Comic Conventions are nothing new, but for this years COMIC CON WALES the venue most certainly is. The team, and an incredible line up of special guests, are moving into the ICC Wales, in the Celtic Manor Resort, for what promises to be an action packed two days.
I think it’s fair to say that, most of us, love a bit of memorabilia from our idols, whether it be movies, music, or indeed comic books. What is not alway guaranteed, os that you are getting the ‘real-deal’ when it comes to authenticated signatures. What is so great about events like this, is that you not only get to see you ‘hero’ up close and personal, but what they sign, you know is real – because you were there.
The latest star to making his way to Newport is WWE Legend JOHN CENA, who you may also know from Peacemaker and Suicide Squad. John will be there today only.
Comic Con Wales is put together by Monopoly Events, the brainchild of Andy Kleek, and its aim is simple, to bring fans together to make fan-based and community driven events. Their slogan ‘by the fans for the fans’, sums up their ethos perfectly.
These guys have been doing these things for a while now, offering a diverse range of exhibitions, conferences and festivals. Since 2015 when they kicked it all off with For the Love of Sci-Fi which is now in its 6th year, they have developed many more conventions. For the Love of Horror which crosses a scare attraction with a convention, For the Love of Fantasy, and even For the Love of Darts!
Following on from For the Love of Sci-Fi they have now made UK Comic Cons one of their major brands, hosting the cities official Comic Cons in Liverpool, Edinburgh and the flagship Comic Con for Manchester as well as brand new events in Northern Ireland, Wales (more of that shortly) and Aberdeen.
Of course, a convention is only as good as the guests attending, and we can tell you that the organisers have gone to town for Wales this year, and in fact gone over to Tinsel Town to bring over some Hollywood TV royalty – WITCH you will be very excited about (I know we are).
‘Sabrina The Teenage Witch’ herself, MELISSA JOAN HART will be flying into the convention for both days, and is sure to be a huge favourite with fans of the 90s TV show, or indeed ‘Clarissa Explains It All’ before that, and later ‘Melissa & Joey‘ which is still a favourite on our digital channels.
Sabrina seemed to run forever, maybe because it’s only recently enjoyed another screening on E4. Originally it aired from 1996 to 2003.
Based on the original comic books, the TV show was all about Sabrina Spellman, played by Melissa, who lives with her two aunts Zelda (Beth Broderick) and Hilda (Caroline Rhea). One of the other real stars of the show was Salem the talking cat, voiced by Nick Bakay – who incidentally has his name all across the current Netflix series Cobra Kai.
But back to Sabrina, which actually started out as a movie and was Melissa’s first big screen debut. Here’s the original trailer – HERE.
On the subject of that movie, which really paved the way for the long running series, there was one cast member who seemingly had a bit of a crush on Melissa.
Yes, that is Deadpool star, and owner of Wrexham, Football Club, Ryan Reynolds. Talking about that time on the film Melissa told news.com.au…….
“We had a lot of fun together. He had a crush on me but I had a boyfriend.”
“Ryan and I worked really well together. We had a lot of fun in Vancouver — he’s from there,— and he’d just show me around.”
“He and I would take off on the weekends and go to Seattle for music festivals.”
The very first Comic Con Wales promises to be an event to remember for comic, tv, and film culture fans across the globe as they bring a phenomenal guest line-up including the one and only John Cena, Buffy the Vampire Slayer legend James Marsters, Cobra Kai stars Peyton List, Gianni DeCenzo, Martin Kove, Hannah Kepple, and Jesse Kove, Teen Wolf stars Tyler Posey, Holland Roden, Dylan Sprayberry, and Linden Ashby. Superman and Lois stars Tyler Hoechlin, Bitsie Tulloch, and Alex Garfin. The Walking Dead stars Tom Payne, Steven Ogg, and Chandler Riggs, Lesley Ann Brandt, D.B. Woodside, and Aimee Garcia from Lucifer, Gotham’s Robin Lord Taylor, and David Mazouz, Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick, Sabrina the Teenage Witch legends, Melissa Joan Hart and Jenna Leigh Green and finally Flight of the Navigator child star Joey Cramer!
To see the full line up of guests, and book your Autograph & Photograph tickets, go HERE.
The International Conference Centre in Newport is the new home of Comic Con Wales, and the perfect setting for the convention. It is in fact the largest Convention centre in Wales, and with excellent links to Swansea, Cardiff and cities in the West and South West of England, it’s easy to see why the organisers chose it.
The organiser said of the event……..
‘When Monopoly Events takes on a project we give it 100% commitment and that’s exactly what we will do with our first Wales show. Don’t forget it’s a team effort, so spread the word to your family and friends that Comic Con is coming, and the build-up can now commence!’
COMIC CON WALES is on this weekend, the 6th and 7th of August and they are a huge range of ticket options available. The best thing to do is visit the Comic Con Wales website: HERE You can also catch them on social media.
- Facebook: @comicconwales
- Facebook group: HERE
- Twitter: @monopolyevents1