Supanova: It's here again!

My Facebook newsfeed is filling with statuses from fellow cosplayers and their building excitements, last minute stress attacks when something isn’t sewing just right and reports on the numbers of injuries they have suffered trying to finish the last of their costumes –most due to hot glue guns. 

It’s that time of the year again; Supanova Pop Culture Expo is on again at Brisbane’s RNA Showground this weekend. Starting this afternoon (9^th of Nov.) and continuing onto to Sunday (the 11^th of Nov.) evening. I myself have been getting more and more excited, eager to walk through the gates into to my favorite Australian convention once again. The geeks are beckoning! 

Supanova Brisbane is welcoming some incredible guests to the convention this year, including Richard Kiel (‘Jaws’ from James Bond), Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette from True Blood), many other stars from Pop Culture movies and television shows, voice actors from cartoons and animes, artists and authors. The line-up is predicted to bring in Brisbane’s largest crowd yet. And with this prediction, the area of the showground that Supanova is usually been held has had to expand to accommodate for the increase in guests.  

This afternoon isn’t predicted to draw in the largest crowd as it is only a half-day and opening night. However, when Saturday morning rolls around, zombies, aliens, anime and manga characters, Dr Who and Stormtroopers will congregate outside the gates of the showground (some will be there from as early as 6am). And together, geeks and nerds will come together to celebrate their love for all things Pop Culture in a weekend of what can only be called their haven. 

When the gates open on Saturday morning, crowds will scuffle their way into the convention, heading for the dealers room to look at the latest merchandise from their favorite games and shows, snapping pictures of those dressed in costume along the way. 

An air of excitement will float over the bustling crowds as they meet their celebrity idols, or buy something they’ve been looking for. The feeling of joy when you see someone cosplaying your favorite character from a TV show, a manga or a movie. Their costume perfect and they’re acting on-par with the real character; it is amazing, nothing able to put a bigger, appreciative smile on someone’s face. 

For me it’s at events like Supanova that I can really let myself go and enjoy myself. I can see friends I made through cosplay that haven’t seen for six months, since the last convention, and suddenly we are back to the way we were, like there wasn’t even a pause in our last conversation. 

I receive more hugs at these conventions then anyone could anywhere else in the world. Friends hug you. Small children who recognise and love your character run up and ask for a hug. Fellow fans come up to you and get a photo with you before discussing your costume or the show/game it’s from with you, and then when you say farewell to them, sometimes there’s a hug. A mutual understanding between you both and you know that when you go home and jump on Facebook that night, their friend request will be there waiting so you can continue your conversation from earlier. Even the celebrities give you a cuddle on occasion. 

There is no place with more love amongst people than Supanova. Complete strangers can bond over something and find themselves the best of friends in the future. There’s a sense of relaxation and comfort amongst everyone. To me, when you walk in the doors to Supanova, there is no such thing as judgment. It’s a place where geeks can let their freak geek flag fly for a weekend and make new friends and experience new things on the way.

-Laura