MCM Manchester Comic Con | The Complete Lowdown
Gigamover Jo Watson headed up to Manchester for a weekend of fun and cosplay at this year's MCM Manchester Comic Con. And boy did he have a busy time! It was a weekend full of stars and exhibitors galore, artists willing to give their time to chat about their work, and overall brilliant event organisation. But who did Gigamov crown the Top 5 Cosplayers? Stay tuned...
The Con Comes To Town
This July weekend (29th-30th) saw the return of the annual MCM run 'Manchester Comic Con'. As cliche as it sounds, it really is true when I say that this year was bigger and better than ever!
If you've never been to a pop culture convention, including those run by MCM, never fear: this guide will give you not only a review of this year's Con in Manchester, but also what to expect in 2018...
Preparation Is Key
There are not only different types of tickets, but when you get to the venue, there are different entrances based on the type of ticket you purchase.
Your choice of attire is something to consider - especially when it comes to footwear. A good pair of boots or shoe will make the day much more enjoyable because believe you me - you're going to do a hell of a lot of walking.
And here's the big one: money. You're inevitably going to want to buy all manner of goodies. Especially 'con exclusives', photos with guest stars and more. But you also need to remember food and drink, too.
The Sunday show was open 10:00am - 5:00pm, and as good as the selection of food was (both hot and cold), one hot dog alone cost a whopping £5. While the show is incredibly fun, it is also exhausting, so food is a necessity, and it begins to add up.
What To Expect
When you finally get through the plethora of gates and onto that floor, the first thing to hit is... everything. Seriously. It's sensory overload, but in the best possible way. If you're lucky enough to be one of the first few hundred through the door, you'll see just how spacious and well set out everything is. The stalls are huge and sectioned up nicely.
You then have an area for food, 'Artist Alley', the guest zone, and a kids' zone, too. The 'problem' is the attendance. These shows sell out and sell out fast, but that just adds to the experience. You will meet so many new people, and be introduced to so many new fandoms that the hustle and bustle of it all won't play on your mind as much as you may think
Safety And Security
As a parent of a 4-year-old, I've often wondered if a convention was somewhere I should bring my daughter to. As much as she'd love it (especially the dressing up!), I am anxious about the size of it all. What if she gets lost? What if she gets hurt? Or worse... what if she gets tired and bored?
Thankfully, MCM has taken all these things into consideration for us geeky parents. Not only are there stewards on and around the site, but also lots of police and security presence, too. I can imagine a lot of parents would be hesitant to allow their teen children to go alone (and rightly so), but from what I saw, the venue was in very good hands. First aiders and ambulance crew were on standby, too.
My Experience And Conclusion
There was so much going on that I could easily dedicate a page to each and every encounter I had that day. @MrEchoAngel and @RecklessHeroHQ are not only very talented artists (examples of their work can be seen below) but also really awesome and down to earth individuals who add to the whole experience of going to a convention. They spoke not only of their work and inspirations but also of their experiences that weekend.
We also have to talk Cosplay, too. The sheer diversity of characters represented was mind-blowing. Some I knew (and loved), while others I hadn't a clue about! But they were all amazing, and worthy of recognition.
So to round off this overview of a very well put together, wonderful event, we proudly present to you the official Gigamov Top 5 Cosplayers of Manchester Comic 2017!
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
Until next year...
