This weekend saw the return of MCM Comic Con to London’s ExCeL for the first of their two shows held in the country’s capital this year. We really couldn’t have asked for nicer weather, as the sun shone down for the 3 day event, which was great news for most people (unless you were inside a giant Warhammer costume, or sweltering Optimus Prime cosplay!)
For those of you who haven’t been to MCM Comic Con London before, the show is split over 2 giant halls in London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre. Each side as a multitude of vendors selling all sort of geeky paraphernalia, from comic books, to Funko Pops, to the latest fad – the fidget spinner! There’s a bunch of signing tables and photo booths, where the special guests meet the fans, and 3 huge stages around the venue, where the actors and celebrities take part in panels, taking questions from the audience.
Security had been tightened up following the tragic events in Manchester last week, but I just wanted to commend MCM and the security teams for doing an amazing job, and doing it in such a friendly way. They really were excellent, and kept the atmosphere as happy and fun as it usually is.
The Guests
MCM have always been good at drawing in some great special guests to their shows from across the TV and film spectrum, and this year was no exception. Guests included ‘Star Trek’s’ Nichelle Nichols, ‘Star Wars’ Donnie Yen, Daniela Ruah & Eric Christian Olsen from ‘NCIS: LA’, ‘Firefly’s’ Summer Glau & Sean Maher, Greg Austin, Sophie Hopkins & Fady Elsayed from BBC’s ‘Class’, Victor Garber, Echo Kellum, Manu Bennett & Casper Crump from the Greg Berlanti’s ‘Flarrowverse’, KJ Apa from ‘Riverdale’, Luke Mitchell from ‘Blindspot’, Rebecca Breeds from ‘The Originals’, plus many many more!
Although I failed to see a single stage panel this trip, there was a good reason. I spent a lot of the time up in the press rooms getting to interview and video a whole bunch of the guests for your enjoyment. You can check out all our videos in the playlist below.
The Comics
This is of course Comic Con, and what would that be without the comics! There were a huge selection of indie comic book writers and artists displaying their goods. We, of course, stopped by our friends at Subversive Comics, creators of the excellent Bearlands, and Metal Made Flesh, who were selling tasters of their new book, Super Robot MAYHEM. This follows the story of mining vessel which finds the ruins of an ancient Super Robot buried deep into the rock of an asteroid…
I also picked up volume 2 of Flintlock, an excellent anthology series, which featuring a unique range of characters in the 18th Century who shared historical timeline, from female highwayman ‘Lady Flintlock’, to ‘Shanti the Pirate Queen’, to the mysterious automaton ‘The Clockwork Cavalier’!
The Cosplay
The cosplayers had really excelled themselves this year, not only in costume quality, but in variation too! Yes, there were multiple Harley Quinns, Jokers, and Deadpools, but also a lot of other, more individual ideas. Personal favourites for me this year included the girls who had come as the dwarves from ‘The Hobbit’, the couple cosplaying as Dr. Alan Grant & Dr. Ellie Sattler from ‘Jurassic Park’, and the girl dressed as ‘The Walking Dead’s’ Glenn (complete with bulging eye) holding a ‘looking for Maggie’ sign… Still too soon…
You can see all of our cosplay photos from MCM Comic Con London below.
If you’ve never been to a one of these events, I really urge you to go and check out MCM Comic Con, either in London, or at one of the shows they hold around the country throughout the year. Such an amazing, friendly atmosphere, and a great chance to hang out like minded people, and make some new friends.
You can find all the details at the MCM Comic Con website.