By Keiran Evans
April 3, 2023
Comic Con returned to Liverpool this weekend as tens of thousands of fans descended on the Exhibition Centre in Kings Dock to meet with global celebrities from Stranger Things, Doctor Who, The Vampire Diaries, and more.
After my first experience at Comic Con last November, I was eager to surround myself with all things geeky again, including my friend.
Since its riverside debut in 2018, the event has drawn more than 100,000 fans to six shows and is set to take place twice a year for the next three years.
As we approached the centre, we were greeted by cosplayers such as Toy Story's Stinky Pete, followed by Harry Potter's Hagrid in an unexpected movie crossover. With a rough plan in mind, we headed straight down into the main building.
This year's superstar guest list did not disappoint, as fans were treated to stars across many genres. Matt Smith, the Eleventh Doctor, made a cameo appearance alongside his House of the Dragon on-screen brother, Paddy Constantine.
David Harbour and Jamie Campbell-Bower delighted superfans with their presence all the way from The Upside Down. Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley from The Vampire Diaries were also present.
But my experience peaked (not for the reason you might think) when The Lost Boys' Corey Feldman arrived nearly two hours late.
Sir Elton John, Marylin Monroe, and Gemma Collins spring to mind when you think of iconic divas, but what about Corey Feldman? Not so much.
At first, I was shocked to discover that they had a Michael Jackson tribute act lined up, but I soon realised that it was just Corey Feldman moonwalking towards us in what can only be described as a Halloween outfit from your local charity shop.
We saw people queue for what seemed like an eternity while Feldman went for impromptu outfit changes and cigarette breaks, so it wasn't too surprising to learn he wasn't going to fulfil his pre-booked autograph and photograph requests for the day.
Personally, I wasn't overly fussed to meet Feldman, but my friend has been a lifelong fan of his work in The Lost Boys and The Goonies, so he needed his pricey signature to round off the cast of characters.
A distressed staff member explained that it was unlikely we would meet Feldman before he left for the day, but to counter any further disappointment, her generosity upgraded our tickets to the Diamond Pass. All those reserved fast-pass queues for diamond members were now accessible thanks to this newfound freedom.
Therefore, my lifelong obsession with Harry Potter led us across to the second building to meet my only pre-booked guest, Mark Williams. Known for his role as Arthur Weasley in the iconic franchise, I was eager to get my original copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone signed. Putting our Diamond Passes to use, Mark challenged me to get as many Potter cast members to sign the book as possible. Let’s see how that goes.
On Sunday, we arrived early to take advantage of our Diamond Pass, so we made Corey Feldman our first priority. We were next in line as the long-anticipated moment finally arrived. Face-to-face, he seemed relatively composed for a person who radiates quite the prima donna persona. Although he didn't say much, there was a strained air about a man who had been warned for misbehaving the previous day; the ‘Comeback King’ seemed agitated.
Calling David Harbour... Our 2 p.m. photograph session with Harbour had arrived if only we could find him. We followed the long line of fans and soon realised there was another floor to the building. Luckily, the diamond pass took us straight to the front. After some confusion with my backpack, I was ushered in, and 3...2...1 snap! It was all over. I had just met David Harbour. All I could do was hope the photograph turned out well, which it did.
We had one activity left over as our Comic Con adventure came to an end. We arrived at the venue with pre-booked seats to see the sold-out Stranger Things Q&A, complemented by an overpriced 'Not Coronation Chicken' sandwich. It was entertaining to witness celebrities divulge off-script answers due to the unexpected nature of the audience's questions.
Watch as David Harbour takes the stage with Stranger Things cast members Alec Utgoff, Denise Van Dien, and Jamie Campbell Bower for a Q&A session.
My experience at the Liverpool Comic Con was unforgettable. Despite Corey Feldman's diva behaviour, we were able to obtain an upgraded ticket, making the day even more memorable. The quick interaction with David Harbour was a highlight, and meeting Mark Williams from Harry Potter started a new pricey autograph habit.
The entire event was a whirlwind of entertainment, with something new and exciting happening at every turn. As a fan of pop culture and all things geeky, Comic Con in Liverpool is a must-attend event that provided me with memories that will last a lifetime.
A comment from Monopoly’s Liverpool Comic Con:
"Wow, what a weekend it's been here at Comic Con Liverpool!" exclaimed Tom Finkill, the event host.
"It's been such an unbelievable and unforgettable weekend of fun! I've had the pleasure of seeing the most epic cosplay outfits and witnessing the biggest smiles on people's faces while hearing laughter in corridors." He added.
"But let's not forget who the real stars of the show are—the fans. Thank you to everyone who came out to make this weekend so amazing!"
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