15th annual C2E2 arrives at McCormick Place Friday

Actor Josh Brolin will headline the 15th annual Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo this weekend along with stars of shows like “Ted Lasso,” “One Tree Hill,” “Rick and Morty” and “One Piece” and a host of additional events.

Whether you’re a fan of comics, celebrities, gaming, anime or anything in between, Chris D’Lando, event manager at ReedPop, which runs C2E2 and other similar conventions, promised something for everyone at this year’s C2E2.

“It’s a celebration of all things pop culture,” D’Lando said. “Pop culture is culture. Nowadays, everyone is a fan of something.”

C2E2 will take center stage this Friday through Sunday, April 26-28, at McCormick Place. The three-day show will feature an exhibition floor with hundreds of businesses and artists, celebrity panels and cast reunions and an Artist Alley packed with both local and big-name comic-book creators.

Also on the docket are the Cosplay Central Crown Championships, where regional champions chosen at other comic conventions will compete first for the U.S. title and then against international cosplayers for the global crown.

C2E2 will be celebrating its 15th anniversary with special merchandise and a “fantasy-themed prom” on Friday night. According to D’Lando, the convention has grown exponentially since its inception into an estimated 85,000 attendees this year.

“It’s just been a really great process to be able to bring a show of this size to the Midwest,” D’Lando said. “Our community is amazing, the fans are fantastic and it’s a really great personal and professional joy to be able to bring this show to them.”

As the size of the event has grown, so has its economic impact. According to D’Lando, C2E2 is projected to generate $39 million this year for the city of Chicago. And in the coming years, he said, the convention will continue to grow and change.

“We like to stay on the cutting edge of pop culture,” D’Lando said. “We’re always looking for how we can improve or evolve the show.”

While three-day and Saturday tickets are sold out on the event’s website, C2E2 has partnered with local comic book shops that may still have some tickets available. Those interested can check out the full list of retailers on the C2E2 website. Information about membership to PopVerse, where select panels and events from the weekend can be streamed online, can be found on the website.

“We get to make fun for people,” D’Lando said. “That is as noble a pursuit as I can think of.”