Annual Regina comic book convention goes the way of planet Krypton

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This article was published 23/07/2025 (438 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA – An annual Saskatchewan comic and pop culture convention has gone the way of Superman’s planet Krypton, leaving behind a trail of sad and disappointed fans.

The Saskatchewan Entertainment Expo says on social media it’s dissolving due to low attendance in recent years, venue issues and other problems. 

“It’s our sincere hope that if anyone attempts an event of this size in the future, they have the full support of the city and the venue,” the company said this week. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chad Boudreau, owner of the ComicReaders store in Regina, said Wednesday it’s a loss for the fandom.

He said the convention never fully recovered after the COVID-19 pandemic, and hasn’t again been able to attract high-calibre celebrity guests.

“It’s a mess and I feel bad for everyone,” he said. “Maybe not everyone’s all that excited to gather anymore.”

Hunter Dooley is the owner of Critical Relics, which makes dice, boxes and carvings of creatures. She said she purchased a booth at a cost of $189 for this year’s event but doesn’t expect a refund.  

“We have not really had any communication, which is really unfortunate. We had the one email sent to us back in 2024 (before that year’s show was cancelled),” Dooley said. 

“A lot of people are feeling pretty upset, pretty aggravated, which is totally understandable. We don’t have a lot going for us in the sense of ‘nerd’ community.”

Rob Hoskins, the owner of the Comic Book Guy Pop Culture Shop in Moose Jaw, west of Regina, said the convention helped people come together. 

“It’s a great venue for the nerds to get out there and rub elbows with other nerds,” he said.

In 2023, the convention brought in celebrities from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “The Walking Dead” and “Power Rangers,” but there was no event last year.

The expo launched in 2019 after its predecessor, Fan Expo, ended its Regina convention in 2018. Fan Expo had brought in celebrities William Shatner of “Star Trek” and James and Oliver Phelps, known as the Weasley twins on the “Harry Potter” series.

Saskatchewan Entertainment Expo is the latest event in Regina to go belly up. 

The Regina Folk Festival earlier announced it was shutting down for good. The Regina Fringe Festival said it was cancelling its 2025 event. 

Other festivals, including the annual midway, dragon boat races and music by Wascana Lake, are still planned this year. In May, the city held the Cathedral Village Arts Festival, one of its largest events. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025.