The annual comic book convention, MegaCon, descended upon the nation’s tourist capital this month. True to it’s name, this event welcomes more than 100,000 fans every year. And this year’s convention featured appearances from some of the biggest names in Hollywood right now, including Zachary Levi from Shazam.
The big name stars are always the biggest draws at these conventions. However, if you’ve gone to any of these events, you know that the real stars are the many cosplayers who go all out with their extravagant costumes.
Fandoms Colliding
As a fan of many different TV shows and films, I always enjoy seeing all the cosplays that fans come up with. With MegaCon taking place on the same weekend Game of Thrones ended, many fans represented their favorite characters from the fantasy series. But none had a better Thrones cosplay than Frankie Ortiz who brought to life a very famous internet meme about the show.
We bumped into this cosplayer in the exhibit hall and he instantly became a fan fave at the convention. We all know about the infamous Starbucks coffee cup that made it into an episode of the iconic series. This fan took that a step further, dressing as a Starbucks barista and offering coffee to every Khaleesi cosplayer he found at the convention.
This guy definitely had the right idea. Who knows? Maybe if Jon Snow had just offered Daenerys some coffee in the series finale, the show might have ended a little differently for the Mother of Dragons.
MegaCon featured some unforgettable reunions
One of the biggest reunions that we saw at Mega Con was the original cast members of the iconic Superman series, Smallville. Since the show went off the air in 2011, a lot of the cast has gone on to new projects. Justin Hartley, who played Oliver Queen, is currently starring on TV’s most watched show, This Is Us. It was only recently that some of the show’s stars, such as Tom Welling (Clark Kent), started making the convention rounds.
The cast was asked about the series that made them famous and if they’d ever reprise their iconic roles. Needless to say, Michael Rosenbaum provided a very confusing answer to that question. We wouldn’t hold our breaths but they’re now very aware that fans would love to see them cameo in one of the newer DC shows currently airing on The CW. With the next crossover featuring infinite earths, anything is possible. We’ll just have to wait and see since none of them actually confirmed that they’ll be returning to DC anytime soon.
Other reunions that weekend included the entire main casts of Boy Meets World and Back to the Future. The nostalgia was very real at Mega Con and many fans got to meet some of the stars of the movies and shows they grew up watching.
Take our money!
It’s no secret that most fans spend the majority of their money on the meet and greets. Some of these photos and autographs can get really expensive. But these fans aren’t just paying for a signature or a picture. To them, they’re creating a memory that is priceless.
One of the biggest celebrities at this year’s convention was none other than Shazam’s Zachary Levi. Hundreds of fans waited hours to get their chance to meet the newly minted DC superhero. The longest reported wait time to meet the actor was approximately six hours. And considering the fact that everyone walked away with smiles on their faces, it seems that he was well worth the wait.
Levi wasn’t the only one that everyone came to see though. Other stars such as Stephen Amell (Arrow), John Barrowman (Doctor Who, Arrow), Lana Parilla (Once Upon a Time), David Tennant (Doctor Who) and more all had really long lines as well. The stars were shining bright at this year’s Mega Con. With such an amazing line up this year, fans already can’t wait to see who will make it to next year’s convention.
Support your local vendors
One of my favorite things to do at every convention is to walk Artist Alley. That’s where you’ll find some of the most talented artists from the surrounding area. And some of them even come from different parts of the country to show off and sell their work. This year’s Artist Alley featured all kinds of amazing art, some of which even sent a political message.
The exhibit hall always features something for everyone. And if you’re looking for souvenirs for the people back home, this is the place to look. Don’t leave any con without ever walking the floor at least once. You’ll regret if you do!
This was my first trip to Mega Con Orlando and I was extremely unprepared for the explosion of fandom that I witnessed. It was a great weekend. A lot of memories were made. And as I stated above, I came home with my own souvenirs for my family and friends. Like I said, there’s something for everyone! I, for one, can’t wait for the next one!
MegaCon returns to Orlando the weekend of April 16-19th next year. Tickets are expected to go on sale later this year. You’ll be able to purchase them here when they become available.