This is an advanced posting of another first event I am plan to attend.
Oz Comic Con Sydney 2017 returns to Darling Harbour @ the ICC. It looks like it is going to be huge. Over the October Labour Day long weekend - this 2 day weekend event runs between 9 am and 6 pm each day.
I am unsure what to expect and only purchased a discounted Sunday general admission ticket via Groupon (also a first for me). General admission costs $37.50 at the door or online on the Oz Comic Con website (on the day I attended tickets purchased at the event actually cost around $42). It falls over the school holidays which is great for families.
I think I will probably spend time at Cosplay and Animae sections. I am not a big gamer geek therefore electronic games would probably not interest me.
And possum wanted to tag along too.
Tbc.......
It's Sunday - Not quite there yet but on the bus on my way to Darling Harbour and the ICC. It is almost noon ie 3 hours after Oz Comic Con opened this morning at 9 am. Should be there by 1 pm which leaves me 4 hours to look around. I didn't want to go for the whole day because I don't know what to expect as a first timer to Oz Comic Con. If I like the event I will make it an annual event to visit.
PS I decided not to dress up in my penguin suit. Too hot. Wore a blue and navy stripped jersey dress with black leggings my blue vans without socks and my tweety bird black t shirt on top of my dress from Movie World - very geeky!
Stay tuned.....
There is something for everyone at Oz Comic Con. Upon arrival there were crowds everywhere and quite a few people played dress ups - kids and grown ups.
Pink wristband for general admission to Oz Comic Con on - up the stairs I go but not before being asked if I had a child with me - my response "No child" . I had purchased on Groupon the only tickets left either a child ticket for Sunday @ $10 or an adult with free entry for an accompanying child on Sunday @ $27. Child or no child the price for an adult ticket on Sunday was the same ie less then online price or at the show price.
You enter through a large blue archway which is meant to be the antennas of "The Tick" - first freebee is a blue "The Tick" head band - pretty cool but a nuisance to wear. I decide to start at one end of the exhibition hall and make my way down each asile to the other end. There were so many cute badges and buttons for purchase. I reached the offical Oz Comic Con merchandise stall and in one corner were a heap of $10 t -shirts which we were advised were end of the run merchandise. I purchased a mens small t shirt which was not an Oz Comic Con logo t shirt but was an Australian themed My Little Pony one (I think). I really wanted the black Oz Comic Con t shirt which had the outline of Australia in the background but it was around $40.
Food for day was very much a section of soft drinks and pies, hotdogs, nachos, burgers, cold premade sandwiches and hot chips from 2 ICC concessions inside the exhibition hall. Large round tables surrounded the area of the 2 concessions great for families and a few stand up tables were also set up near the 2 concessions. Seating was scarce inside the exhibition hall therefore you ate on the walk or sat on the mostly concrete exhibition hall. I chose to walk and stand and eat (more like scoff!)
Below is a selection of photos from the event.
Some of the customised terrariums you could purchase from the event. As you can see they were not cheap.
Photo opportunities outside the ICC even after the event was almost over for the weekend. In the photo you can see Batman and I am sure there was more then one at Oz Comic Con. Also in the background is a copy cat Hugh Jackman complete with "claws" PROP CHECK! but interestingly there is a person sitting in a wheel chair with a fake bald skull cap on. Whether this was inappropriate or not I am unsure as there were quite a few wheelchair bound visitors at Comic Con and to use a wheelchair as a fake cosplay prop would be inappropriate and offensive however on the other hand if the person in the wheel chair actually was ill and was actually wheelchair bound then it is a great way for the person to have some fun without feeling "different"
Entrance to Oz Comic Con was through the jumbo archway of "The Tick" ' antennas
Plenty of activities for kids and their families
Had a look at these sweet and sour strips but not even tempted to try a free sample. Under the same tent was fudge and fairy floss as well - yuk!
Even I broke my normally healthy diet for a rather pricey NY style hot dog and some pop corn. Although salads and sandwiches were available for purchase, visitors preferred the pies, nachos with cheese and mince and jalapeños , bowls of hot chips and soft drinks instead - what's a Comic Con event without some junky tv style snacks?!
Something for all those Star Wars fans including a 1:1 scale replica of a starship above and robot wars with R2D2 and CP3O as well as light sabres and cosplay dress ups - there are only so many "Luke I am your father"(s) I can take! Light sabres PROP CHECK!
Something for Thor fans - one of the Cosplay competition judged by a Hemsworth Thor lookalike.
??????? A Character from Mulan perhaps
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Starwars photo opportunity with Princess L and ?????
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??????? No idea but looks scary
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Thor and Captain America???
Name the super heros Wonder Woman Superman and Zena Warrior Princess????
Cosplay at its best and meet your superheros - lots of photo opportunities with or without realistic backgrounds. Picachu!
Supergirl
Flash
Arrow
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Aliens?????
Then there were the mannequins and costumes
Computer gaming for the geeks and PLAYTIME arcade games for the kids - Super Mario Bros yes they were there too Mario and Luigi - a lady yells out from nowhere outside the exhibition hall how nice Mario's buns were.
The queues for autographs and photos - I had no idea who any of these people were and I wonder why people would pay a minimum of $30 just to get an autograph or a photo with any of these people listed above
The merchandise from t shirts to badges to pillows to books to clothing to material to weapons and even waxed hands it was all available for purchase at Oz Comic Con. I only saw 1 Hello Kitty item - a tote bag though. I was even tempted to purchase a white with blue Yuri on Ice training jacket for $60 which is probably what my Nike or Adidas training jacket I ice skate in of similar style cost!
Mindcraft
Various patterned tile boards
King Kong?????
Sponge Bob Square Pants, Picachu, Angrybirds????
My Little Pony, Starwars????
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My Little Pony and Aliens????
Angry Birds & Power Puffs?????
Scooby Doo and Friends
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Transformers??????
Then there was Legoman promoting his exhibitions. Love his work.
Costume repairs sponsored by Spotlight and Brother but I though I also spotted a few Berninas or Jenomes around the exhibition hall (sewing machines) and Twitch (make up artistry for movies and theatre) workshops
If you have ever been told not to draw on the walls well Oz Comic Con is one place where you are free to draw on several walls allocated to messages sketching drawing colouring in or just scribbling - kids and adults alike were free to leave their mark(s) here (above is one of the allocated scribble walls called "Comic Guests" . I left mine with a message "why don't any of these textas work? " and a mini drawing of some flowers growing in grass drawn with the limited texta colours I could find that worked (on the other scribble wall hidden near the back of the hall).
Finally there was the Wii "Lets Dance" old school with the hand held dongle. My favourite "Flash Dance - What a Feeling" - we all know that one! Hours of fun for kids and adults. There were a few spoilers though - the Asian guy who appeared on the side and danced continuously for hours to the Wii Let's Dance tracks - looked as if that was the only thing he came to Oz Comic Con for! Then there was the guy who barely had any clothes on except for body and face paint a pair of underpants and a cropped jacket of some sort barely covering his body up (I think he was dressed up to be Smiggle or Golem from Lord of the Rings.) He was a little gay looking therefore I think put people sitting in the audience off when he started dancing or rather "Strutting his stuff" to the music and people started getting up and leaving. Then there was the slightly overweight girl who couldn't wait for her turn to strut her stuff solo - she had a white costume on with knee boots on to match, the outline of her underwear was badly showing back and sides. Not a good look! The kids were great though - judge for yourself. I left and kept returning to watch people either have fun or make a complete fool of thenselves! It's Oz Comic Con - who cares!!!!! Some were actually really good dancers but I would prefer to keep this type of activity private at my sister's place with my niece and nephew!
Rating :
8/10 Lots of fun for adults and kids. Would have been even more fun if I had dressed up and participated in activities more. It was my first visit so it was a taste of what to expect next time I go. I don't think it is necessary to spend all day at Oz Comic Con ie 9 am to 6 pm about 4 -5 hours is adequate I found to see and do things. If you are breaking for lunch, lining up for photos and autographs or want to participate in Wii Let's Dance or some other activity such as Playtime (which I gave up on waiting in line for) or computer gaming or Escape room (completely sold out by late afternoon on Sunday) then a full day and prebooking where possible is recommended. Had fun watching and shopping.
Final word - Art from trash - an outdoor public art exhibition on my way to Darling Harbour was on display. Judge for yourself below photos attached .
