Previewing the London Film and Comic Con 2019

On Friday the 26th of July 2019 until Sunday the 28th of July , Showmasters biggest event of the year comes to the London Olympia; The London Film and Comic Con!

I first went to one of their conventions back in 2014 with fellow Team Venom founder Dave Burston and had such a fantastic experience that I have since endeavoured to go to as many of them as possible and, where not, have at least gone to one of Showmasters other events, sometimes for work (for this very site), sometimes socially with friends and sometimes with family (all dependant on circumstances at the time) and I can honestly say each one I've attended has been a truly memorable experience.

Back in 2014 we had just started getting interviews courtesy of TNA Wrestling (now Impact Wrestling) and they (TNA) had a huge showing there. We spoke to Robbie E, Magnus, James Storm and Al Snow there (although not in an official, interview form) and also got Al to pose in one of our promotional T-Shirts (we would later go on to interview Al at a later date once he opened up his UK academy and I would then go on to enroll there a few months later). We also interviewed Tyler Mane and got to hang out with Jason Mewes (we'd forked out for the early access VIP passess) but most importantly, got to see Stan Lee. Dave went to get something signed by him and I would later attend an award show that Showmasters presented, hosted by Stan Lee, Jason Mewes and Anthony Head.

With Jason Mewes in 2014

By the time the next I attended an event our website had exploded and I'd made some tremendous contacts including several guests that were attending that year (I *think* it may have been 2015) and Showmasters were generous enough to grant us full press access (and have done several times since). There we interviewed Jason Faunt, Steve Cardenas, WWE Hall of Famer Rocky Johnson and got to meet and chat to Rey Mysterio and my childhood hero, Jason David Frank aka Mighty Morphin Power Rangers' Tommy Oliver - The Green (then White) Ranger.

With Jason David Frank, Steve Cardenas, Jason Faunt and Erin Cahill in 2015

This year's event looks stacked and like it will top both of those aforementioned occasions (there have been more but I'm aware that the introduction to this article has been quite large so far) as it features one of its largest and most stacked line ups yet.

From the wrestling side, both the aforementioned Al Snow and Rey Mysterio are going to be in attendance as well as Vicky Guerrero, Kelly Kelly, Ted DiBiase and Chavo Guerrero. From the pop culture side of things, one of my all time favourite actors (and one of the few people who I've gone out of my way to watch documentaries and specials such as "Inside the Actors Studio" on) will be attending, Charlie Sheen. Charlie Sheen is someone who I have watched on screen in some way or another every week for the last decade what with "Two and a Half Men" (and it's subsequent daily reruns on UK's Comedy Central) until Charlie's famous falling out with Chuck Lorre and subsequently leaving the show and then the fantastic "Anger Management" starting up (as well as the Comedy Central Roast and several documentaries). Recently, I'd introduced my son to the awesomeness of Charlie Sheen thanks to his role of Topper Harley in the classic Hot Shots movies (my son will be with me for this year's event) and he's now also looking forward to meeting him.

One of the other headlining guests that both myself and my son are looking forward to seeing is Aquaman himself, Jason Mamoa who from all accounts gets as much put of these conventions as his fans. There's also Charles Dance (who terrified me as a child thanks to his role in the Eddie Murphy-led Golden Child - one of my all-time favourite movies), Robert Carlysle, who I have enjoyed in various roles accross the last couple of decades (including one of my favourite movies, Shane Meadows' Once Upon a  Time in the Midlands), absolute legend William Shatner (including don't really need to list his accolades, do I?), Star Wars legends Iain McDiamond (The Frigging Emperor) and Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) who are both reprising their roles for this year's sure fire hit Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker as well as hundreds or other guests from all corners of pop culture (including several comic writers and artists).

Another huge reason the LFCC is usually so memorable is the fans. Each year there is an impressive outing of next level cosplayers who each put in a stunning amount of work for their costumes (and accessories). There I'd also always a terrific selection of stalls, making it worth sticking around for all three days.

Anyway, I've talked about some of my memories and what I'm looking forward to this year, what about yours? Please feel free to drop your memories and what your looking forward to the most in the comments and we'll look to respond to them in one of our upcoming podcasts on Spotify!

As always, feel free to give me a shout if you see me wandering around the con!