Review: Motor City Comic Con 2016

Motor City Comic Con was my very first convention ever, and I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t know what to expect and a part of me was skeptical at first. But stepping into the Suburban Collection Showplace was like stepping into a different world, one where I could talk with the stars from my favorite TV shows, mingle with characters that I only ever get to see on a screen, and get lost in the booths upon booths of breath-taking art.

Let’s start with the vendors. There were a lot of them, and they were all selling different things that made my inner nerd squeal. Pop Funkos, which I am ashamed to admit that I own a total number of 0. Literally every Pop Funko that you can imagine. The Walking Dead Pop Funkos. Game of Thrones Pop Funkos. Alice in Wonderland Pop Funkos. It was Pop Funko mania. And comic books. There were so many comic books, which was to be expected. Rare comic books, too. And shirts. A ton of merchandise. If you were in need of any type of merchandise to complete your collection, I can almost guarantee you that a vendor at Motor City Comic Con had exactly what you needed and then some.

Throughout my time at the convention, I found myself frequently wandering the booths of the exhibitors. Their art is amazing. If you wanted a portrait of your favorite character, it was there. Daenerys Targaryen and her dragons, Daryl Dixon, Michael Myers, because yes, there are plenty of horror fans there, too. There were paintings, drawings, and sketches. Tim Thurmond even showcased his balloon sculptures.

It was while walking around that I also found myself running into my favorite TV characters. Cosplayers go all out, and at times, it was as if I was really interacting with the character that they were portraying. I got to meet crossbow-wielding Daryl Dixon. I was able to talk to Daenerys, the Mother of Dragons, and a Khal. Thankfully her dragons were still only eggs and her Khal was pretty nice.

One of the most exciting parts was meeting the actors and actresses who portray the characters that I love and bring them to life. The lines are long, yes, but the wait is worth it. Such actors and actresses who attended the event included Brenda Strong, most recently seen as Queen Nia in The 100, Holland Rhoden from Teen Wolf, Lena Headey, who portrays Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones, Ming Chen and Michael Zapcic from Comic Book Men, among others. I met a few members from the cast of The Walking Dead, and everyone was so eager and excited to interact with their fans. (Before you even ask, no, I was not able to get an answer out of them regarding who gets Lucilled by Negan. This is a mystery that will remain a mystery until season 7).

Motor City Comic Con had an abundance of things to do outside of just walking around the convention center. Multiple panels were held with the guests where fans were able to ask questions and guests were able to talk about their experiences with their work. There was a cosplay contest. There was even a wedding held.

Overall, Motor City Comic Con was an amazing experience. It set attendance records, which would explain why the convention floor was so crowded on Saturday, and allowed me a chance to fully nerd-out. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t hesitate.

From one nerd to the other, if you ever have the opportunity to attend Motor City Comic Con, or any comic con near you, do it. You won’t regret it.