16 June 1st–June 7th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | Fri 6/2 Sat 6/3 Sun 6/4 Mon 6/5 thu 6/1 the BoyS oF SuMMer the MuSic oF the eagleS 8PM • $20 Sarah StyleS & the Brotherhood oF BlueS gypSy Wild at harp & the hooterS BlueS cadillac aSSeMBly line 8PM • $12 SMokeStack lightning aaron Mccall Band dry heat 8PM • $12 danny Blu, MoriS Blak eva X, haeX 8PM • $15 Billy BoB thornton & the BoXMaSterS 8PM • $50 Should I drink water? Yes. Even if you’re indoors most of the time, you’ll get dehydrated from activity. Ambrosia recommends drinking water as often as possible. You can bring empty water containers to the event and get refills at dozens of drinking fountains inside the convention center. Food vendors also have bottles of water for sale. Can I bring in outside food or drinks? Nope. Phoenix Convention Center prohibits outside food or drink. (Reasonable accommodations for anyone with medical conditions, dietary restric- tions, or infant children are available by calling 602-262-6225 or through phoenix- conventioncenter.com.) Food and drinks can be purchased from the first-floor food hall in the North building or at various snack bars, food carts and vending machines around the convention center. (Note: They’re all cashless, so use Apple Pay or a debit/credit card.) Downtown Phoenix also has a wide variety of restau- rants and bars within walking distance. What celebrities are appearing at Fan Fusion 2023? Actors and actresses sched- uled to attend this year include the MCU’s Jeremy Renner and Paul Bettany, Katee Sackhoff and Mary McDonnell from “Battlestar Galactica,” Claudia Christian from “Babylon 5,” Kathy Najimy from “Hocus Pocus,” “Arrow” star Stephen Amell, “Harry Potter” actors James and Oliver Phelps and Jeffery Pierce from “The Last of Us.” Ashley Eckstein and Matt Lanter from “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Trek” cast members Sonequa Martin-Green, Anson Mount, William Shatner and Walter Koenig are also set to appear. How much are celebrity photos and autographs? Prices vary per guest. Walter Koenig, for instance, charges $60 for autographs or $70 for posed photos. Meanwhile, Jeremy Renner’s autograph will cost $150 to $175. Complete details are available at phoenix- fanfusion.com/actors. Will there be comic book creatives at Fan Fusion? Of course. This year, more than 70 comic book artists and writers will be at the event, including legends like as Jim Lee (DC Comics), J. Michael Straczynski (“The Amazing Spider-Man”), Renee Witterstaetter (“She-Hulk”), Arthur Suydam (“Marvel Zombies”), Bob Hall (“West Coast Avengers”), Brett Breeding (“Death of Superman”), and John Layman (“Arkham Asylum”). Where are the exhibitor hall and Hall of Heroes? Both are on the lower level of the West and North buildings. The exhibitor hall will feature hundreds of vendors, artists and a variety of geeky items for sale (from toys and collectibles to artwork and apparel). Photo ops and autographs with celebrity guests will take place in the Hall of Heroes. Elsewhere, you can find comic book creatives, authors and cosplay groups like the Arizona Autobots and the Dune Sea Garrison. Will there be gaming? Yes, and it will all be offered in one spot. The North 120BCD ballroom will feature games of the card, tabletop, role-playing, and joystick-powered variety. There will be competitions throughout the weekend, ranging from “Magic: The Gathering” tournaments to e-sports battles, and an “Arcade Alley” with retro coin-ops. How can I plan ahead? Matt Hinds of local geek group Blue Ribbon Army suggests downloading the Phoenix Fan Fusion app, which is available for iOS and Android, to help manage your time and decide what to do. “[There are] a ton of panels, guests and events, so it’s important to make an outline of your schedule, at minimum,” he says. What should I bring? Comfortable shoes are a must, Ambrosia says. “There is a lot of ground to cover, so you will need [them],” she says. You’ll also want to bring both cash and a debit/credit card (as some vendors and activities will only accept paper money), a fully charged cellphone, and a large bag or backpack. Any other tips? Ambrosia suggests taking time each day for rest and self-care. “We get excited, we have fun, and then we realize that it is 5 p.m. [and] we haven’t eaten, drank, been to the bathroom or anything. So, we want to make sure we take care of ourselves,” she says. “Take some time for you.” She also recom- mends being patient while waiting in line at Fan Fusion (which happens frequently). “Patience is the biggest thing,” she says. “First thing in the morning may be a bit busy, so you just have to be patient while everyone makes their way through.” Benjamin Leatherman Spider-Man cosplayers reenacting a meme at Fan Fusion. Fanarchy from p 15
