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Review: Birmingham Comic Con March 2014

By James Drakeford

Posted: 17th April 2014 11:34

While the UK convention scene has continued to grow over the last few years, the biggest event is undeniably the world-famous, Comic Con.  Bringing all the geeky goodness of MCM London Comic Con – Europe’s leading festival of popular culture – to the Midlands, the 22nd and 23rd March saw The NEC host the annual multi-genre fan event.

Featuring twice yearly and returning to Birmingham for another year, the eagerly awaited MCM Birmingham Comic Con and Memorabilia saw thousands flock to what can only be described as a jam-packed, geek fest.  Whether you’re into comics, movies, sci-fi, anime, (video) games, cosplay or collectables, nothing about this event was to be missed.  While the weekend and its going-ons are of a distinct market, developing or finding ones inner geek is what’s so beautiful about it. The family friendly atmosphere was very strong - a fun day out for the kids and a lot of fun for the grown-ups.  Whether you’re a religious attendee or were participating for the first time, both the familiar and new generation won’t have been disappointed. 

For first timers, the likes of MCM Birmingham Comic Con was the social event of the spring, and many had arrived in costume, determined to look amazing and ready to enjoy and embrace everything this fantastic event had to offer.  From amazing anime, colourful cosplay, great games and the most renowned and highly regarded comic creators in the business, fans were promised nothing less than the best – and so they delivered.  On top of having so much to do and participate in throughout the weekend, Comic Con’s line-up of special guests was enough to send any fandom frantic. 

The MCM main stage guaranteed the best performances, industry panels, competitions, giveaways as well as the opportunity to see the eagerly awaited promos and trailers for the best upcoming movies and games.  Comic Con included such names as Sleepy Hollow stars Nicole Beharie, Katia Winter and Lyndie Greenwood, Bitten’s Greyston Holt, Primeval’s Andrew Lee Potts and Mass Effect’s Courtenay Taylor.  Meanwhile, the segment of the weekend devoted to Memorabilia – the UK’s biggest collectors event – seeing a huge welcome to a host of guests including Whitechapel and Sherlock’s Phil Davis, Game of Thrones and Braveheart sensation James Cosmo, The Wire’s Clarke Peters and Doctor Who stars Paul McGann, Peter Purves and Louise Jameson. 


This year, MCM Birmingham Comic Con 2014 was an effortlessly produced, highly organised event. Everyone, from the masses of stormtroopers to the children and adults dressed as their big screen, little screen and everything in between favourites seemed to have a great day. While the NEC saw the general public eager to get the full on geek experience, that was merely a taster of the immensity of things to come later on this year for the second round of Comic Con, back again in Birmingham.  

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