Are you new to Indy Comic Con, or to the convention circuit in general? Weekend took some of the stress out of your geekly grind with this guide to navigating the con. Remember: Some of these events are happening on every day, or two out of three, so check the schedules at the Convention Center for a full list of events for each day.
Friday
12 p.m. Registration opens at noon, so be sure to sign up for the talent show or speed dating in the evening if interested. Then spend the rest of the hour in the exhibitor hall getting a feel for the many fandoms in attendance.Oh, you thought you were the only Critter around? Not even close.
1-2:30 p.m. The Freestyle Dungeons and Dragons panel will pit audience members — possibly without any roleplaying experience — against high fantasy monsters for the audience’s entertainment. It’s like a gladiator match with lots of die-rolling, that mostly takes place in your head.
2:30-3:30 p.m. Wander around the vendor booths, find as many cosplayers from the same franchise as possible and ask to take pictures with all of them — Bob’s Burgers” and Marvel’s “The Avengers” are good bets.
3:35 p.m. Check the line for Nichelle Nichols’ “Hailing on All Frequencies” question and answer in Wabash 1. The talk begins at 4:30, but the only way to make sure you get in everywhere is to queue up early.
5:30 p.m. Dinner. There is food in the convention center, but it doesn’t hurt to nip outside for a few minutes and grab something from a nearby restaurant.
6-6:50 p.m. Slip into the Animénia panel and meet some of the women who voice characters like Ash Ketchum, Sailor Moon and Naruto.
7-8:30 p.m. The Indy Comic Con talent showcase. No one really knows what’s going to show up on stage, but isn’t that part of the fun? If you haven't signed up to compete, take a seat in the audience and cheer for a few of your fellow con-goers.
9-10 p.m. Some sci-fi and fantasy franchises are including people from the LGBT community in their stories, but the fight is far from over. People at the Love is Love is Love is Love meet-up will swap stories about fandoms and talk newfound representation.
It’s not good to burn out on the first day — if you’re planning to come back on Saturday and Sunday, maybe call it a day or head home. Otherwise, check the official schedule for after-party locations or nerd karaoke.
Saturday
9-11 a.m. It’s day two. Arrive early to squeeze in a couple hours in the main areas, vendor booths or Game Cave -—you won’t get much of a break from this point forward.
11-11:30 a.m. Start off slow with a short panel on Manly Man Facial Hair. Who can’t use a touchup, amirite?
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tired of sparkly vampires? Sit in on the Creature Creation in Science Fiction and Fantasy panel and learn how to blend mythology and modernity in your own writing.
12:30-1:15 p.m. Skip the pizza line and grab lunch at another restaurant outside the Convention Center. Hold on to your badge, though.
1:15 p.m. Get in line to hear Jewel Staite of “Firefly” fame’s question and answer in 500R at 2:30. Browncoats have been missing the canceled sci-fi classic for 14 years, but this goes a little ways toward healing the trauma. A group sing of the theme song in line wouldn’t go amiss, though.
3:30 p.m. You have a minute to spare, so now is an excellent time to find a wall socket if your battery looks low. Otherwise, just spend a minute wandering the halls. Find a group cosplay and take a picture with the whole Justice League, or check out Penguin Knife Fight! Improv Comedy, a geeky troupe a 'la “Whose Line is it Anyway?”
4:30 p.m. It’s a Sophie’s Choice situation, you guys: Cary Elwes of “The Princess Bride” and “Ella Enchanted” is appearing at a question and answer in one room at 5:30 p.m., and Charlie Cox of Marvel’s “Daredevil” and “Stardust” has another at 6. Either way, you’ll want to stake out the line early to make sure your schedule goes “as you wish.”
7 p.m. Take a breather, grab some food, and prepare yourself for an extremely nerdy evening. Also, if you see any rogue Deadpools who have to remove their masks to eat, remember that it’s rude to stare.
8:30-9:30 p.m. Represent your Hogwarts house at an interactive Harry Potter event where the audience will argue over the houses of popular characters from other books, movies and TV shows. If you show up in a costume, prepare to be sorted yourself.
11 p.m.-3 a.m. If you’re not ready for the day tobe over — and why would you be? — consider the After-Party at Howl at the Moon, where visitors with ICC credentials will receive free admission, a discounted cocktail, and live performances of Disney and video game songs. Is it too much to hope for something from “Once More, With Feeling?”
Sunday
10 a.m.-11:45 a.m. It’s the last day, so check the schedule for repeats of any panels you missed on Friday or Saturday. Then head straight to the Fated Indiana Fantasy LARP and learn how to spar with foam weapons. Because just imagining armed combat is for losers.
11:45 a.m. Cut out of the LARPing early and get in line to see Millie Bobby Brown, the breakout star of “Stranger Things,” take questions starting at 1 p.m. Brown canceled most of her convention appearances a few weeks ago, so this panel is likely to be packed.
2-3 p.m. Take a stroll through the hall. Wave goodbye to the vendors and people sitting in line outside various panels.
3 p.m. Get in line one last time for Brianna Hildebrand’s question and answer at 4. The “Deadpool” actress will appear in “Tragedy Girls,” a horror flick about teens with a morbid internet show later this year, and the sequel to the R-rated Marvel movie is in pre-production.
