Cons are strange beasts. On the surface, it’s the sort of thing that's incredibly easy to shrug off.
You pay to enter a convention hall to go and buy things from stores you probably already stalk online, and to hear celebrities talk about themselves.
You throw money at the chance to get a photo taken with a celebrity or to have them sign something for you, and for those brave enough, you wander around the city dressed like a fictional character for the weekend.
IT cosplayer - image © Kylie Thompson
It’s really weird. And yet, people love them. And full disclosure: I love them.
Fandom, at its heart, is an incredibly social and inclusive space. Sure, you get your idiots and your creepers, but that’s unfortunately true no matter what you love.
Image © Kylie Thompson
And one of the best parts of Oz Comic-Con, regardless of which city it’s in, is its commitment to creating a safe space for all who walk through their doors.
More and more, they seek to be inclusive, with clearly defined rules of consent around approaching cosplayers for photos, time-out spaces for those who get overwhelmed by crowds and noise, talks on de-stigmatising mental health issues, and for this event, an abundance of ‘vote yes’ ephemera.
Image © Kylie Thompson
You know your fandom rocks when the Dalek builders of Brisbane create a fabulously rainbow-hued rage-bot to remind people to vote yes for marriage equality.
Oz Comic-Con Brisbane had two massive draw-card celebs this year: Jason Momoa, about to kick ass as DC’s ‘Aquaman’ in the upcoming ‘Justice League’, and Jenna Colman, most known for her role as Clara Oswin on the modern reboot of ‘Doctor Who’.
Cosplayer - image © Kylie Thompson
Don’t hate me, but I wasn’t on scene for Jason’s talk, so this is a rather Momoa-free conversation. Google some pics, you certainly won’t be disappointed. But the conversations I did see were impressive.
When it comes to the conversations and Q&As, there’s no such thing as an easy conversation. Fans have an hour to ask all the questions they want, and there are always surprises in store.
Chad Lindberg, who played Ash in ‘Supernatural’ and Jesse in the first ‘Fast And The Furious’, talked about his real-life habit of ghost-chasing, having a demon rock up to a Q&A in a haunted hospital and how he protects himself in some of the world’s most terrifying spaces.
Tim Rozon from ‘Wynonna Earp’ found himself discussing the problems of loving the characters the audience loves to hate, and his dream of writing his own comic series.
But it was Jenna Coleman who stole the show, hosting the final (and packed-out) Q&A session of the weekend.
Cosplayers - image © Kylie Thompson
For the Whovians in the crowd, it was a chance to learn how it felt to work with three Doctors at once (spoiler: intimidating and giggle-worthy). But fans of her current television hit, ‘Victoria’, were on hand to find out more about the issues that arise when you’re playing a real-life historical figure.
For those who love a chance to let their geek flags fly, cons are a vital space to meet likeminded souls, learn more about the fandoms they love and rub shoulders with their favourite actors, writers and voice artists.
Thankfully, Oz Comic-Con will be back in Brisbane in 2018. Keep an eye on their website or haunt their social media for news on next year’s line-up and events. Because from all accounts, 2018 is going to be massive!
