FAN EXPO CHICAGO REVIEW
A little late on this one, but here it is—my thoughts on Fan Expo 2025.
The Show
This year’s Fan Expo was, unfortunately, a huge disappointment. The show seems more and more focused on autographs and photo ops with celebrities, while comics continue to take a back seat. Every single year the comic presence feels smaller, and it’s starting to show in sales.
The City & Food
On the plus side, the area is still fun—it’s always nice to explore a different side of Chicago. The food, however, was hit-or-miss:
Thursday: We first tried our safe bet, Murray Brothers, but it had just closed. We ended up at the Crowne Plaza bar instead. It was fine, nothing memorable.
Friday: Grabbed takeout from Gibsons. We went with their hamburgers (always a solid choice) since the show went late until 9 PM.
Saturday Night: Met up with a few collectors and tried a place called Maria’s. Let’s just say it was rough—huge portions, but the quality wasn’t great.
Collector’s Spotlight
While the show itself let us down, the real treasure came in the form of a stunning Golden Age collection we were able to scoop up. This haul included some standout Archie issues, a few classic Batman books, and even some rare Disney gems that we couldn’t be more excited about. For any collectors following along, keep your eyes on our IG and the site—these books are going to be a lot of fun to share!
Final Thoughts
All in all, Fan Expo Chicago 2025 had more negatives than positives. Between the lack of comic focus and some underwhelming experiences, this show might be on the chopping block for next year.
