Well this is my account of the full three days of LFCC, and let me tell you. It was the single greatest three days of my life...I really doubt that anything else will compare. Seriously, I really wish I could do Conventions more often...heck I might. The whole Convention scene is hectic, but still incredibly fun, especially being able to hang round with Geeks like yourself. If you haven't been to a Convention I'd suggest you go.
FRIDAY
Anyway, I traveled down to London from my home in the North of England at 6AM. I arrived in London at West Brompton station which is right by Earls Court Two. I checked into my hotel which, was also right next to Earls Court, and thought that I would try on my Spider-Man suit just to see how it was looked on me - and it looked good. I was about to take it off and get back to unpacking suitcase when my friend rang me and told me that there was a Back To The Future re-enactment going on outside Earls Court One (there are two Earls Court buildings). I grabbed my mask and sprinted to the lift, whilst I was on my way down to reception a man got in the lift...and I got to say a line from the second Raimi Spider-Man. He said "Cool Spidey outfit" and of course I said "Thanks" then he asked where'd you get it? and I said that I made it, so at this point I realized what was going on and said "It's a bit itchy and it rides in the crotch". He didn't realize what had happened, but I did and had a small victory to myself. I left the hotel and then walked to Earls Court in my suit, and within ten seconds of being in Earls Court I was asked to pose for a photo, and to be quite honest it was a great feeling just knowing that I had succeeded in making a photo worthy cosplay. Anyway I managed to catch the last few minutes if the re-enactment and then started queuing up to get in to the main convention hall. The doors opened at six and myself and Hundreds of other geeks, nerds and dweebs alike flooded into Earls Court Two. The first thing I did was get my VQ (Virtual Queue) tickets for my Stan Lee photo shoot, but once I had those I decided to wander around, I then bumped into my friend Aron Wolfhart, a fellow Spidey Cosplayer and we took part in a few green screen videos playing guitars...I still don't know why. The hall was full but there was still enough room to walk around and pose for photos, so as you may have guessed about every 20 steps or so I was being asked for a photo and I loved every second of it. Eventually my number was close to coming up in the Stan Lee photo shoot so again I started to queue up for the third time in a day, I was pre occupied adjusting my lenses on my mask and wasn't really paying attention to my surroundings. Now my friend likes to play tricks on me, so when he said that Stan Lee was right behind me I didn't believe him, but I suddenly felt a tug on my web pack and then turned around - it was Stan Lee! He then carried on walking as if nothing had happened and then the Photo shoot began. Sadly it was like an assembly line, but Stan made an effort to at least say Hi to each and every person. He is one hell of a guy. When it got to me my heart was racing, he said Hi, and then we both leaned in for the photo. I got my photo and then walked off...it was the most amazing six seconds of my life. The rest of my Friday consisted of myself and Aron just walking around posing for photos and we took part in one interview (I have no idea who the interviewer was or what company they represented). I stayed in Earls Court Two until it was announced that the Convention was over for the day. So I went back to my hotel and fell asleep.
SATURDAY
I woke up bright and early on the Saturday morning to start queuing for Day Two of LFCC. I slipped into my Spider-Man suit and made my way over to Earls Court. I started to queue at 7:30AM, I was incredibly lucky and ended up right at the front of the queue. I only queued for one reason. Saturday was the day I was getting my Stan Lee autographs. The doors opened at 9AM, and again Hundreds of people flooded Earls Court Two...but this time it was like a sardine can. You couldn't walk anywhere without bumping into some one. It was literally shoulder to shoulder the whole time. I went to the VQ line only to find that the Stan Lee signings where in Earls Court One. I bustled my way out of Earls Court Two and made my way over to Earls Court One. Luckily there was no queue outside Earls Court One yet so all was good. I ran inside and started to queue for the Stan Lee Signings. Stan Lee arrived around 10:30AM and again, it was like an assembly line, but this time Stan was so busy writing he didn't say a word. I felt so sorry for him having to write his name what must have been over a thousand times in an hour, but he seemed to pull through. Luckily his carers where keeping a very close eye on him and stopping whenever it looked like he was struggling. Anyway, I spent a rather ridiculous amount on getting 8 things signed, but can you blame me seeing as this was his last ever European signing appearance? The eight things were; The Amazing Spider-Man #1 Relaunch, Superior Spider-Man #1, Spider-Girl #0, The Amazing Spider-Man #700, The Amazing Spider-Man #194, Photo of me with Stan Lee, my Captain America metal Shield and my Spider-Man suit. I had then all authenticated too. But the best part of meeting Stan for the second time was when I was getting my suit signed. At first I just stuck my arm out not really wanting to breach his personal space, but then one of his handlers told me I needed to be closer so he could sign it. So of course I didn't complain and then pretty much lay on the table in front of him awkwardly as he signed my suit...he must have thought I was a freak haha. Later on that day I met up with Aron and made another friend with another Spidey Cosplayer called Yee Chan. So the three of us walked round posing for photo's whilst shuffling through the crowds. We bumped into a few professional cosplayers and then took part in a Marvel Cosplay photoshoot in the car park of Earls Court Two. It was possibly the single most painful thing I have ever done. It isn't like a normal photo where you strike a pose and then boom it's done in ten seconds, instead you strike a pose and you are posing that way for a good 10 minutes. It was fun as hell but just a little bit too tiring. It just shows that I need to work on my stamina, but I'll be ready for my next Convention. After the Photo shoot We took part in a cosplay video for 'The 86th Floor' where the three of us were posing on poles...and let me tell you now. They are NOT easy to stay on. So after all of that cosplay fun was over I just walked around Earls Court One until again it was the end of LFCC Day Two. Again I went back to my hotel and fell asleep after a tiring day of walking and posing in the boiling hot Halls of Earls Court.
SUNDAY
The final day of LFCC was sadly upon me, and I had decided I was going to have a lie in and not get up early seeing as the only thing I wanted to do that day was the Stan Lee talk at 7PM. I woke up around 9AM and then made my way over to Earls Court Two. Myself, Yee, and Aron had decided not to cosplay on the Sunday and that we would take photo's seeing as we hadn't had a chance to on the Friday and Saturday. There were truly some AMAZING cosplays that I am happy I got photo's of. Anyway it was really strange walking round not in costume. Now I know how it must feel to be Peter Parker. In the suit everyone loves you and you are basically a celebrity. But once you take the suit off nobody has a clue who you are. I even almost did a Spidey pose when I was getting a photo with a Black Cat cosplayer. It had become second nature. Aron, Yee ad myself continued to walk around until Aron left us to go back to Germany where he lives, we then attended a freebie giveaway that was on before the Stan Lee talk. I really do wish that I had cosplayed the Sunday because I am sure that I would have gotten a freebie bag due to my Marvel get up. Anyway the freebie giveaway ended and I was empty handed, but it was then time for the Stan Lee talk. I was incredibly lucky and had a friend who was working for Showmaster (they organized the whole of LFCC). He managed to get me a seat three rows in from the front and right on the very edge of the isle. When Stan Lee arrived I got up and cheered along with everyone else...I even thing that I was caught on the Sneaky Zebra video cheering like an idiot...anyway. Stan was asked some really generic questions by the interviewer that we have all heard before, and he recited his answers word for word from previous times I've heard the questions asked on TV shows and other interviews. Half way through the interview I felt that I should get my better lens for my camera. This resulted in me Spider-Man crawling down the isle towards my friend who had it...again I am sure I made an ass of myself again in front of Stan Lee. One thing he always makes clear is his love for his wife. He hinted that he really missed her and couldn't wait to get back to LA. When it got on to the audience questions I felt that if only I had put my suit on maybe I'd have been picked to ask a question, but hey ho you can't win them all. I recorded the whole interview on my phone just so that I could listen to it again and again. Stan finished off the talk with his catchphrase "EXCELSIOR" upon him saying this the whole crowd erupted into cheers ad hooting. My wonderful weekend of Marvel madness was over. I returned to my Hotel heavy hearted but thankful for the Amazing experience that I had. I returned home on the Monday morning.
If you want to hear about my experience I will be on KMDT - GEEK BLAST Friday at 6pm EST
~SpideyFan ReviewMan