Fans made the hero’s journey to Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre this weekend to meet their favourite celebrities, buy their weight in merch and revel in two days of pop culture chaos at Oz Comic-Con. For a nerd, it’s paradise. For anyone else, stay out of the way because this is my Super Bowl.
Oz Comic-Con is huge. MCEC was absolutely buzzing with activity by the time I arrived–at 9AM! Inside, the hall was wall-to-wall full, from panels to cosplay competitions, interactive challenges, tabletop games, retail vendors and workshops. Travellers, take heed: it’s not for the faint of heart. I had to join the Vaders posted outside for more than one (suspiciously wheezy) breather…
Celebrity panels featured Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito, voice actor and comedian Brandon Rogers, The Boys’ Moff Gideon and–my personal OZCC highlight–Catherine Tate, Doctor Who’s Donna Noble. Other guests included voice actors, cosplayers, costume designers–I could go on. I quite literally did not have enough time in the day to check every event out, so a comprehensive schedule (or a time machine, ha ha) is a must-have for those looking to see anything in particular.
For theatre fans, OZCC hosted a Q&A with the Beetlejuice cast, who are currently completing a fantastic run at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre. In their panel, cast members Eddie Perfect, Karis Oka and Elise McCann touched on some behind-the-scenes insights that you rarely get to hear elsewhere, so I considered myself very fortunate for catching that.
Oz Comic-Con had a massive lineup in the artist alley this year. From movies, TV shows and anime to books and even music, artists showcased fan art and plenty of amazing indie work too. Authors were also in attendance, promoting their books, chatting with fans and signing copies all weekend. Artist alleys embody what OZCC is all about: connecting not only fans with the authors and artists they love, but fellow creatives with one another, supporting the ecosystem of our thriving local art scene. Crucial, creative, and so fun.
I only wish that all of these incredible events could have taken place in separate halls, or with a more thoughtful configuration of booths. MCEC has a wonderful plenary for use, which would have given the guests the undivided attention they deserved; I could barely hear myself think, packed into one room like sardines. With a bit of breathing space, perhaps each element would have had the chance to connect with con-goers on a more personal level.
Still, a large-scale event completely dedicated to a love of art will always leave you walking away inspired to create. Oz Comic-Con brings together people across all walks of life with a common thread: celebrating the hard work of creatives and shaping the future of pop culture and entertainment.
Oz Comic-Con will be travelling to the rest of Australia throughout the year, but will be back in Melbourne from the 6th-7th of December for a special ‘Xmas edition’.
For more information on Comic-Con 2025, please visit https://ozcomiccon.com/.
