Inside: A review of MCM Comic Con London 2022. (Press tickets)
I’ve always heard Comic Con mentioned in US tv shows and movies and thought they sounded awesome. So when we were invited along to the MCM Comic Con in London I jumped at the chance to see what it would be like.
Comic Cons celebrate comic books, anime, film, science fiction, fantasy genres, and more. Many people choose to come in costume which is an amazing spectacle in itself but there is so much to do – a great way to spend the day!
This post will share our experience at MCM Comic Con as a family. I hope it inspires you to go along next year.
What is a Comic Con?
Comic Con is short for Comic book Convention and the very first events really were more of a convention, with dealers sharing comic books, film screenings and featured panels discussing all things comic related.
These days, the events are huge with such a range of things to do and celebrating more than comic books, with anime, fantasy games and science fiction being fan favourites.
MCM Movie Comic Media
MCM Comic Con (with MCM standing for Movie Comic Media) has been running since 2001 and runs twice a year with venues currently in London and Birmingham. The event runs from a Friday to a Sunday, with tickets available for individual days or as a full 3-day pass.
Children aged 10 and under go free too so it is a great day out for families as well as for those without children.
Do you have to dress up?
One of the best things about going to a Comic Con event is the fact that you can dress up as your favourite character, whether that be Batman, Pikachu or Eleven from Stranger things. Whatever you interest, you are free to express yourself any way you choose.
But if you don’t want to dress up, there is absolutely no expectation to do so. There are plenty of people wandering around in casual jeans and t-shirt etc… so do what feels most comfortable to you.
We all went in our casual clothes, besides my 8 year old who wore a long red cape. And I have to say, having been once and seen all of the amazing costumes everyone had put together, we will all be dressing up next year!
Things to do
I can totally see why some people would buy a 3-day weekend ticket as there is so much to see and do. But for us as a family, one day was enough for little legs.
There are different zones for different events and activities, with a gaming area, autograph signing area, food stalls etc… so it is quite easy to navigate and work towards the specific zones you want to visit.
There is also a dedicated app for the event, which has a map to help guide you around the venue. You can also bookmark the different events and activities you want to see and do so that you don’t miss anything out.
Some of our favourite zones were:
The Treehouse
A dedicated family space with storytelling sessions, face-painting, arts and crafts and more.
I love that the event organisers have considered children and provided them with an area to relax in. As much as the whole event is perfectly child-friendly, sometimes you need to have a sit down and play for a bit to re-charge, right?
We especially enjoyed the craft table where we were invited to decorate our own MCM Comic Con mugs. A lovely calming activity with something to remember the day by – perfect!
Pop Asia
Definitely my favourite area and one we would head to again next time. We learned how to draw faces in manga style which was so much fun and something I would like to have more practice with.
Not too bad for my first try, don’t you think?
There was also an origami station with the most incredible pieces on display, including a giant origami rowing boat. So impressive!
Of course we had a try making our own – more practice needed but lots of fun!
There was also dancing going on a regular intervals, with various dance groups taking to the floor to show off their moves. All 3 of my children were mesmerised and enjoyed watching the different styles of movement.
Tabletop
The Tabletop Games area is an absolutely fantastic idea and we spent a good couple of hours enjoying the space.
In a nutshell, the room has tables and chairs set out with each table having a selection of games to try. It sounds simple but it is genius really. How often do you pick up a game in a store, read the description and end up putting it back because you don’t know whether it would be any good?
Having the games set up on tables and being able to sit down and give each game a full try means you can see which games you like. That way you go ahead and buy them safe in the knowledge that you are going to enjoy them!
We tried out a tonne of games, added some to our Christmas list but actually came home with two of them as we enjoyed them so much.
My 11 year old also enjoyed watching a game of Dungeons and Dragons that was going on at one of the tables. Sometimes you have to see something in action to understand it and D&D is definitely one of those I think.
Artist Alley & Retailer Tables
A convention wouldn’t be a convention without people showing off their wares, and there was so much to see.
From t-shirts and cosplay items to gorgeous artwork and intricate models, there really is something for everyone to enjoy.
It can get a little bit busy and crowded so maybe overwhelming for some children, but everyone is so happy and smiley that it just had a great vibe as you moved up and down the different stalls.
Is it suitable for children?
I wasn’t sure how much the children would enjoy it but they all came away saying they’d had the best day and that they want to go again next year.
They definitely need to have an interest in one of the genres to get something out of it but otherwise it is just a feast for the eyes.
We didn’t spend time listening to any of the talks or queuing for autographs etc… partly because we filled our day with so much else, but also because the kids just wouldn’t have been interested in that. But the crafts, the dancing, the browsing the stalls, and playing the games all went down a treat.
Not to mention star-spotting all of their favourite characters walking by. Plus, the people who dress up are always happy to stop and have a photo taken and love that you appreciate their costume.
Buy tickets for 2023
MCM Comic Con will be back in 2023 in both London and Birmingham and tickets are on sale now.
Head over to the MCM Comic Con website to find out more.
We will definitely be going. Will you?