Ya Ya Han Full Press Conference

 

The DragonCon Parade

 

On Saturday morning, the biggest event at DragonCon is the parade. Its a huge event drawing con-goers and onlookers for the spectacle that it is. Get there early and a spot to line up. Parade rarely starts on time so bring a chair or something comfortable to sit on. After parade is over, head over to the host hotels where all the cosplayers gather for pictures

DragonCon Tutorial Part 4: The Hyatt

 

So DragonCon is hosted in 3 main hotels in downtown Atlanta. One is the Hyatt. The front of the Hyatt is the staging area for the DragonCon Parade, its where you would get Media badges, and you can access the Skybridge between the Hyatt and the Hilton hotel

DragonCon Tutorial Part 3: Getting into America's Mart

 

Ok you parked your car, you picked up your badge, now what Well if you wan to get some swag or meet the comic creators, you have to go to America's Mart. This mall has 5 floors of ever nerd wish you could ever want or dream of. Plus it has food and drinks! But to get in, well that is a line and a wait as it does not open until 10 but people are lined up since 8:00 AM so be ready to wait in a long ass line

DragonCon Tutorial Part 2: Getting your Badge

 

Ok you parked your car, now you gotta pick up your badge @dragoncon Well what type of badge do you have? If you have the full weekend badge, you can pick up as early as Wednesday night. If you have just a single day badge, you can only pick up the day of the event... not before. If you have a weekend badge, you can pick up as early as Friday Best bet though, get a full event badge I know the cost is higher but it will save you some time standing in line to pick up the badge.

DragonCon Tutorial Part 1

 

First time at DragonCon.... it can be overwhelming but these videos can help with navigating! First up, you gotta park. If you not staying at a local hotel and walking over, You can take Marta or a Uber but that fee gonna be hell. Most folks park in the numerous lots and garages. It can be a but pricey so factor that into your budget!

PunkRockers: Yes We Are! DragonCon 2025

 

                                                                     Punkrockers Yes We Are

          A Recap of the best weekend in August.

As a seasoned DragonCon veteran who’s been attending the con since I was probably around seven years on, there was a special energy in the air there this year. It was filled with innovative thinkers, delightful creatives, incredible cosplay, and a community for people who are interested in a thousand different things.

   

My DragonCon experience this year started as it normally does, a trip to my favorite place, AmericasMart. I canvased all six floors admiring all the creative merch lining the walls. I ended up walking out with more than I came in with. More notably hopping on to the Labubu trend and adding another pop culture artisanal tote bag to my collection. I’ve been getting tote bags every year at DragonCon from one of my favorite vendors who told me this would be their last year at DragonCon at they will surely be missed.

                                          

Once my quest at AmericasMart ended, I paved my way to the Hall of Heroes, where I got to meet the most iconic Karen, Deborah Ann Woll.

                                  

 

This year BrothasComics was honored to interview the legendary cosplayer YaYa Han. We got to talk to her about her journey to cosplay, her cutting-edge cosplay creating technology. She answered questions about what designing large cosplays in a world without Joann Fabrics, her love of Manga, and what it’s been like for her to see Anime enter the mainstream culture, because when she was young it was the opposite. It was an amazing experience to hear from one of the trailblazers of innovative cosplay about her creative process, passion, and the legacy she hopes to leave.

                                            

 

But my favorite part of DragonCon will always be the parade; where attendees get to show off their passion, fandom, and creativity for all to see. We all laugh, shout, cheer, and celebrate creativity, brilliance, innovation and fandom in the most uniting way. Some of my favorite cosplays I got to see this year include an amazing Antler Queen and mini-Misty Quigley from Yellowjackets, an incredible automatic Iron Man Suit, a beautifully designed mosaic Star Wars dress, a full-on Rockstar Bonnie from Five Nights at Freddy’s, and a DragonCon classic, an army of inflatable T-Rexes adorned in the customary DragonCon mosaic print.

        

 

After the conclusion of the parade, I fought my way back to the Hall of Heroes to complete some unfinished business; meeting some of my childhood heroes. I was absolutely delighted at the opportunity to meet the incredible John Boyega, the one and only Finn. After that I wandered by way down to the Arrowverse side of the hall to complete my collection of D.C. superheroes by meeting the lovely Emily Bett Rickards, and the spectacular Brandon Routh.

This year’s DragonCon was a beautiful celebration of individuality, expression, creativity, uniqueness, fandom, and community. There’s nothing like it and never will be. Proving once again, that DragonCon is the real punk rock.

Click here to see my DragonCon Instagram recap!