Comic Con events are packed every time, offering an electric atmosphere where people of all ages can escape real life. Pete Price recently attended one in Manchester and another in Telford, describing them as a breath of fresh air.
An electric atmosphere filled with love
First of all the atmosphere is electric, and you feel totally safe there. People of all ages come in the most wonderful outfits - from Disney characters and space icons to famous monsters and horror movie characters. The list is endless.
And they will come dressed in these wonderful outfits on the train and the bus. The events are always filled with love. You can meet and greet your favourite movie icons. You do have to pay for the privilege - sometimes it's expensive.
But there is much more to do at these conventions, so you don't have to spend a lot of money.
From comics to a global pop culture event
How did they start? Well, with comics. It started in America in San Diego, in 1970, when a small group of comic fans, led by Shel Dorf, put it together. It quickly grew beyond comics, adding science fiction, fantasy, films and TV.
Now, it's a massive pop culture event, and they happen all over the world. It has some of the world's biggest stars, meet and greets, cosplay, stalls and fans trading and celebrating everything geeky.
The biggest organiser of this in the UK is Monopoly Events. They launched in 2015 because the CEO had a passion for all things 80s, vintage toys and prop building.
Andy Kleek's thriving business
Andy Kleek's dream is now a thriving, very successful business. The key to Monopoly's success is it stays true to its core beliefs of giving fans, who they respect, an unforgettable experience at every show.
That's why people now travel from all over the world. They are always thinking ahead going into new territory. There's another side to the Comic Con experience. It brings together friendships, self confidence and creates lifetime memories.
Pete went on Sunday just gone to their Telford event, called 'For the Love of Retro'. Their guest list of stars was awesome, including stars from TV classics like 'Allo 'Allo! and Breaking Bad, as well as Ricky Tomlinson, Lindsay Wagner from The Bionic Woman, and Jane Seymour from the Bond film Live and Let Die and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
The next Comic Con is in Liverpool on October 10 and 11 at LEX Liverpool Experience Campus. Always worth a trip.
