Rose City Comic Con Review! The Ultimate Pop Culture Convention—With Extra Nerdiness (and a Touch of Portland Magic)

Whether you’re a veteran cosplayer or just someone trying to figure out how to pronounce “Wakanda,” Comic Con is an experience guaranteed to leave you slightly confused and completely entertained. And if you want your nerdy festivities with an extra side of Pacific Northwest charm, Rose City Comic Con in Portland is a can’t-miss stop on the fan circuit.

From the moment you step inside the Oregon Convention Center, you’re greeted by a barrage of colorful displays, life-sized statues, and more Spider-Men per square foot than any reputable science journal could explain. The staff and volunteers work overtime to herd crowds like Jedi wrangling a stampede of Ewoks—sometimes with actual light sabers. Navigating the venue is part of the adventure; at Rose City Comic Con, you’ll get your daily steps in just by searching for the bathroom, all while sipping a locally roasted coffee.

As always, my favorite part of the con is the celebrities, and this year was extra cool as a majority of the cast from, “The Goonies” (which was filmed about 2 hours from Portland) were on hand to sign autographs ,meet fans ,and take part in panel discussions. The lines to meet celebrities at these events can get long, but having an opportunity to meet a childhood favorite like Kerri Green who played “Andy” was well worth the wait.

Perhaps the best, and most memorable part of this convention was meeting up with my best friend who was attending for the first time. Her eyes lit up when she saw attendees dressed up as some of her favorite movie characters. When she had the chance to speak with Corey Feldman and connect with him on behalf of the work he does with special needs children, her eyes were filled with tears. When we walked into a very, very well done Star Wars interactive exhibit, she literally jumped, smiled, and said, “This is the coolest thing- I can’t believe it”. It was in that moment that I realized the excitement and the magic that these events have on those attending.

And if you couple that with the convention being a place where everyone is accepted, and recognized for being exactly who they are, it is easy to see why the Rose City Comic Con isn’t just a convention- it is a safe space where we are all nerds, where geeks are celebrated, and where everyone, like the Goonies, ‘R’ Good Enough!