UK nerds, cosplayers and film fans have had three glorious days celebrating comic books, superheroes, manga and everything else geek culture at the MCM London Comic Con.
Taking place in the ExCel, fans were able to meet actors of both big and small screen and get their things signed and photo taken. As well as video games and veterans of the convention circuit and this weekend MCM pulled off some big names.
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| IMAGE VIA MCM LONDON COMIC CON |
Deadpool’s Brianna Hildebrand and Stefan Kapicic, Letitia Wright was back in her home city to talk things Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, Lucifer star Tom Ellis is continuing his #SaveLucifer tour following the show's cancellation, LEGO Batgirl Rosario Dawson, David Harewood from Supergirl and among the other names there is no bigger than the greatest Batman ever in Kevin Conroy.
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It’s amazing this weekend was as big as it was with the likelihood of hundreds of thousands attended MCM as across the Thames in Kensington was Heroes and Villains Fan Fest featuring stars from Arrow, The Flash, Riverdale, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, The Gifted, Gotham and the legend John Barrowman.
I previously attended MCM before nearly three years ago now has become twice the size since then and it’s safe to say it’s the biggest con in the UK but still small compared to our American friends.
Walking around getting sore feet, I saw the growth with Hollywood studios taking a little more interest with Universal bringing photo opportunities involving Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Skyscraper then Warner Bros were there too. Elsewhere, Amazon Studios were showing off their new Jack Ryan TV show, DC Comics had their own booth selling clothing, but oddly not comic books.
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Additionally, with Funko Pop! figures becoming the drug of collectors and nerds (even I’m hooked man!) having their own massive store with long queues throughout the day. People were even saying there was a queue the minute doors opened as us Brits love standing in a line for hours on end.
The special guests, Hollywood studios involvement, the big rad booths, the Esports tournaments are all a sign of growth for MCM and it’s great to see since even back then. However, there’s still areas to improve as MCM London has the real potential to become the UK’s SDCC.
Because if Brazil Comic-Con can get major film studios like Sony and Fox to bring properties like Venom and New Mutants. Then with major blockbuster franchise films from Warner Bros and Marvel filming in the UK the next step is to get these studios on board to do panels, reveal states and announcements, for example, if The Flash was filming in WB’s Leavesden studios the cast could do a quick hello and talk about their excitement.
What would also bring in more major names if Empire Magazine (depending what’s happening with Empire Live) or Total Film got involved as a main/major sponsor and host film screenings and a live episode of their podcast in the case of Empire.
In which case moving from the Excel might need to be looked at. Even though it’s a great venue, transport is a little tricky as you need to catch multiple tubes (which isn’t an issue) and the middle on the convention centre is very tight with all the food stands taking place in the centre.
Which is why moving it to The O2 Arena might be an idea, as it’s big enough to hold everything from film screenings and maybe smaller panels using Cineworld, the Indigo could be used as extra seating for the main arena panels as well as a home for more panels and the podcasts.
That would depend on if you could use Building Six as the place for all the store standees to buy all your anime and film collectables, comics, merchandise and other bits and pieces.
If not or as an added bonus the Indoor Spaces – The Open Quarter is there for the other stalls. Meanwhile. the other Indoor Space is the place to chill out, Brooklyn Bowl is for Cosplay competitions, quizzes and another interview space.
Finally, Building Six is where us nerds can get fucked up!!! Then the main arena is the “Hall H.”
However, it’s an idea let me know how you feel about it or if you think there’s somewhere better home in London for MCM could expand or if you think the Excel is the ideal home.
Finally, the reason we go to conventions is that we’re with our know people, it’s a great day when strangers talk to each other to say how amazing their cosplay looks and then taking photos.
When taking a break and sitting on the floor (before learning there was a press room) I saw two teenage boys, no more than 15, in tracksuits walk past and overheard one saying to the other “We’ve taken so many pictures with hot girls in anime costumes.”
If that does show signs of how cool and awesome us geeks our then I don’t know what will! Because yes there was some hot girls and good looking, ripped blokes in cosplay.
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| IMAGE VIA ROGER ALARCON |
If that does show signs of how cool and awesome us geeks our then I don’t know what will! Because yes there was some hot girls and good looking, ripped blokes in cosplay.
Some of my favourites walking around was a bloke dressed in full Lex Luther mech suit, a couple of Hela’s from Thor and a woman as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and her friend as the Kansas house.
Yet, walking around I didn’t see any water dispensers around the con and on a bloody hot day and overall weekend it would’ve been a smart move to give these cosplayers somewhere to get water just in case someone passed out.
If you've never gone to a Comic-Con, it’s crazy and there are a shit load of people but it’s something you should experience just because (minus the pushing passing each other without saying sorry) everyone is just the loveliest and at the end of the day it’s three days of being comfortable of being who we are.
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