The eclectic crowd was the very first thing I saw.
Fezzes and bow ties everywhere, not to mention intricate cosplays from fandoms of all types. Then your eyes turned to the vendors. There were more than one hundred and fifty individual stalls, and that was only the first floor. The excitement was almost palpable among the smells of exotic Japanese soda and the faint scent of hot glue emanating from the costumes. This was it. Magic City Comic Con.
The con Jan. 16-18 at the Miami Airport Convention Center was an event for fans of every type, ranging from the diehard Whovian through endless anime fans. The con included famous guests, video game contest, cosplay competitions, diverse vendors, and a variety of events at the main stage. It was the first ever Magic City Comic Con, though the event was organized by the same passionate crew behind Florida Supercon and Animate! Miami.
There were over 200 celebrity guests attending the con over the span of three days. One of the highlights of the convention was a special appearance by Karen Gillan, a notable companion in Doctor Who and appearing in The Guardians of the Galaxy as Nebula. Other notable attendees included Jeremy Shada, the voice actor for Finn from Adventure Time and Sibel Kekilli from Game of Thrones.
On the second floor, a whole host of artists sold their original works and prints. This so-called “artist alley” included a range of notable cosplay and entertainment guests as well. One of the most popular booths was the cosplay hospital. Offering a steady supply of duct tape and glue, this stand was a one-stop-wonder for the countless numbers of people in intricate costumes. Even the impressive eight foot slenderman lumbering around the con visited this booth at one point.
There are too few words in the English language to properly describe the unique organized chaos that was the Magic City Comic con. As one wandered through stalls that seemed to never end, there were comic book stands filled with the smell of nostalgic collectable comics, there were tents that sold shirts that had moving pictures on them, there were even vendors with swords and daggers in every imaginable shape and size.
It was an event that, even if just for a little while, everyone could be exceptionally weird and unconditionally excited about the things that they enjoy. Enthusiasts are looking forward to the The Florida Supercon, a similar event with a much larger scale that will take place June 25-28 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
