring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, and Kate WinsletMovie Length: 3 hours 17 minutes Photo by 20th Century Studios/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS - © 2025 20th Century Studios. All Rights…

Hey San Diego! Want to kick off 2026 with a movie screening? If so, and you want to see PRIMATE on January 7th at 7pm, AMC Mission Valley then sign up. As always, passes & seats are 1st come 1st serve, so sign up quick & get there early! gofobo.com/MonkeyCon

The Plushie Labubus have Overtaken Anime Merch We are once again talking about Labubus, which we touched on back a few months ago over the summer because they did a collaboration with One Piece and fans went wild. Now for those of you who do not know what these little guys are well...It is a collectable plush toy that has elf/bunny ears and monster-like smiles that include fang-like teeth.

The Plushie Labubus have Overtaken Anime Merch

We are once again talking about Labubus, which we touched on back a few months ago over the summer because they did a collaboration with One Piece and fans went wild. Now for those of you who do not know what these little guys are well...It is a…

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2 review – What Did I Just Watch? An Examination of FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2 Director: Emma TammiStarring: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Freddy Carter, Theodus Crane, Wayne Knight, Teo Briones, Mckenna Grace, Skeet Ulrich, and Matthew LillardMovie Length: 1 hour 44 minutes What Michael thought: As a warning, this will be an unusual review. In a year of providing movie reviews to The Convention Collective, I’ve never felt prompted to insert myself so prominently into my piece.

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2 review – What Did I Just Watch? An Examination of FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2

Director: Emma TammiStarring: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Freddy Carter, Theodus Crane, Wayne Knight, Teo Briones, Mckenna Grace, Skeet Ulrich, and Matthew LillardMovie Length: 1…

Anime NYC 2025 in review Another wonderful year at Anime NYC 2025! The convention delivered a solid lineup of special guests including voice talent, guests of honor, and musical performers, exciting anime season updates, a vibrant artist alley, and the return of Hololive. Musical Guests We were graced this year with Yoko Takahashi, who did a meet and greet and performed a full concert.

Anime NYC 2025 in review

Another wonderful year at Anime NYC 2025! The convention delivered a solid lineup of special guests including voice talent, guests of honor, and musical performers, exciting anime season updates, a vibrant artist alley, and the return of Hololive. Musical Guests We were…

NYCC 2025: The Convention Collective in conversation with Chris Killian This October, The Convention Collective's Senior Editor Dan Berry was given the opportunity to attend New York Comic Con in New York City. While he was there he had the chance to speak to some of the

Out now from @imagecomics.com is I Saw Santa A Spawn Universe Christmas Story #1. Here's our own Senior Editor @danberry.org's interview with co-writer of the title @chriskillian.bsky.social from #NYCC2025.

TRIPWIRE AWARDS 2025: the winners are in! with Mad Cave Studios, Tula Lotay and indie comics winning big At a semi-glittering affair at the acclaimed Cartoon Museum in the heart of the nations capital, Tripwire Magazine EIC Joel Meadows and celebrated writer Jasper Bark co-hosted the ceremony and revealed the winners of this years Tripwire Awards 2025; shortlisted by a bunch of knowledgeable comics bods (and, erm, yours truly) and voted on by the discerning general public.

TRIPWIRE AWARDS 2025: the winners are in! with Mad Cave Studios, Tula Lotay and indie comics winning big

At a semi-glittering affair at the acclaimed Cartoon Museum in the heart of the nations capital, Tripwire Magazine EIC Joel Meadows and celebrated writer Jasper Bark co-hosted the ceremony and…

Are Cupsleeves the “New Conventions”? I have been attending conventions for many years now, small, medium, and big and sized ones all both around the PNW as well as all over the US. Then this year “cupsleeve” events started popping up around the US, outside of them being just for K-Pop. A cupsleeve is basically something that wraps around a cup, to decorate or protect your hand from the heat of said cup (and what's inside of it).

Are Cupsleeves the “New Conventions”?

I have been attending conventions for many years now, small, medium, and big and sized ones all both around the PNW as well as all over the US. Then this year “cupsleeve” events started popping up around the US, outside of them being just for K-Pop. A…