Mark's Adventures at ‘London Film and Comic Con 2019'

Attending film and comic conventions are a special moment for any fan. You’re stepping into a place where you’re getting to spend time with people who share the same interests as you, and you’re guaranteed special experiences with actors and creators who you’ve been following for years. One of the additional benefits to attending a convention in a big city such as London, is having to use public transportation to get there. There is a beautiful moment that happens before every event when you’re travelling by tube (or subway). It’s the inflection point when the number of people in costumes start to outnumber the number of people not in costumes. You start to feel a little more relaxed as you get closer to the venue. The excitement starts to build and you begin seeing fellow con attendees multiply. 

By the time I got to West Kensington tube station, it felt like I was on a film set alongside a wide array of colourful characters.    

Showmasters London Film and Comic Convention, at the Olympia Conference Centre in West London, has a reputation for bringing in some of the biggest names in fandom, and this year was no exception for Stargate fans. Series heavyweights Michael Shanks, Joe Flanigan, Jason Momoa, Robert Carlyle, and Robert Picardo were in attendance. They were a real treat for fans signing autographs, posing for photographs and answering questions. Where else could you get a chance to meet your on-screen heroes and have a quick chat with them? 

Another great thing about attending conventions is being able to link up with like-minded fans and getting to wear your fandom on your sleeve, quite literally...and they’re easy to spot on the convention floor too! There were plenty of Stargate cosplayers showing off their home-made creations and displaying their merch hauls, so I made sure to find out from a few fans on what they picked up over the weekend. 

Victor Sanders is a seasoned convention veteran. While he didn’t get the chance to meet any of the Stargate stars this time, he still managed to represent our favorite heroes over the weekend. 

“I wore my Stargate jacket alone on Friday...and my full Stargate costume on Sunday.” 

He would have stepped out in his full SG-1 uniform on Friday, but it was far too hot inside the glass domed convention center; temperatures in London his record highs that week. With the weather so hot, I had to give Victor respect for even wearing the jacket on Friday, let alone the full uniform Sunday.

“I made this for Cal Mah last year using Army surplus trousers, jacket, a tactical vest and holster. I sewed on some patches and I 3D printed and painted the Zat’nik’tel, but wearing the whole kit in this heat can be a nightmare.” 

Marcin Poblocki is a buddy of mine who I know from going to conventions over the years. Marcin is probably the most qualified person I’ve met who could actually join the SG-1 team; he’s a physicist who works as a technician at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland. He finally completed his mission of meeting the entire cast of Stargate SG-1 on Sunday. Meeting Micheal Shanks and showing off his 3D Printed Naquadah generator was definitely the highlight of his weekend. 

“I made the generator especially for the photoshoot with Michael simply because I'm a massive Stargate fan. The look on Michael’s face when he saw the prop was priceless. He was so friendly too, he actually gave me a hug! For me, it was definitely the highlight of LFCC 2019. Now that my main mission is complete, although it took a good few years, it doesn't mean I'm done with Comic Cons. There are a lot of props to make, many cosplays to do and of course, actors to meet again!”

For me, it’s conventions like LFCC that give fans a unique opportunity to meet and interact with our on-screen heroes and fellow fans. Conventions are not just about the awesome guests and merch, it’s about having a space to nerd out and be amongst my fellow geeks. On a deeper level, it’s about meeting old friends and making new ones. Seeing Marcin complete his mission and getting to meet a new friend in Victor, makes coming to these events so special. If I had it my way, they’d be on every weekend.