2019 is the year that I attended my very first Manchester Comic Con. For years we have been curious about them, having see so many people in costume around Manchester. So while it was lashing it down on Saturday, we headed for cover in Manchester Central to check it out!
Manchester Comic Con
I have heard about Comic Con and a couple of friends of mine are into cos play, so I knew I would be in for a treat. What I didn’t expect was how incredibly busy it would be!
After bypassing the ‘Free Tommy Robinson’ crowds and the remnants of Boris Johnson being in the city, we were glad to see plenty of fantasy costumes. Not only did they brighten the mood, but they made a very rainy day a bit more colourful too.
A swift bag check and a really slow wait in the queue for tickets (which seconds later were ripped and binned) we were in the convention centre.
It has been a very long time since I have been to an event in Manchester Central (or GMEX) that I had forgotten what an expansive place it is. Even with hundreds and thousands of people there. Having no idea where to start or how to tackle the space, we just headed onward.
So much stuff
Every turn had me immersed in more and more brightly coloured merchandise! From retro gaming (which I was tempted by) to Tofu Cute and graphic film posters (also tempted) I don’t think I have ever seen so much eclectic stuff packed into one space before – and I regularly go to craft shows!
After wandering around the show space, I was disappointed to only see a very small amount of Studio Ghibli products. I was kind of hoping to grab a Totoro or a Soot Sprite, but had no such luck. It did make me wonder whether my choice of comic inspiration wasn’t quite the same as the younger crew.
Although I do know the T-rex from social media, so I’m not that out of it. Actually, to be honest, I was surprised about how much I did know!
Inclusive and friendly
I really wish I had been able to grab a photograph of the Deadpool and Spiderman conga line. The loyalty between people dressing as the same characters and between ones from the same comics was amazing! A handshake here, a conversation and sharing of photos. It was like a giant group of friends. And friends of all different ages and from all kinds of backgrounds. It was certainly an inclusive kind of place and I likes it!
Time well spent
Considering we weren’t in the market for the shopping element of the event, we thought that we would only be there for a short time. Three hours later, we had checked out the costumes of attendees, explored the merchandise, seen some steam punk and VR and so much more.
Visiting Manchester Comic Con was a really fun experience. Whether or not I would do it again, I am not sure? But for a very rainy day in the city, I had an excellent few hours learning something new and experiencing another world! If there were more Studio Ghibli next time, that might swing the balance.
Have you been to a Comic Con before? What did you think of it?
Let me know in the comments below.
Manchester Comic Con
Find out more about Manchester Comic Con.
Manchester Central, Windmill St, Manchester M2 3GX