Witnessing the mayhem that is MCM London Comic Con was an astounding experience; the cosplay, the events, the merch, the food, the people—it was simply the best experience ever.
The venue – London ExCel – was packed with innumerable stands. There was one stand showing Marvel models so detailed I thought they were the real characters. Another display showcased a huge model of the Transformer Bumblebee, as well as the Infinity Gauntlet from The Avengers and Darth Vader’s head (I’m hoping that wasn’t the real thing).
Also on display were manga, Harry Potter merchandise, replica vintage jewellery, comics, costumes and even signed scripts of famous movies and shows, including Marvel films and Stranger Things. If I weren’t broke, I’d have bought everything.
The most popular cosplays were of Spider-Man, Deadpool, Harley Quinn and a whole lot of anime. Seeing those costumes, especially Spider-Man and Deadpool, was amazing—like an alternate universe with all my favourite characters.
Trying not to get lost was quite an undertaking. Likewise, trying not to wander into the same places over and over again, even with a map, proved difficult.
At one point, I stumbled upon a Game of Thrones display decorated with the Iron Throne and a huge sculpture of the Balerion the Black Dread dragon’s skull. My inner fangirl could not be contained at this point.
I can’t forget that the cast of Shadowhunters also attended the ComicCon as guests. They really were the icing on the cake – the perfect blend of funny, silly and highly professional. They’re a group of actors who seem to love their show as much as the fans do – unless they’re only acting!
Amongst all the fantastic costumes, I was pleasantly surprised to see our very own University of East London represented. Students and staff from games development programmes were there to publicise the #UELgames initiative.
MCM London is an important cultural event, bringing entertainment, celebrities and fans to East London from all over the world. It’s an experience I will never forget.
Photography and Video by Hanaan Sheikh
