LCC Spring 2023 / Basingstoke Comic Con

First Comic Con Of The Year Spring 2023 Sat 4th March

First Comic Con of the year starts in the Spring with London Comic Con. My friend Duncan decided to join me, for his first Comic Con.

As this was his first time, Spring Comic Con was ideal. As, Duncan, is also a wheelchair user, Spring Comic Con wasn’t crowded. So it was easier to navigate around the various vendors and presentations.

Duncan and I at LCC Spring 2023

Marc Singer

Elizabeth Henstridge

A Quiet Con For The Start Of The Year

It was quieter than I was used to. For a venue that could hold a large number of people, it seemed overly too large for the numbers that attended.

It may have something to do the the calibre of guests attending the event. There certainly weren’t any Class A guests, strictly speaking they’re usually aren’t at events like this, but the number of Class B guests was down to three. Whereas, in previous events there were were many more guests, both relevant to current trends and those of previous.

This year there were more Class C guests, that even though they may not have been a relevant or important character, they were a lesser or background character.

For more information visit London Film and Comic Con.

Sue Storm-Richards ‘Fantastic Four’

Wednesday Addams ‘The Addams Family’

Ursa ‘Superman ll’

‘Star Wars’ Bounty Hunter

Sexy Cosplayer

Storm ‘X-Men’

Marc Singer

Elizabeth Henstridge

LFCC 2022 / LCC Winter 2022

Handmaid ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ - Cosplayer

Hot But Cool - London Film & Comic Con 2022 Sat 9th July

*Click on the images to enlarge them

It sure was a hot one this year, and that was just the temperature. In the middle of a heatwave it was going to be tough being in Cosplay for many. So it was no surprise that this year not many were in large Cosplay outfits. To make it comfortable for all, especially those in Cosplay, the venue ramped up the AC.

I managed to queue up early, and was queuing up indoors and found ourselves on the first floor of Olympia Hall. So we overlooked the ground floor where the traders were.

Basingstoke Comic Con Sat 20th May

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Basingstoke’s first Comic Con was a great success, grabbing Tom Sturridge (The Sandman) for the Friday, Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead) for the Saturday and, David Tennant (Doctor Who) for the Sunday, as their headline guests.

I was there on the Saturday to meet JDM, and was a bit dubious of the event, especially that it was being held in a hotel. But, it all went well and was organised adequately. There just seemed to be a little confusion during the queuing for JDM’s talk.

Basingstoke Comic Con secured many well known guests like; Ben Browder of ‘Farscape’; James Callis of ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and Joe Flanigan of ‘Stargate: Atlantis’. There were also many other guests known from ‘Stargate: Atlantis’.

For more information visit Basingstoke Comic Con

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Q&A Stage Talk at Basingstoke Comic Con

©️2023 Redshirt Sid

Daryl ‘The Walking Dead’

JDM On Stage Talk

Carl Grimes ‘The Walking Dead’

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

LFCC 2015 / SFCC 2015

Ripley and Newt - ‘Aliens’

My first Comic Con experience - London Film & Comic Con 2015 Sat 18th July

*Click on the images to enlarge them

I was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis two years ago; I was wondering how I was going to keep myself mentally and physically stimulated.

As a fan of sci-fi/fantasy, I was always fascinated in attending a Comic Con, but work always got in the way. Now work couldn’t get in the way, being chronically ill, can be depressing. But, I didn’t want to live a life of negativity, especially when I felt there was still much to do and enjoy.

Now the ‘Alien’ franchise, is one of my favourites. ‘Alien’, and ‘Aliens’, being the best of the series, which is undeniable. The opportunity to meet Sigourney Weaver, ‘Ripley’, could not be missed. When was I ever going to get this chance. The bonus was that Carrie Henn, ‘Newt’, and Colette Hiller, ‘Corporal Ferro’, were there too. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get photo with Carrie.

There was also another alien there, Alice Krige, ‘The Borg Queen’, of ‘Star Trek : First Contact’, and ‘Star Trek : Voyager’.

Now, this is quite a trip, especially for someone with a chronic illness. I didn’t know what to expect. So this was going to be a learning process. I stayed at a hotel close by, so I would be relaxed on the day of the Con. As it was a Saturday, I knew it was going to be busy. But, I wanted to feel and know how it was going to be.

I wasn’t aware that I could have had an ‘Extra Help’ wristband, that would have expedited me to the front of the queues for autographs and the photo shoot. So it is essential to check the details concerning accessibility, before attending such an event. But saying that, when the Event Crew saw me queuing, they moved me to make things easier.

Having a disability should not stop anyone enjoying going to a Comic Con. With planning and careful organisation, your trip, whether you are a wheelchair user or not, can be an incredible experience. Comic Con is a hectic affair, with people rushing around; getting autographs, going to photo shoots and Q&A sessions, it is easy to be overwhelmed by it all. Make sure you keep hydrated, by keeping a bottle of water with you.

All in all, I will do it again, my fatigue was held at bay by the excitement of the event. But, I admit it whacked me out for a few days after; then again that is the price paid of Multiple Sclerosis in enjoying my life.

I am also aware that MS is unique to people suffering from it. So, only you can say, whether you can cope with or not, being at an event like this. If you are not able to go, then I have created this site for both you and I to enjoy.

For more information visit London Film and Comic Con.