Last weekend my girlfriend, Caroline and I visited the MCMComic Con expo at Excel near Canary Wharf. This was the second time we’d
attended – last year had been a very packed exhibition with a guest appearance
from fantasy’s favourite dwarf, Warwick Davis. (Peter Dinklage still has a bit
of a way to come in my opinion; maybe he’ll be there by the end of Game ofThrones).
As we arrived later in the day than last year, it was easier
to navigate around the countless stalls exhibiting treasures from all parts of
the science fiction, fantasy, horror and comic book worlds. My personal
favourite was the Back To The Future stall, allowing people the chance to get
their picture taken in the immortal DeLorean wearing Marty McFly’s puffer
jacket.
But above all other things that made the con such a blissful
escape from the outside world, it was the cosplayers who made it memorable. Caroline
even took the time to dress up in a very handsome Harley Quinn costume inspired
by the Gothic Lolita fashion she adores.
Caroline as Harley Quinn with Poison Ivy and Catwoman.
Here are just a few of the many pictures we took:
Steampunk Snow White, looking very badass.
Daft Punk made a guest appearance.
A Steampunk warrior.
Team Rocket! (Hey James, what did you do with that bikini?)
A family day out for some special feline friends.
Meeting a Hero
No comic book convention is complete without a guest
appearance from a notable actor, writer or director. This year’s guest was
British actor Danny John-Jules, famed for his portrayal of Cat in the legendary Red Dwarf.
It was certainly a pleasure meeting such a funny man, but I
wanted to meet him because he starred in the 90s TV show The Demon Headmaster
where he played gameshow host Eddie Hair. Interestingly, Jules told me the
actor Terrence Hardiman, who portrayed the megalomaniac teacher, lived close to
his house.
I’m not much of a ‘fanboy’ when it comes to meeting
celebrities, but without The Demon Headmaster, I don’t think I would have
become the person I am now. That TV show introduced me to totalitarianism, enforced
my hatred of high school and taught me to always question authority.
Here’s to Mr Jules. Hope I see you on TV again soon.
Comment: The Absence
of Gender in Cosplaying
One of the things I noticed this year is how cosplayers
dress up in their favourite characters regardless of their gender. This reminded
me of a female coursemate at college who was obsessed with The Legend of Zelda
and attended every meet up and video game con dressed as Link, the game’s hero.
Seeing male cosplayers dressed as female heroes like Lara Croft and Chell of Portal
was excellent because it gave me the impression that gender does not matter in
the comic book and gaming world – everyone has a favourite and isn’t scared to
show their admiration.
Furthermore, seeing girls dressed as male heroes and
embracing the character they represent made it clear that video gaming is no
longer a ‘boys club’ as so many critics tend to brand it. I am aware that there
is still a pretty long way to go for the video game when it comes to female
characters – but that proverbial journey has certainly begun. The recent Tomb Raider game was, in my opinion, the spark needed to start the battle for better
women characters in gaming, and who better to make it so, than the fans who
devote their lives to the world of cosplay and comic books.
Science fiction, graphic novels and video gaming is
cynically maligned as ‘escapism’ by many social critics – but it’s certainly a
good label if they represent a world where gender is more equal and understood
than in the patriarchal reality.
See you next year MCM. Keep up the good work.
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