Sept. 1, 2026
Labor Day weekend is approaching and you know what that means - DRAGON CON IS HERE!
Dragon Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film. Taking place every Labor Day weekend, about 80,000 people crowd the streets and take over the hotels of downtown Atlanta to meet friends, celebrities, cosplay and totally geek out. This year’s event will take place September 3-7, 2025. Ticket information can be found on the official website.
This year, Dragon Con celebrates its 40th anniversary and as usual, they are bringing some really awesome people to help celebrate. Casts from fan favorites shows such as Stargate SG-1, Firefly, Starship Troopers, X-Men '97, Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek will be there; authors like long-time attendee Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files), Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl), and Kevin Grevioux (Underworld). There will be comic book artists, workshops, performances, kids' programming, and other things to keep you occupied over the 5-day weekend.
Again this year, Hanako, Anthony, Michael, and Michele will be appearing on panels throughout the weekend, discussing a variety of favorite topics. Panel schedules and descriptions are as follows:
Thursday, September 3
8:30p Supernatural Showdown: Formidable Foes Edition - Our panelists will each make a case for why one of the following foes the Winchesters faced was the most formidable: Angels, British Men of Letters, Chuck, the Leviathans, & Lucifer. The audience will get to share their thoughts, then at the end will vote on which panelist made the best defense. (Hanako, Michael)
Friday, September 4
10:00a Inside Monarch: A Legacy of Monsters Fan Panel - Dive into Monarch: Legacy of Monsters with our panelists as we explore its secrets, conspiracies, standout cast, and the big questions the series raises. (Michele)
10:00a MCU - Wonder Man: Behind the Curtain - Wonder Man takes the MCU behind the camera, mixing superhero action with Hollywood satire and an unlikely buddy dynamic. Simon Williams' journey offers a fresh perspective on fame, filmmaking, and where this offbeat series fits in Marvel's larger story. (Michael - Moderator)
11:30a Starship Troopers: Doing Our Part - Fan Panel - Starship Trooper arrived in 1997, and Roughnecks from the movie have invaded Dragon Con. All I can say is everyone panels - nobody quits. Or I'll moderate you myself. (Michael - Moderator)
1:00p The Anti-Hero Generation: Is Is Time for an Intervention? - The age of the flawless hero has given way to complex anti-heroes and sympathetic villains. As audiences embrace morally gray characters, what does that say about us? Is this evolution enriching strytelling, reflecting our changing world, or redefining what we expect from heroes? (Anthony)
2:30p Hawkins Support Group - Unpacking Five Seasons of Stranger Things - Fans unpack every triumph, heartbreak, twist, and wild what?if across all seasons of Stranger Things, revisiting the moments that thrilled, baffled, or broke us while exploring the endings we got - and the one we deserved. (Michele)
4:00p 21 Years of Twilight - Come join us as we reminisce about our favorite sparkly Vampires and the legacy those books have left for YA readers. (hanako)
7:00p Classic Sci-Fi Charity Movie Lock-in: Howard the Duck Our lock-in movies benefit Dragon Con's charity - and every year we present infamous movies...and we LOCK THE DOOR. (You're not for real locked in, you can leave any time, no problemo. But come on: Lea Thompson. Talking duck. We're not sure what else you need in a movie!) (Michael)
7:00p Dragon Dreams - Prophecy rarely means certainty in the worlds of George R.R. Martin. This panel explores how A Song of Ice and Fire and its adaptation Game of Thrones subvert traditional 'chosen one' storytelling. (Anthony)
8:30p Finish Him! Mortal Kombat's New Evolution - From its arcade debut & legendary fatalities to its latest big-screen chapter, Mortal Kombat continues to reinvent itself. As the newest film expands the tournament & its iconic fighters, how does it balance nostalgia with fresh storytelling? What keeps this franchise ready for the next round? (Anthony)
Saturday, September 5
11:30a A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Recap & Review - A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wander Westeros. In an adaptation of George R.R. Martin's novella The Hedge Knight, a young and naive but courageous knight named Ser Duncan the Tall and his diminutive squire Egg face a series of dangerous exploits. (Hanako)
11:30a The Boroughs: Heroes Have No Age - Set in a retirement community where time itself becomes the ultimate enemy, The Boroughs offered a fresh take on Science Fiction & Horror. We'll explore its memorable characters, biggest mysteries, & the emotional themes that made its single season unique amongst other genre offerings.
2:30p Blood, Bad Decision, & the Brat Prince: The Vampire Lestat Fan Panel - A fan-driven look at AMC's adaptation of The Vampire Lestat. We talk about Lestat's evolution, shifting narratives, and his complicated relationships. Why? Because we have opinions. (Note: this panel will focus exclusively on the show's depiction & not the source material.) Joint with Urban Fantasy. (Hanako)
4:00p The Boys: Truth? Justice?...and Vought - Now that the dust has settled, it's time to revisit the complete story. From Homelander, Butcher, and the Seven, to its biting commentary on power, celebrity culture, media and politics, we'll explore the characters, defining moments, and ending that made this superhero saga unlike any other. (Michael - Moderator)
5:30p The Hunger Games Universe - Panem has been a part of our lives for nearly 20 years. The world has only grown in depth as Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping have been added to the pantheon. Let's talk about the universe of The Hunger Games. (Hanako)
7:00p MCU: Punisher/The Last Kill - The Punisher has always walked the line between justice and vengeance. With The Last Kill and his return to the MCU, Frank Castle finds himself in a very different world than before. How does Marvel balance one of its darkest heroes, and what role could he play in the stories ahead? (Michael)
8:30p An Echo in the Bone: The Outlander Series Fan Panel *spoiler warning* - As Outlander, the hit series from STARZ, reaches the end of its run, we've joined with the BritTrack to take a look at this beloved show. Our panel of Super Fans will discuss our favorite moments from the show, our thoughts on its final season, and what this journey has meant to us. (Hanako - Moderator)
8:30p Marvel Recon Revisited: Fannish Style - Not every MCU story landed with every fan. Here's our chance to fix that. The panel and the audience will rewrite plotlines, rework endings, pitch better character arcs, and see if a room full of Marvel fans can create versions that work even better than what made it to the screen. (Michael - Moderator)
10:00p The Worst Person in Westeros - With two new seasons of shows set in Westeros, it is once again time to determine who is the Worst Person in Westeros (Mature Audience) (Hanako)
Sunday, September 6
2:30p Changed For Good: Celebrating Wicked, Part Two - Calling all Ozians! Let's look back at Jon M. Chu's epic cinematic conclusion, Wicked: For Good. Join fellow fans to dissect the stunning musical numbers, emotional plot twists, and how Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande changed Oz forever. (Hanako)
5:30p Cordyceps & Consequences: A Last of Us Conversation - Join fellow fans to explore the emotional depth, fungal horror, and moral dilemmas of The Last of Us. Dive into diverse characters, chilling themes, and the haunting questions of love, loss, survival, and what it truly means to endure in a world reshaped by infections. (Hanako)
7:00p Outlander Prequel: Blood of My Blood *spoiler warning*- For Outlander fans who look beyond the original storyline and are anticipating the next season of Blood of My Blood. In collaboration with BritTrack, panelists will discuss what has happened in the first season and how the themes, characters, and story could grow as the series progresses. (Hanako)
