Kate Reilly James

We came, we saw…..and by the power of grey skull…..it kicked ass!

I was apprehensive about my first Comic Con, in conversations before the event I was throwing around words like ‘Nerd’ and ‘Geek’ and tutting anytime my sister piped up about her beloved Dr Who (sorry I’m not a fan) I expected to feel completely out of my depth and very much out of date among crowds of young fans. Luckily my deep affection for comic art and Batman (got to be Michael Keaton for me) meant there was no way I was missing out, and who doesn’t love a jaunt to Manchester?

Manchester Central held the convention this year and rounding the corner of Watson Street, I was blown away by the sheer numbers of Cosplay fans who had gone all out to pay homage to their favourite characters. I was met in the foyer by Star Wars wookies, Chewey looking particularly menacing at 12 feet tall…..only to walk smack-bang into The Riddler and his girlfriend, Poison Ivy and step on the cloak of Maleficent who apologised to me for getting in the way! I couldn’t have looked any more like a newbie than if I was carrying a watermelon! However, they all smiled and happily posed for photo’s while chatting about how much fun they have preparing for Comic Con and meeting up with other Cosplay fans.

 
 Initiation complete, I threw my press badge around my neck and wandered into the exhibition hall to browse the trade stalls. To my utter delight I was met with wall to wall merchandise for My Little Pony, Adventure Time, Power Puff Girls, Marvel, DC, Pokemon, Storm Troopers, Breaking Bad, Dr Who (booooo hiss) and all manner of Anime and Minecraft stuff too. Comic Con is advertised as a family friendly event and thanks to Kate’s Craft Parties who ran the kids craft stalls and competition, there were tonnes of cute little Robin’s, Ironmen, Queen Elsa’s and Princess Bubblegum’s running around in their orange capes with their faces painted (including my three, who had a ball) There was so much to do from Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred discussing all things Dr Who on the guest star panel, to actual Robot Wars and gaming galore at the Xbox stand.

Having bought some Lego, lanyards, badges and Adventure Time teddies and died a few times on various Xbox games, I moved out into the large seated area and began talking to some fans. Everyone I spoke to was so friendly, passionate and infinitely knowledgeable, particularly when I asked ‘Which character are you?’….super fans! Some had travelled from over 100 miles away, in full costume to meet up with other Cosplayers, and even looking over my photographs now I’m still stunned by the attention to detail in both costume and styling (I can barely keep mascara on all day never mind imitate the Joker for 8 hours solid)

  I’ve put all of my Comic Con photographs on my Inspiration page, which you can find here because that’s exactly what you guys are, inspirational. With non-priority tickets at just £11 and kids under 10 go free, people of the Glorious North, get yourselves to Comic Con 2016 for an awesome family day out.

A huge thank you to everyone who agreed to be photographed….you absolutely made my kids day……as we left my two girls turned to me and said ‘Mum that was well better than Disneyland Paris’

Enough said.