MCM Expo Ltd. was founded in early 2001 by Bryan Cooney (Wolf Events) and Paul Miley (ScifiShows). Both had an extensive experience in organizing fan conventions. Their first event was the MCM London Comic Con (formerly known as the London MCM Expo). Over the years, MCM launched a series of Comic Cons in other cities across the United Kingdom including Telford, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, and Belfast.
Like the London Comic Con, the Birmingham Comic Con is held twice a year, in spring and in autumn. The show takes place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the largest exhibition center in the UK and the seventh-largest exhibition center in Europe. It has 20 interconnected halls, which is more than enough even for a large-scale pop culture convention.
The program of the MCM Birmingham Comic Con is similar to that of other fan conventions. It includes panels, Q&A sessions, photo-ops and autograph sessions with celebrity guests, workshops with comic book writers and artists, Comic Village, Dealer Stalls, the Glamour Zone, a cosplay contest, MCM eSports (a video game tournament), and more. Attendees have a chance to meet special guests, enjoy colorful costumes, and participate in various competitions.
Every year, the convention welcomes special guests, primarily actors known for their roles in popular sci-fi and fantasy movies, television shows and media franchises such as Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, etc. For example, the Birmingham Comic Con 2016 (autumn edition) featured Gary Lockwood (Star Trek: The Original Series, 2001: A Space Odyssey) and Keir Dullea (2001: A Space Odyssey). Celebrity guests participate in panels, signings and promotional appearances.
The MCM Birmingham Comic Con is designed for pop culture fans of all ages, but almost half of its attendees are young people between the ages of 17 and 21. By the way, children below the age of 10 get free admission if accompanied by a paying adult (up to two children per adult).
Photo: nintendolife.com
