Nerds, geeks, gamers, and pop culture fans of all kinds this one’s for you! Oz Comic-Con is coming back to the BCEC on September 13 and September 14, and it’ll be packed with iconic guests and unmissable experiences!
Though some guests are still TBA, headlining the first guest announcement is two-time Tony Award nominee Alex Brightman, best known for his acclaimed roles in Broadway’s Beetlejuice and School of Rock, and as the voice of Fizzarolli in the wildly popular animated series Helluva Boss.
Along for the ride is also a stellar cast of cult favourites and sci-fi stars, including Katie Cassidy from Arrow and Supernatural; DJ Qualls, best known for Supernatural, Z Nation and Road Trip; fellow Supernatural alumni Ty Olsson, also recognised for Wynonna Earp and The 100; Tara Sands, voice acting royalty behind Pokémon, Jujutsu Kaisen, One Piece and more; and, celebrating the 30th anniversary of legendary series Xena: Warrior Princess, Renée O’Connor.
And that’s only the beginning. There’s so much to explore at the expo that you might need a TARDIS to get to it all! The Artist Alley, for starters, will give you the chance to interact with the creative geniuses behind you favourite comic books, graphic novels and everything artsy! You can purchase unique commissions, hand-made jewellery and clothing, and much more. With both professional artists and local fan talent, you’ll get to truly immerse yourself in colour and creativity, and rep all your fandoms.
If you’re an avid cosplayer, you might be interested in entering the Oz Comic-Con Championships of Cosplay, with a $1500 cash prize up for grabs! Don your best interpretation of your favourite character’s outfit and compete in one of the four categories — Needlework, Armor, FX, Wildcard — or go for the gold as Best in Show for a chance to win the cash prize! You can read more and apply to enter here.
More of a casual cosplayer? There’s a Cosplay Parade — and a Kids Cosplay Parade — that you can enter as an individual or as a group, where you can strut your stuff no matter your skill level! If you’re already dressed for the occasion you can even go to a cosplay meetup and meet some likeminded fans in awesome cosplay!
There are still other prizes up for grabs, with an adorable Quokka Quest scavenger hunt taking place over both days! Find the 12 playful quokkas hidden throughout the Showgrounds and take a photo of each to redeem your prize. Or, if you’re all about making friends with fellow Con-goers, play the Comic-Con Bingo, with prompts like “Take a photo with a cosplayer dressed as your favourite character” or “Recreating a meme or famous movie scene with other attendees.”
Live entertainment, music, trivia, panels, an esports showcase, tabletop gaming and a trading post will keep everyone interested and having fun, but if it all gets to be too much, there are also more lowkey spaces, such as the Comics Lounge, where you can sink into a beanbag and have a read through an extensive comics and manga library.
On the other hand, if you’re feeling brave and want some fresh ink, step up to the Tattoo Mystery Hole and let an artist from tattoo aftercare experts Dr Pickles pick out a design to etch on your arm. The twist? You won’t see your tattoo until after it’s done! Of course, there are also flash tattoo designs available, if you’re looking for something a little more predictable.
Whatever realm you want to inhabit, whatever fandom you are a part of Oz Comic-Con will immerse you in that universe and allow you to connect with people as passionate as you are!
Practical info
Early bird tickets are $45 for single day entry or $69.50 for a weekend pass per adult, and $22.50 (single) or $32.50 (weekend) for children aged 5-12. There are also family passes (2 adults and 2 children) available for $99 for one day and $160 for the weekend.
If you can’t do without your goodies, a Collectors Pass, which includes exclusive Oz Comic-Con merch will run you $135. Or, if you’re looking for the royal treatment, you can skip lines, have front row seats, a $250 photograph and autograph token credit and more with a VIP pass, which costs $399. You can also buy photograph and autograph tokens and meet & greets separately here.
Get all tickets here.
Oz Comic-Con will take place on September 14 and September 15 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. All information on their website.