The event, which ran from May 27 to 29, offered three days of geeky bliss. It also had its share of both highs and lows, including a few bumps as both organizers and attendees attempted to get back to normal.
Here’s a look at PhoenixFan Fusion 2022’s best and worst moments.
Best: Everyone’s Enthusiasm Level
Fan Fusion is typically the local geek scene’s biggest and most anticipated event of the year and its lengthy absence only amplified the fervor. After two years of delays and postponements, there was a celebratory atmosphere and an almost palpable sense of excitement at this year’s event as people felt got to reunite with friends, hang out, wear costumes, attend after-parties, make up for lost time, and just enjoy the moment. Benjamin LeathermanWorst: The Lack of Razzle-Dazzle
There was also a sense that this year's Fan Fusion felt a little off. More specifically, there were conversations had about how the proceedings were "phoned in," or that it all felt a little rushed. Was part of it due to people acclimating to a three-year gap? Sure. But since the whole thing seemed smooth enough from a logistical standpoint, it makes it feel as if decisions were made just to finally get this event done and over, and that perspective stymied what could have been a much bigger celebration and a powerful moment of relief for the larger community. Enough folks had fun, but it was hard to shake that we're still clearly in that weird transitory place between COVID and the "new normal." Chris CoplanBest: The Diverse Crowd
Diversity is quite the buzzword these days, but to attend Fan Fusion is to be immersed in a truly diverse crowd. And we're not just talking about all the different costumes, although we love seeing Disney fans mingle with video gamers and superhero stans chat with die-hard otakus. No, we love that Fan Fusion is a place for young and old. For people of any race or gender. For people of any ability or sexuality or religion. Everyone can find something to do, and everyone is welcomed and respected there. In this day and age, that's pretty special. Jennifer GoldbergWorst: Slow Walkers
It's probably futile to complain about slow walkers at an event specifically designed for people to see and be seen. But we're going to do it anyway. We're glad that thousands upon thousands of people attended Phoenix Fan Fusion, but with so much to look at, most of them didn't move very quickly. Whether they were checking out the merch in the exhibitor hall or ogling the cosplayers, they rarely walked above a shuffle. Heaven forbid you had somewhere specific to go, like a panel — or the restroom. All the lookie-loos made getting around the sprawling convention center an even lengthier ordeal. JGBest: The Variety of Guests
What Fan Fusion 2022 may have lacked in star power, it made up for to a degree with the sheer variety of special guests from all the diverse areas of fandom. Actors and actresses tend to get most of the spotlight each year, but Fan Fusion tries to bring in icons and luminaries from other fields as well. This year featured comic book legends like Jim Starlin (the creator of Thanos and Drax the Destroyer) and John Romita Jr., as well as famed authors ranging from sci-fi scribe Michael Stackpole to YA fantasy writer Marissa Meyer. Beyond that, there were voice actors and actresses, including Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid) and Linda Ballantyne of Sailor Moon fame. And if you roamed around the exhibitor hall, you’d discover a few under-the-radar guests, like Star Trek author, historian, and podcaster Larry Nemecek, who was involved with the franchise from the '80s through the 2000s. BLThe "Lack" of Star Power
Without discouraging the panelists, exhibitors, and the rest of the event staff, these events work best with more star power attached. Did we get beloved actors like Billy West and Patrick Warburton during this year? Sure, and they were funny and charming as heck. But someone like Christopher Eccleston dropped out, and that kind of "blow" does a lot to harm the perceived value of the con as a whole. Plus, other fests draw those kinds of stars and even shinier talent, and that's why other cities are able to build themselves as a kind of "destination" while generating some valuable national attention. Most fans likely didn't care that much, but hiccups in the lineup can have an influence that's hard to fully trace. CC
A local cosplayer shows off his "dwarf armor" during Fan Fusion's cosplay masquerade.
Benjamin Leatherman