Cosplayers set to strut stuff at biggest Scots Comic Con ever
IT IS Scotland’s largest celebration of pop culture, the destination point for fans of superheroes, sci-fi and strutting around in outlandish costumes. The MCM Scotland Comic Con returns to Glasgow next week, promising to be bigger and better than ever before. Now in its fifth and biggest ever year, a staggering 32,000 people are expected to descend on the SECC for a packed weekend of geeky fun with comics, computer games, and celebrities from TV and the internet all making an appearance.
“It’s hard to get any bigger than we are now because of the size of the venue. We’ve taken up so many halls we are now at capacity,” said organiser Bryan Cooney.
“We’re very, very pleased to be in Scotland and people are very excited to be coming along.
“The convention is somewhere they can shop and dress up, and meet comic artists and other fans who share their passions and their interests.”
He added: “The Scottish crowd always come with a big smile on their faces.”
Since the inaugural show in 2011, the Comic Con has grown to embrace many aspects of pop culture.
This year’s show will feature a number of guests who have become famous over the internet, rather than the airwaves – something the organiser said is becoming more of a draw for the convention’s fans.
“YouTube stars are becoming the new celebrities. If someone has 20 million views and four million subscribers, then they are being watched by more people, more regularly, than a lot of TV shows,” said Cooney.
No celebration of the weird and wonderful worlds conjured up in the pages of comic books would be complete without the legions of fans who come in fancy dress, and “cosplayers” are expected to be a familiar sight over the weekend.
Cooney said: “The funny thing about cosplay is that not everybody who dresses up comes along and takes part in the competition. They come to show off to others what they have made, and give advice and take pointers from others.
“It’s a whole scene about making something and being creative while trying to emulate a character from a TV show, or a film or game or whatever. The convention gives people the chance to come along and be someone else for a couple of days. You can be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a mechan- ic in real life but for a couple of days you’re Iron Man, or whoever.”
He added: “There’s nobody doing it on this scale in Scotland. There are other comic conventions and sci-fi conventions, but no-one is bringing together comics and games, TV, the internet, celebrities and things like wrestling and so on.
“This is the place to go for all those interested in sci-fi and comics culture. It’s the big one, and we have the right venue for the right show.”
Highlights of this year’s Comic Con include:
TV/FILM – Iconic British sci-fi stars Sylvester McCoy, who played the panama-sporting Seventh Doctor from 1987-89, and Red Dwarf’s Chris Barrie, soon to return to TV screens as cowardly hologram Arnold J Rimmer in the much-loved sitcom’s season XI, are the headline special guests at this year’s Comic Con. Also appearing is Doctor Who actor Simon Fisher-Becker and Andrew Lee Potts (Primeval, Band of Brothers), who’ll be presenting a new episode of his futuristic web series Wireless. Other guests include Sean Kelly and Jesse McClure, the host and breakout star of addictive auction show Storage Hunters; and Chris Barrie’s former Red Dwarf star Hattie Hayridge, who played the ship’s computer Holly in seasons III-V. INTERNET – YouTube star Meg Turney, former presenter with the Rooster Teeth channel, heads the line-up of internet stars. The avid cosplayer will be joined by comedian Tom “Tomska” Ridgewell and Hilly and Hannah Hindi, creators of über-popular musical parodies on The Hillywood Show.
COMICS – Anime has a huge following in Scotland and few of its creators are as big as Reo Kurosu, producer of the hugely successful Berserk series along with Fullmetal Alchemist and The Heroic Legend of Arslan. Visitors will also see a star of the printed page in the shape of legendary artist, writer and editor Bob Layton, the man behind Iron Man during the series’ 1980s heyday. A host of up-and-coming creators will be in the show’s Comic Village area too, with dozens of independent producers showing off their work.
GAMES – Fans of the beat-em-up Street Fighter will compete in a PS4 eSports competition on both days. Aficionados are encouraged to bring their own controller. The Comic Con will also see an appearance from Insane Championship Wrestling on both days.
COSPLAY – Hundreds of cosplayers are expected at this year’s event. A masquerade will be held, with cosplayers showing off their creations or performing on stage.