SoonerCon 31 recap
Norman, Oklahoma convention embraces cyberpunk theme
Cyberpunk and more were explored at this past weekend’s SoonerCon 31, held June 30-July 2 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center, 2501 Conference Drive, in Norman, Oklahoma.
Bringing an immersive experience was the “Zephyrcon” cyberpunk adventure taking place at the show and behind the scenes. The Neon Rascals opposed technologist Harlan Zephyr’s plans for a new technology with a dark side. I hope SoonerCon continues to explore the idea of having a “story behind” the con to delve into – even though I didn’t have time to do more than have a few cursory conversations with a few of the principals, it was still a lot of fun!
Some of the videos explaining the storyline are still viewable at the SoonerCon YouTube page.
SoonerCon is a different style of shows than many others; there are a wide variety of panels on all kinds of subjects. I always find it one of the social highlights of the season and this year was no exception; it’s a great event to catch up with friends new and old.
There are so many tracks of programming happening that it’s possible to have an entirely different SoonerCon experience than someone else at the same show. I enjoyed seeing panels with Billy West (“Futurama”), “Star Trek” expert Larry Nemecek, and the McTeggart Irish Dancers of Oklahoma.
It’s worth mentioning that Nemecek makes it a point to return to his home state of Oklahoma to attend SoonerCon annually. In 2022, Nemecek, an author, podcaster, historian, and Star Trek expert, was named to SoonerCon’s Oklahoma Speculative Fiction Hall of Fame. It’s a well-deserved honor for an Oklahoman who has made a big impact on fandom with his interviews and insights.
I also sat in on a marketing panel by Robot House founder Brian Winkeler. WInkeler, also a comic-book writer, shared ideas on building a personal brand as a creative. He also talked about the SoonerCon rebrand undertaken by Robot House, which I thought was a positive update for the overall look of the show.
JediOKC members crafted a “Star Wars” town, called Kah’Maloo, in the North Hall of the Embassy Suites. This immersive location had multiple locations for fun pictures, and depending on when you stopped by, several interactive characters as well.
While I haven’t seen official numbers, it felt like a very robust convention in terms of attendance and fan excitement.
Next year’s SoonerCon is slated for June 21-23, 2024 in Norman.
Matthew Price, matthew@matthewlprice.com, has written about the comics industry for more than two decades. He is the co-owner of Speeding Bullet Comics in Norman, Oklahoma.