13th Montreal Comiccon | 60,000 people expected this weekend

(Montreal) Jedis, superheroes, Vikings and video game characters stormed the Palais des Congrès on Saturday for the second day of Montreal Comiccon. Thousands of people, often in costume, were able to meet their favorite stars or share their love of “geek” culture.

For his 13^e version, the Comiccon occupied for the first time three floors of the Palais des Congrès. The first was dedicated to the various collectors’ exhibitors and vendors, the second to the conference rooms, and the third hosted celebrity autograph and photo sessions.

For Jean-François Hétu, dressed in an impressive ghost hunter ensemble, like those featured in the film ghostbusters, participating in Comiccon allowed him to realize a dream. He spent several months making his costume.

“It took seven months to do them. We order parts from all over the world to try to find the best prices, he explains. I’ve wanted to do this project for 30 years, since I was a little boy. It’s realised, so I’m all pissed off. I slept badly last night just because I was too excited to come here. »

Mr. Hétu was accompanied by his son, Vincent, who wore the same suit. “I wanted to be with my dad, to be able to participate with him,” said the young boy, adding that he was looking forward to playing in the arcades.

The first floor dedicated to Comiccon was filled with kiosks selling stuffed animals, posters, handbags and various objects with the likeness of comic book heroes, as well as small and large screens. The famous movie car Back to the Future was exhibited, and photographed by several visitors. Batman and his life-size “Batmobile” also attracted attention.

“I had done Comiccon in France, in Paris, so this is the first year that I’ve done it here, and it has absolutely nothing to do with it. It’s absolutely huge here compared to Paris, ”says Sébastien Luca, who arrived in Quebec two years ago. “I’m here to share a little geek culture with my daughter,” he adds, little Rose, 3, perched on his shoulders.

Japanese characters were also present among the costumes of Comiccon visitors.

Lea Gongo was notably disguised as Asuka, a character from the anime evangelion. ” It’s the love of my life. I grew up listening to this anime,” she says.

Three friends have chosen to dress up like the three main characters of the series totally spiesa project they had been toying with since Comiccon 2019.

“I used to listen to that when I was young, it’s like remembering nostalgia. We also see it when we walk, ”says Corine Boucher, dressed in the tight green suit of the spy Sam.

Jason Rockman, spokesperson for Comiccon, says he is proud to be part of the organization of this event.

“It’s really a celebration of pop culture, it’s a family event. We have generations who have been coming to this event for 13 years, and we have seen families grow up here,” says the man who brought his children, now teenagers, to the event when they were three and five years old.

Despite the 60 guests of honor expected at Comiccon, the real celebrities of the event remain the “cosplayers”, or people dressed up as various characters, according to Mr. Rockman.

“They are the ones who have the most photos taken of them, they are the ones who make all their costumes by hand. And it’s really impressive when you see what they can do on their own. It’s not something they buy,” he explains.

Moreover, the “Masquerade”, a costume contest, concludes the day of activities on Saturday.

Comiccon expects to welcome a total of nearly 60,000 people over the weekend.

“Typically, Sunday is a little quieter, but this year I don’t think so,” the spokesperson said, seeing the large crowd entering the Comiccon site on Saturday morning.

Star Wars in the spotlight

Various activities and conferences are offered at Comiccon. Saturday morning, a concert of Star Wars music was presented.

A large section of the Comiccon exhibit hall was animated by characters from the famous franchise, including Darth Vader and Stormtroopers.

A little further, Jason Moreau commanded a robot of the character R2-D2, which seemed straight out of a film set. Mr. Moreau is part of the Astromech club, which makes Star Wars robots.

“Most of them are made with a 3D printer,” he explains. We walk around with the robots, people like it, the children are freaking out. It’s really fun. »

“It’s really worth it for the joy we bring to the children [et aux] big ones too,” continues Mr. Moreau.

Comiccon is also a very lucrative event, especially for traders.

“Three busy days. Yesterday [vendredi] it was madness too,” says Kristina Foley, founder of the small business Fox and feather creations. “I love it, it’s my sixth Comiccon, and it’s still one of the best fairs I go to in the year,” she said.

To meet your favorite celebrities, you also have to take out your wallet. For example, to obtain an autograph and a photo of the interpreter of Wednesday in the film The Addams Family from 1991, Christina Ricci, you have to shell out almost $100.

Several other well-known actors are also expected over the weekend, including Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things), Tom Welling (Lucifer) and Emily Swallow (The Madalorian).

This dispatch was produced with financial assistance from the Meta Exchange and The Canadian Press for News.