Tony Morigi recalls the first Emerald City Comic Con back in 2003. It was a one-day affair that drew about 3,000 people. Flash forward to today, and the Comic Con at the Seattle Convention Center is expected to draw upwards of 90,000 people.

“It’s been attracting bigger celebrities,” says Morigi, who has been working at  Golden Age Collectables at Pike Place Market for 31 years. “It’s been attracting bigger comic creators. And it’s been attracting people from all over the country.”

This year’s event kicks off today and runs through Sunday, March 9 at the Seattle Convention Center. Organizers say they are prepared for the biggest Emerald City Comic Con ever. Single day tickets are still available. 

“The venue is great for us,” says Chris D’Lando, event manager for event planning company ReedPop, which manages Emerald City Comic Con. “We have a really, really robust plan. Despite being such a heavy crowd, it is going to be very smooth.” 

Attractions include stars from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (March 8); Cast members from sci-fi series Firefly (including star Nathon Fillion, March 8 and 9); John Boyega, who played Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy (March 8); cast members of the 1997 cult classic Starship Troopers (March 8-9); and Emmy-winning actor Tom Skerritt, who has called Seattle home for more than two decades (March 9).

“I so appreciate that the fans come out and remember me,” Skerritt says. “Overall, everyone is so nice, and I like the opportunity to meet them.” 

D’Lando recommends using the Comic Con app to navigate the massive convention and for the latest updates. Visit Seattle also offers tips on how to make the most of the experience, in addition to dining recommendations.  

Visit Seattle predicts the event will generate $24.6 million in economic impact. Nearby businesses like Mamnoon on Capitol Hill see an increase in traffic of varying degrees.  

“Comic Con is a big deal for us,” says Wassef Haroun, founder and CEO of Mama Restaurant Group, which manages Mamnoon. “It used to be we had a lot of people come up the hill. The guests are coming now, it seems, dependent on the weather.”

This year’s Comic Con coincides with the opening of the Museum of Pop Culture’s (MOPOP) collaboration with Barbican Immersive, Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form on March 8. The show features more than 400 works from across Asia, exploring the evolution of comics from traditional art forms to contemporary digital innovations. The exhibition highlights key creators, characters, and artistic movements, connecting audiences with the cultural significance of comics in Asia and their global impact.