Over the weekend, I had the exciting opportunity to attend the Brisbane Oz Comic-Con, an annual event celebrating all things nerdy hosted at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Attending with the MKAU Gaming media team for the first time, I had a blast meeting talented artists and cosplayers, and also attending speaker events throughout the two-day event.

No matter where you turned, there were awesome stalls filled to the brim with all manner of goodies from a wide variety of pop culture media. There was something for everyone, with products and activities covering everything from anime, TV shows, films, games, and of course, comics.

With over 80 exhibits, including businesses and talented local artists, there was plenty to see and do, showcasing all kinds of products and handmade bric-a-brac. You would have been hard-pressed not to find something that interested you.

A crowd favourite, the Australian Esports League x Indomie Corner, saw players of all ages participating in competitive multiplayer games, offering a glimpse into the esports grind and the thrill of playing in front of a crowd. For those looking for a little real-life carnage, the Robot Rampage fighting ring allowed enthusiasts to take control of a real battle-bot, and even if you were just watching, there was plenty of excitement.

It wouldn’t be a true celebration of pop culture without guests from our favourite franchises, giving fans the chance to meet their heroes, collect signatures, and have a photograph taken with them. Throughout the day, they’d also move to the main stage for Q&A events, where fans had the opportunity to ask some burning questions.

Getting an inside perspective of the film, TV, and gaming industries was very interesting, and listening to Brian Beacock deliver some of his iconic Digimon and Bleach lines brought back some incredible memories.

This year, guests included:

• Actor and voice actor, Brian Beacock (Bleach; Digimon; Naruto)
• Actress and stunt double, Patricia Tallman (Star Trek; Night of the Living Dead; Criminal Minds)
• Actress, writer and voice actor, Laila Berzins (World of Warcraft: The War Within, Hades II; Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League)
• Actor and voice actor, Patrick Pedraza (Genshin Impact; Fallout 76; Onyx Equinox)
• Actor Brenton Thwaites (Home and Away; Titans)
• Actress Teagan Croft (Home and Away; Titans)

Cosplay always plays a huge part at conventions like this, and between Q&As and panels, guests were treated to the cosplay parades and competitions, showcasing some incredibly talented cosplay, a true celebration of what these artists have to offer.

I had the chance to meet several of these amazing people over my two days at Oz Comicon, eager to learn about the effort they put into their outfits and capturing photographs to immortalise them on the MKAU Gaming website.

When the hustle and bustle of moving through the crowds became too much, Community Spaces provided some reprieve, and Tabletop Gaming spaces, complete with a plethora of board and card games, offered a chance to take some time out.

Even music was celebrated, and over at the Entertainment stage, live performances, lip-sync battles, and idol dance performances would captivate the audience. A Just Dance stage offered revellers the chance to take turns showing off their smooth moves, their bravery rewarded with rounds of applause from the gathered audience.

Being set so close to the food area, it made for perfect entertainment as I ate my lunch – a delicious plate of loaded fries, but this was just a small sample of what was on offer. Specialty food trucks provided lunch and snacks for the weekend, with everything ranging from soft-serve ice cream to warm and crispy waffles, and saucy chicken wings to giant German wurst with a side of sauerkraut.

Attending Brisbane’s Oz Comicon on behalf of MKAU Gaming was an amazing experience. Aside from getting a chance to brush up on my photography skills, with a bit of guidance from SUBZERO2K and Melekharn, I experienced it all from a different perspective. It gave me a chance to truly appreciate the crowd’s excitement as we celebrated all things pop culture.