Comic Con is not just about comics, it’s a celebration of all fandoms and anything in pop culture in the most awesome way possible. Whether you’re into movies, TV shows, comics, games, or even books, you’re going to find your fellow fans in Comic Con. This is the place to let your inner nerd shine. This is the place where you can feel comfortable being able to quote the first four seasons of The Office almost word for word. This is place to embrace all of the useless horror movie trivia knowledge that you have. This is a place to truly take pride in whatever fandom you are a part of. Are you a potterhead? A whovian? A ghosthead? Sherlockian? Trekie? Warsie? It doesn’t matter. All are welcomed.
London Comic Con is all about having a fan-first experience. This isn’t a place for you to just walk around and look, the creators of this event want you participating, touching things, talking to people, and having a truly immersive experience. You’ll get to meet other fans, celebrities, and even characters.
London Comic Con is actually Southwestern Ontario’s largest Comic Con, so people from all over come to London to check out this cool event. The number of visitors has been steadily growing with each year, and reached over 13,000 in 2017. They even outgrew their venue and had to switch to the Metroland Media Agriplex at the Western Fair District, which is located in Old East Village. This new venue has more floor space, which means an even better event for guests, and even better WiFi!
This event is a great way to meet and connect with people, dive in to your favourite fandoms, and revel in all things nerdy and pop culture. Trust me when I say that this is an event that you really don’t want to miss out on.
Cosplay
To be perfectly honest, one of the best things about Comic Con is the Cosplay. People put time and money and their incredible creative brains into creating the most elaborate and detailed costumes. People really go all out for it. No matter what your fandom is, you can bet that you’ll be able to find someone in Cosplay for that fandom. It’s actually a great way to meet people and bond over your shared love of a specific comic, game, book, movie, show, or character.
But whether your cosplay skills are all levelled up, or you’re starting out as a noob, you’ll feel at home in Comic con.
There is a cosplay corner in the artist alley for those who want to promote their cosplay or their fan group, so if you’re trying to make it as a professional Cosplayer, you’ll want to check that out.
There’s a Lens Mill Store competition for those who participate in cosplay at Comic Con, which means that you have a chance to win cash and prizes, just for having a ton of fun cosplaying all weekend long, which is a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. But of course, if you’re not in to the idea of a competition, you can always just dress up for fun. I mean, how many excuses in the year are there to dress up in costume and play pretend like you used to do when you were a kid? Not many.
In the Cosplay Photo Booth, there is a professional photographer there to take your picture and make you look as awesome as possible in your cosplay outfit. The cool thing is that this is totally free. You get the services of a professional photographer, and the memory captured for life all completely free.
In the Cosplay Headquarters, there is a Cosplay Repair Station with costume experts on site, because if your costume rips, or malfunctions, you wouldn’t want to have to leave to repair it. The experts will have you fixed up and ready to show your love for your fandom in absolutely no time. Comic Con goers can also enjoy the live script readings where voice actors will perform hilarious renditions of classic scripts.
For anyone who loves LARP (Live Action Role Playing), there will be both metal and foam LARP battles throughout the weekend for people to sign up and participate in.
There is also a Cosplay Party where you and all other cosplayers can party and dance the night away. Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to find the Princess Leia to your Hans Solo and party the night away together. It’s a great place to meet other people who have similar interests as you, or to just enjoy hanging out with your friends at a really cool party.
There are a few fandoms that make a prominent appearance at London Comic Con in the Cosplay Headquarters. The first of these is Ghostbusters. With the hilarious new movie that came out a couple years ago and the nostalgia of the original, everyone loves the Ghostbusters. An exclusive Ghostbuster Experience is held at Comic Con and fans can get together and enjoy.
The next feature fan group that is going to be making a prominent appearance is the Canadian Dalek Empire and the Dr. Who Society. Whovians from all over Southwestern Ontario can come and show their die-hard love of the show that has spanned generations. Make sure to get your picture taken with the Tardis and with the Dalek (but keep a close eye on that Dalek. We all know they cannot be trusted).
Of course no pop culture convention would be complete without having Star Wars being a big part of it. We’ve stuck with it from the very beginning in 1977, through 8 movies, with more still coming, and we’re not looking to give it up any time soon. Fans of Star Wars can expect some interactive fun and the chance to hang out with your favourite characters.
Interactive Fan Zones
Get ready for incredibly immersive fan zones where you can not only look, but actually do. Whether you’re a Dr. Who fan, a Star Wars Fan, a gamer, or a total horror nut, you’re going to find really cool zones and enjoy unique experiences. You’ll get to have photo opportunities, see incredible cosplayers, interact with your favourite characters, play games, and you’ll even get the chance to raise money for children’s health foundation.
Sci Fi
Every year London Comic Con brings in a famous vehicle from an actual big hit movie. Imagine getting to see the Batmobile up close and personal. Or maybe the DeLorean from Back to the Future will be the impressive, right-there-in-front-of-you vehicle that you’ll get to see and check out. Whatever it is, you know it’s going to be really cool to see something that you’ve only ever been able to see on the silver screen right there in real life.
Echo Three, which is a popular Star Wars fan group will be hosting the Star Wars Fan Zone. They will be in full costume and anyone who wants to stop by will get to take pictures with the group (with the Death Star as the backdrop) and play some really awesome Star Wars-themed games.
The Nomad Ghostbuster team will be manning the firehouse, fully armed with their proton packs and ghostbusting gear. You’ll be able to take pictures with the crew and will a life size Vigo painting. Enjoy some fully loaded ghostbusting games with the Nomad Ghostbusting team and so much more when you stop by this fan zone.
The Dr. Who Society of Canada and the Canadian Dalek Empire and coming together to host the incredible Dr. Who Fan Zone. You’ll get to see a full sized Tardis (I mean…not on the inside, because…well, Whovians know). You’ll get to meet and interact with fellow Whovians, and you’ll get to see a small army of Dalek robots, so be on guard! They’re only sort of friendly.
Joe Hart’s THING Fest has got to be one of the coolest fan zones in Comic Con. THING is one of the greatest and most nostalgic movies of all time, and in this zone you’ll get to see the largest collection of THING memorabilia and get to see up close, in real life, real and replica movie props. You’ll be totally blown away. The insanely popular YouTube show, Trekyards, will actually be shooting live and in person their YouTube show from London Comic Con and will include a special segment.
Horror
Another popular fan zone is definitely the Monster Museum. Sinister Laboratories puts together in incredible interactive experience each year at Comic Con that sends horror fans into a tizzy of delight. If you’re brave enough to try it out, you’ll get to experience the shocking, horrifying, and terrifying when you dare to enter the Monster Museum. Don’t worry though, the people at Sinister Laboratory have been told not to bite, so you can feel all of the thrill of the horror without the worry.
The Sodat Collectibles’ Putrid Playhouse is not for the faint of heart. Mike Thain is an incredibly talented horror artist and his creepy creations are enough to churn even the strongest of stomachs. He creates custom figures by smashing together the most horrifying of creations to bring you creatures straight out of your nightmares. There is the playhouse photobooth for fans to take pictures in with dolls, toys, and strange creations as props to give you a truly horrifying picture to take with you and cherish forever.
The Horror Zone is going to be where you want to head to if you want to get any ideas for Halloween. Costumes, t-shirts, and movies are just a few of the things that you get get your hands on. You’re also going to find Killer Coffee and Deadly BBQ Sauce and a ton of other incredible merchandise and memorabilia that will speak to your horror heart.
The Horror Zone is also home to come amazingly fun retro horror games. Comic Con goers can take some time to relax and enjoy some thrillingly themed horror games that will take you back in time and hit you with a wave of nostalgia.
Gaming
You know what’s better than playing in an arcade? Playing in a free arcade. Woodstock Custom Arcades is stocking London Comic Con with classic and retro arcade games like Araei, Super Nintendo and Sega. They’ll have the joysticks and buttons from those classic arcade games that filled your childhood. They’re all free to play all weekend, so be prepared to really get into it and enjoy some good old fashioned nostalgia. Woodstock Custom Arcades actually make custom machines that you can order and have made for your own home! Just imagine how cool that would be to have an arcade game that you could play whenever you want with absolutely no line up.
If you’re a big fan of games, take a walk through the History of Video Games, which was curated by the PC Museum.. You’ll get to see everything from the start of video games and their humble beginnings to the biggest videogames to take households by storm. You’ll get the chance to play some really cool historic video games that are really rare and thought to be lost forever. There are incredible artifacts to see too!
The Pinball Arcade is the place to go if you’re a fan of pinball. You’ll get to see classic machines as well as the newest and coolest. Pinball has gotten so advanced in the past few years, you’ll be blown away to see and experience the differences.
If you’re a fan of Risk, then you’re going to love this. There are Risk tournaments throughout the weekend. Some are will the traditional game board, but newly designed versions will be played with as well. They’re designed by Nove-e-Tales. Instructional games are also there and teaching seminars for those who don’t know how to play and want to learn how to conquer the world.
There will be Indie Game Developers there to showcase their work and give you hands on experiences with their games. There are all kinds of games including tabletop, Android and iPhone, and virtual reality games. You’ll be able to experience them all and see what is happening in the Indie Game world. The coolest part is that these games were all created right here in Southwestern Ontario.
Kids Activity Zone
Parents can have the chance to relax while their kids enjoy the Activity Zone, which is geared towards kids and family-friendly entertainment.
Heroes Comics hosts the kids colouring table where kids can colour in beautiful original art pieces created by comic book artists. Kids can sing and dance along with their favourite characters in live sing-a-longs and puppet shows. Your kids will get the chance to meet some of their biggest heroes and favourite characters as they wander through the kids zone. For the gamer kids, there are kid-friends games for them to get their hands on and enjoy playing. There are superhero inspired arts and crafts to keep their hands busy and minds active. Last, but certainly in no way least, there is a bouncy playground to get out all of their pent up energy and excitement.
Movie Screenings
If you’re a film nerd, then you’re going to want to catch some of the awesome screenings that happen at Comic Con. They’ve got a nice, big screen and great sound, so you’ll be immersed in the experience. You’ll be catching the newest flicks from professional and independent filmmakers that are both internationally and locally produced. The films come from all genres, so there is something from everyone. Directors, cast and crew will be there for you to meet and talk to.
Shopping
If you’re heading to London Comic Con, you’re going to want to bring your wallet. They have 100+ vendors selling everything, including trending toys, memorabilia, collectibles, hard to find items, comics, clothing, and even video games.
Workshops & Seminars
Industry insiders lead sessions and workshops so that you can learn the secrets of the trade and all of the insider information. You’ll get to learn about things like comic book history, costume making, costume makeup application, and voice acting. Some sessions are serious debates, debates about latest trends, and podcasts.
Artist Alley
The Artist Alley is a place for professional and up and coming artists and creatives to showcase their amazing talent. You’ll find incredibly unique, handcrafted wares from artists, illustrators, writers, and comic artists. The things you’ll get your hands on in the Artist Alley are things that are original art and include things like buttons, cross stitching, sketches, limited edition prints, and so much more. It’s a great place to look for gifts for Christmas too!
Entertainment
There is a stage and breakout rooms throughout the event that will host fun entertainment for Comic Con goers. You’ll get to see stand up comedy, script readings, live broadcasts, pro-wrestling, martial arts, and even some record-breaking feats. You won’t want to miss a thing so make sure to check out their schedule.
Celebrities
London Comic Con always brings you the best, the most nostalgic, and the coolest celebrity guests. You’ll have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet them and even have a photo taken with them in an intimate setting, so that you’re not overwhelmed by screaming fans as you get this chance to stand with your hero and have your picture taken by a professional photographer. You’ll get a fantastic print you can even choose to get a digital copy so that you can make all of your Instagram followers insanely jealous.
There are media sessions at the Metroland Media Stage where celebrity guests will chat about their career and their lives. Fans are welcomed to ask questions too, so you can FINALLY ask the questions you’ve been wanting to for years and years.
You can also choose to get an autograph from these celebrities with a personalized message to you. Either bring something from home for them to sign, use the photo that you took together, or take one of their provided pics.
Comics
There is a huge comic book area in London Comic Con. I mean, comic is in the name of the event, so how could there not be such a large space dedicated to it?
Both rare and collectable comics can be found in the MASSIVE collection. There are a lot of bargain comics that you can buy too, even as low as $1. Honestly, the collection is huge, so basically, if you’re looking for it, you’ll probably find it here. So you won’t walk away empty handed. You’ll also get to meet amazing creators and illustrators of comics such as Richard Comely,Dan Parent, J. Torres, A Shay Hahn, Fernando Ruiz, Soo Lee Illustrator, Scott Chantler, RB White, Neil Collyer and most subscribed comic book Youtuber, ‘Caped’ Joel Daly.
After Parties
There are going to be after parties located all over the city, both dance nights and pub nights. Keep an eye on the schedule to make sure you don’t miss out on partying with your fellow nerds in at least one party or another.
If you’ve never been to London Comic Con, or any Comic Con, then try it out this year. You won’t believe how much there is to take in and how much fun you can have. Make sure you’re checking out the schedule so that you don’t miss anything that you’re really looking forward to. Trust me, it’ll be a weekend that you never forget.