What’s occurring, Brum? The arena doors have swung open, and Comic Con Midlands 2025 is officially GO! 🙌 From the moment the shutters lifted, it’s been a glorious blur of capes, colour, collectibles, and chaos. We’re talking full-scale fandom overload — and it’s only just started!
Whether you’re a seasoned con warrior or a bright-eyed newbie here for the first time (welcome, you beautiful nerd 🌈), you’re in for a tidy ride.
🎟️ FIRST THINGS FIRST – YOU’RE IN! NOW WHAT?
So, you’ve made it past security (sorry about the bag check, Batman) and you’re inside the NEC arena surrounded by pure, concentrated geek energy. It smells like foam latex, printer ink, and enthusiasm. Let’s break down what’s happening all around you:
💬 PANELS GALORE
The panel schedule today is looking stacked — from Doctor Who Q&As to deep dives into anime worldbuilding to a full-blown Star Wars cosplay showcase, there’s something for every level of nerd.
And yes, the queue for the Stranger Things cast is already a bit mental, so get in early if you want that selfie with Eddie Munson 🖤🎸
👗 COSPLAYERS – YOU’RE SMASHING IT
The cosplayers have come to SLAY today 💃
Already spotted:
- 15 Deadpools (one of them juggling chimichangas)
- An entire crew of Mario Kart racers (with actual working wheels!?)
- A terrifyingly accurate Vecna — we’re sleeping with the lights on
- Three generations of Spideys doing a very emotional group hug 😭🕷️
Shoutout to the brave folks sweating through their costumes for the love of the craft — absolute legends. If you’re dressed up, make sure you hit the Cosplay Masquerade later — it’s the Olympics of nerd fashion.
🎨 ARTIST ALLEY – AKA WALLET DANGER ZONE
Warning: you will spend money here. From custom DnD dice and stunning fanart to those little plushies of anime characters you forgot you loved — Artist Alley is a treasure trove of handmade, nerd-approved goodness.
Top tip: Bring cash and support local artists. You’ll find original pieces you won’t get anywhere else (and probably end up commissioning a portrait of your D&D barbarian riding a velociraptor, let’s be honest 🐉)
🍔 FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
If you’re hungry, don’t worry – the vendors have come prepared:
- Wookiee Burgers
- Totoro Taiyaki
- Butterbeer floats
- Vegan Thanos Wraps (balanced as all things should be)
- Pokéball doughnuts that are almost too cute to eat… almost
Also: Drink water, you sweaty little goblins. That costume armour doesn’t breathe, and neither do those 3D-printed Mandalorian helmets.
📸 PHOTO OPS – SMILE LIKE YOU’RE IN A MULTIVERSE
Get ready to strike a pose with:
- The actual Batmobile 🚗🦇
- A full-size TARDIS (bigger on the inside and also on Instagram)
- Ghostbusters firehouse display with functioning proton packs
- Stranger Things Hellfire Club table, perfect for dramatic brooding and dice-rolling
And yep, there’s a dedicated Pokémon battle stage where you can pose mid-attack. Pikachu not included, but enthusiasm very much required ⚡
🎮 GAMING ZONE – A PIXELATED PARADISE
Retro consoles, indie dev demos, VR madness, and more screens than a PC World sale — the Gaming Zone is packed. Smash Bros? On. Mario Kart? Chaotic. Street Fighter? Buttons are being mashed to hell and back 🕹️💣
There’s also a Minecraft building comp and a Beat Saber dance-off scheduled — bring your best moves and your fastest thumbs 🕺
💬 FAN VIBES – ABSOLUTELY LUSH
There’s just something special about Comic Con, innit? The way complete strangers shout “I love your costume!” at each other. The way every fandom crosses over. The way one minute you’re chatting about lightsabers with a Jedi, and the next you’re crying over a shared love of Studio Ghibli.
It’s a community. A big, weird, beautiful, nerdy family.
So don’t be shy! Start conversations, compliment outfits, queue patiently, and be nice to the volunteers (they’re doing a proper job, butt 💪)
🧠 FINAL TIPS FOR SURVIVAL
- Wear comfy shoes — you will walk for miles
- Bring deodorant (your fellow con-goers will thank you)
- Plan your panels early — the good ones fill up fast!
- Keep snacks handy (yes, Hobnobs count)
- Take breaks! Sit down, breathe, and soak it all in — this day only comes once a year!
🎉 THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING…
Comic Con Midlands 2025 is only just getting started, and the energy is off the scale. Whether you’re here for the stars, the merch, the cosplay, the gaming, or just to yell “WAKANDA FOREVER” in public — this weekend’s going to be epic.
So get stuck in. Make some memories. Buy too many pins. Take silly selfies. Be unapologetically geeky.
And don’t forget to tag us in your best con moments:
📸 #ComicConMidlands #BrumGetsNerdy #ConLife2025 #TidyConVibes
Now go forth, brave adventurer… THE CON HAS BEGUN! 🦸♀️🧙♂️👽🛸
May your queue times be short, your loot plentiful, and your fandoms forever fierce 🤘
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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