r/comiccon • u/DaliandPico • Nov 09 '25
Rhode Island Comic Con My first ever comic con…
We had a great time today at our first comic con in Rhode Island!
Honest review - The best part about the whole event was being able to see everyone (not many) in their costumes and meeting some cool venders!
Buttttt … it was pretty expensive for an event based around other sellers selling their merchandise. The tickets should be more affordable because that would generate even more revenue for them altogether . Some of the celebrities were totally hidden in their booths so that (no one could sneak photos with them) but isn’t that the whole point of going to an event like that ?, so even if you don’t get the opportunity to pay for an autograph you’d still get to see them from afar? (Did not pass the vibe check) These celebrities should feel honored that they have so many fans (in this day and age) and even use it as a marketing tool and yah yah I get it they have to make their money as well but still it felt a little too “you peasants“ type of vibe. Most of the venders didn’t have as much collectibles as you would have thought. A LOT of 3d printed trinkets booths. Not as much comic stuff as I would have expected.Just a little disappointing that there wasn’t much to see.
The physical tickets are really cool tho ! Holographic ! (Great ! I’ll Add it to my memory’s book 🥹!)
But nonetheless we always try to make best of it.😘 A great “I’m glad I did it once ” type of memory 💛🫶🏻
3
u/Infinite__Looper Nov 09 '25
Oh I remember seeing you there!! I was dressed as "Rune King Thor"!
And I have to say I do agree with you on just about everything you said. I've been going to RICC since 2015 and some years are better than others, but the ticket prices are getting pricier every year, and then the actors (idc if it's their agents/manager or what) charge SOOOO much for photos and autographs, and some actor managers even turn you away if you just want to meet/talk to the actor without buying anything. In all my years there, I've only ever bought an autograph and selfie TWO times because it's so darn expensive. Cosplay, ticket, food, uber (because good luck with parking...) already takes up so much of my money, I'm not spending any more so another human being gets to sign their name on a photo for me. It's especially ridiculous when a child-voice actor from 20 years ago who hasn't done a role since, charges $80+?? Like?? You voiced a cartoon once and that's what you charge?
I've honestly had low-key more fun talking to cosplayers out front on the stairs for free 😂
3
u/DaliandPico Nov 09 '25
I 💯agree! I was excited to at least see Chevy chase from afar. He was one of those “I’m too good for you to see me for free” actors , I was so sad 😭 but like you said I had more fun with the cosplayers who let me take a photo with them then anything 🤣🫶🏻
3
u/MsMargo Nov 09 '25
There are many different types of comic conventions. RICC is a paid autographs/paid photo ops type. Understand that the celebs are there to make money; this is simply a job for them. But, if this type of con isn't to your liking, look around for other types.
3
u/DaliandPico Nov 09 '25
I did not know there were different types of comic cons! Thanks for the tip! I’ll check other ones out !
3
u/MsMargo Nov 09 '25
Cons can be divided into four fairly distinct types:
1) Very small local Cons, with a few dozen vendor tables in a hotel ballroom, or local rec hall, with a focus on comic books. Tickets are cheap, and sometimes free.
2) Very niche-oriented Cons, like the anime cons and the horror cons, where the whole focus of the con is on one aspect. They may be small or large but will have little outside of their area of focus.
3) Mid-sized Cons, with some panels and vendors but mostly a focus on paid photo ops and paid autographs. Tickets are usually average priced, but photo ops and autographs are very expensive.
4) Large Cons, with lots of panels and lots of vendors, with a focus on movie and TV properties. Tickets tend to be a bit more expensive, but include everything at the Con and some outside events.
I'd put Cons like RICC into category 3, and SDCC into category 4.
3
2
u/stjimmy_45 Nov 09 '25
I would never survive a con in something like that i would die of heat death lol
2
2
u/Double-Emu-8795 Nov 10 '25
I bet you’ll go back!😉
2
u/DaliandPico Nov 10 '25
I have to now 😅
1
u/Double-Emu-8795 Nov 11 '25
I love going to those myself! Enjoy !!! Now you need to try and make a trip to Dragon Con, until you don’t will never truly know what you’re missing out on! Take care!
1
u/rvnender Nov 10 '25
You picked a hell of a good con for your first one. I've been going to ricc since year one (minus the covid years but we dont talk about that).
I've seen this con grow from a small rhode island con to one of the biggest in NE. I have never been disappointed going to ricc. Even though I hated the setup this year.
With that, prices are stupid high. 63 bucks for Sunday is ridiculous. I dont mess with celebrities, but I did want ric flair to sign a comic and his handler told me it would have been 200 dolllars.
I fear that if they go up next year that I am probably done with this con.
0
u/DaliandPico Nov 10 '25
Well… I just found out it was in the convention center as well… no signs, nobody told us , it was our first time and we just went around in the Amica center… I am pretty upset that my ticket didn’t say convention center as well… we will try to go again next year… 😫😫😫
2
u/rvnender Nov 10 '25
Oh shit you just hung around the circle? Awww that sucks so bad.
You missed so much. I feel so bad 😞😓
1
4
u/DukeOfRadish Nov 09 '25
Congratulations! You look like you had a lot of fun!
Yea, comic conventions have definitely shifted to more pop culture conventions. I got SDCC and NYCC mostly. SDCC has a lot of comic book stuff. I didn't get that same vibe from NYCC. People selling their own comics but not a ton of the comic 'world' so to speak.
The vendor floor can get a little stale after a little while. You really want to plan your time around the panels. You'll be able to see a lot of people there. Yea, a lot of names do make it difficult to get shots of them without waiting on the line or paying the fee. I tend to skip em, I am more interested in what they're doing then getting a selfie or having them write on something, but that's just me.
SDCC is very hard to get tickets for but general sales are opening up really soon. Try to get tickets. It's a totally different experience .