Today I broke my 7 year exile from MCM events having been going twice a year since 2005 I stopped shortly after Reed Pop took over as I just stopped enjoying them. Prices increasing , no free selfies , comic guests began charging for signings and generally just became too big and just not fun for me.

I was happy to not attend and never felt I missed out on any guests that attended.

But this time I really wanted to meet Stephanie Beatriz , Patton Oswalt and a few others so I ventured out . They only had priority tickets left but frustratingly I my shoots were not until after 2pm.

I arrived about 9:30 and after getting off the tube had to walk a very long way around to get to the entrance - literally the length of the whole building .. why not use the Prince regent station instead for entry ?

Once inside it was a long maze of Barriers to get to the front - why not a separate fast option for when there is no queue ?

Get to the desk and quick scan here’s your badge … then a bit further away was tables to pick up a lanyard then another for a map… why not all just hand out at once ?

Ok so I’m finally in the building and I forgot how far MCM has come from that tiny hall with a handful of guests and stalls 20 years ago to an event that takes up the whole center.

It really is so big and busy like no other event in the UK. Whilst this can be a positive it’s also one of the thing I’m not a fan of for me. There is just so much walking and walking and quiet little walking spaces in the halls.

First thing first I headed to the auto sessions as I wanted 2 selfies and one auto. The guests were supposed to start signing from 10 as per the website etc

I chat to some friends and await Keniko Glenn’s arrival - she was too expensive for a photo shoot but her selfie price was cheap … even her combo was cheaper than the photo shoot itself ( which was a common thread I noticed - unlike other events that so combos where it’s usually only £10 cheaper , these were substantially cheaper options - and I don’t like to pay for selfies but when the saving is so much I couldn’t justify not getting them)

I wait … and wait …. I see other guests arriving … but no Kemiko or Rob Paulson … tick tick tick … yay Kemiko arrives … 11am. So a bit late and so the priority entry was pretty pointless. I only got the selfie and she didn’t give much interaction which was a bit of a shame.

Still no Rob so went to meet Meredith Salenger who I wanted to meet for Buffy . She was very sweet. She was shocked so many wanted her for Buffy she had ran out of prints. She complimented my T-shirt and said she had the same one. We had our selfie and I went back to meet Rob … still no sign and this was now after 12. His signing slot was 10-12 and after trying to find any info someone said he was due at 1:10 and told to come back then.

My friends were meeting a Michelle Ang so I said a brief hi, she was very talkative and sweet.

I went to get some comics signed my Marc Checcento as he was signing 1 free person, the other guests I wanted were charging £10 per comic and that was too steep for me. I tried to find a couple others but couldn’t see them and it was too cramped so gave up.

I had a brief look around some of the stalls , saw the new dr who Barbie’s that had been revealed a lot with some of the new He-men and transformers figures.

Went back at about 1:20 Rob appeared. There was a man with some autism ahead of me who had a bit of an issue whilst having his interaction with Rob to which I helped calm him down. Rob was thankful and we spoke about the con community and how it’s nice that all are accepted and then he signed my transformers figure and he was happy that his character was still getting used.

I had my two photo shoots , Patton was quiet but warm- told him I had recently watched his movie “ I love my dad “ and that he was good in it and he thanked me a few times as I left.

Stephanie photo was quick but she was really full of energy and it’s so weird to hear her natural high pitched voice

Shocking how quick the digitals were sent over - was before had even left the photo area.

Took a few photos with some props with friends / though it felt like there was less than usual

Some basic cons from the event : guests charging diff prices for diff items , quotes , character names etc - non regulation and just is a frustration and many only taking cash so some people had to be sent away to get money.

Guests just vanishing / not arriving and no one feeding any information to those queuing

Main areas just too busy and feeling pushed about too much .

Overall I didn’t actually get very much , especially compared to other events but I feel like I had not enough time to do much. A lot of time wasted in the morning waiting for late guests and very time you leave an area it feels a slog to go anywhere and get back

The event was fine , just nothing special for me and not one I would run to go to again unless had some guests I really wanted

Rating 6/10