Did you travel around the country, over the channel, or across the world to be here? Are you new to London, dwelled here a few years, or perhaps your whole life?

No matter from where in the world you’ve come to attend UCL or how long you’ve been here, London has abundant opportunities to indulge in the things you love in a way that you rarely find elsewhere.

“Enamoured with anime? Fanatic about film? Vividly into videogames? Crazy about cosplay? This piece by myUCL Student Journalist Robert Vilkelis is for you.” This article was originally featured in UCL’s official newsletter, myUCL.

If you’re a nerd, a geek or a fan, have you been to MCM London Comic Con? Every October and May (at the end of exams) is your opportunity to experience the best of subculture. Read on!

 

Creative, dramatic, or just like having fun? Cosplay.

If you’re like me, the allure of Comic Con is cosplay; the chance to dress up as any character of your choosing from TV, films and games, both Eastern and Western. My choice for this year? Byakuya Togami – the most finely-outfitted individual from the Japanese videogame, Danganronpa.

Walking around, though, you see people from every show imaginable. Dozens of couples posing as Joker and Harley Quinn, parties of varying sizes heaving incredibly realistic Game of Thrones armour… you can witness everything from the most simple just-threw-this-together costumes to the most breathtakingly complex displays.

How does it all happen? For some, it’s a quick shop online; for some, it’s a labour of love to acquire and work over materials; for some, like me, it’s a mix! How did I become an anime high school student? It took everything from digging a suit out of my old wardrobe, buying glasses online, designing a badge in Photoshop, and heading to Soho for a blond wig.

Dressing up at a convention is a personal experience you can really own. If you’re creative, dramatic or just love having fun, MCM is a great place to be to explore and enjoy it.

 

Movie memorabilia, interactive experiences and more.

Comic Con is overflowing with everyone and everything to do with entertainment.

Comic Village is loaded with authors and artists, some of whom you’ll even recognise. It’s a great zone for chatting with creators and picking up a print or five.

Just across from there, you could pose with the Thirteen Doctor’s TARDIS used in the latest production of Doctor Who, or discover how the smell of coke isn’t what you think it is in Coca Cola’s “Sensorium” (it’s cinnamon), or jump in front of a greenscreen at Adultswim’s Rick and Morty instalment. Alternatively, just spend half of Friday playing videogame trials like I did – everything is up for grabs!

Oh – and be sure to get all the free stuff you can. You know you want to.

 

Go to panels. You’ll hear highlights like “Who will finally ‘take out’ Batman?”

It took me five whole years of attending before I even stepped into one. They’re worth it. Everyone from successful writers, established actors and generally cool people host panels at Comic Con, and I was lucky enough to stumble into one featuring the headlining crew working on the latest Batman comics.

Towards the end of the session, one man in Joker makeup asks, “Who will finally ‘take out’ Batman?” Considerable debate follows; one hilarious answer triumphs.

“It’ll probably be some guy eating his lunch off the Chrysler Building who just tosses his banana peel,” one writer muses, “It lands on gargoyle, Batman grapples to it, and that’s it,” she concludes to the laughter of the room.

You never know what new perspectives you’re going to take away on the things you love. Clearly.

 

It’s London. Embrace what you love.

UCL may be where we study, but it’s our city that makes our experience here.

If this whet your appetite, then May 2019 is your next chance to experience it for yourself. Enjoy unwinding after exams!