Contrary to popular belief, Megacon isn’t just a convention for men living in their mom’s basement. Everything from the most niche corners of the internet to mainstream media such as Stranger Things is represented in the form of panels, signings, cosplays, and so much more. According to fanexpohq.com, “Megacon Orlando is the ultimate geek paradise. Comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming collide in a four-day epic adventure that draws in hundreds of thousands of fans every year.” At the 2024 convention, I even watched a panel of the cast of The Princess Bride, so no matter what you’re interested in, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Megacon.
One of the main draws of Megacon, and other conventions, is the large selection of celebrities who appear at the convention. Anyone from a voice actor in an anime show to an actor from your favorite movie might be there. While there, guests are able to meet these celebrities in person, for the small price of an arm, a leg, and your firstborn child, but nonetheless the opportunity is there. If visitors don’t feel like spending a small fortune on a VIP pass to actually meet the celebrities in person for autographs or photos, there’s still the option of going to the Q&A panel. At the panel, celebrities like Tom Hiddleston, Ke Huy Quan, Robin Wright, Susan Sarandon, Gena Davis, Paul Bettany, Jason Momoa, and Jeff Goldblum will tell behind-the-scenes stories, share their own thoughts about their work or co-stars, and even answer questions from the audience.
At the The Princess Bride panel, the actors talked about how they had nothing but wonderful things to say about their co-stars and the director, talking about how kind and caring Andre the Giant was, citing a specific example when they where filming in the rain and made sure to keep Robin Wright safe from the rain by standing over her. Afterward, they opened up the panel for Q&A from audience members, where they were able to ask questions to the actors directly. While I didn’t get to ask a question myself, other audience members around me had interesting questions to ask about the actor’s experience filming the movie and how it transformed them as actors for the better.
Another major part of the convention is Artist’s Alley, a place where visual artists set up stalls and sell their creations. Merchandise includes everything from paintings and figures to recreations of props. Some of my favorite pieces of art I’ve bought from Artist’s Alley are a beautiful drawing of a dragon and some drawings of Pokemon, namely the Eeveelutions. Honestly, Artist’s Alley is one of my favorite places to spend time while I’m at the convention. Seeing all the passion and care the artists put into their work is something that is truly amazing. However, there isn’t just art at Artist’s Alley. I got some car air fresheners that look like the Pokemon character and a fan with the colors of the gay pride flag. So no matter what you’re interested in, there’s someone who’s created something you’re interested in.
Megacon also has spaces for people to play games of all types, and tournaments are even held during the convention. Everything from Super Smash Bros to Dungeons and Dragons is represented at the convention, and it’s incredibly difficult to find time to play them all. I, for one, spent many hours of my time playing Werewolf and other hidden role games, as those are my favorites. I enjoy lying to people, and social deduction is fun. While I spent many hours playing Werewolf with other Megacon fans, I also spent a lot of time in the video game area playing in the Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Tournament going on at the time. While I didn’t manage to get very far into the tournament, it was still a super fun time that I have really fond memories of playing with people I have never met before.
Another large factor of Megacon, and any convention like it, is the cosplays that people wear while visiting. People spend many hours meticulously putting together costumes so that they can look like their favorite characters from all kinds of media, like anime, video games, books, and movies. The attention to detail is amazing, and walking around the convention center surrounded by your favorite characters come to life is something that can’t be replicated. My personal favorite cosplay I’ve ever seen is someone who dressed up as the DVD logo screen and even had it bouncing around a frame he made out of PVC pipes. This just goes to show the creativity and ingenuity of the people who are at Megacon.
The community of people at Megacon creates a very friendly and relatable environment. Most people are kind and uplifting, making everyone feel welcome. While it can be a nightmare for someone who doesn’t like a lot of interaction, it’s so much fun to have people come up to you and compliment your outfit. It’s fun having a conversation about something you’re both passionate about because they saw you wearing a specific piece of merch. One of the best examples of this was when I was playing Werewolf. After every game, without fail, everyone would stay for a few minutes, and we would just talk about the game we just finished.
Megacon is a place for people of all interests to come together and enjoy a space dedicated to their interests and where nobody has to be afraid because of what they love! If all I have said hasn’t convinced you to buy your tickets, reminder that some of the featured guests of this year are, Millie Bobby Brown, Matt Smith, Joseph Quinn, and Matthew Lillard. This year the dates are February 6 to February 9 so I hope to see you there.
