Stoke Con Trent, October 2021, Review

After months (or years) of waiting, Stoke Con Trent 2021 finally happened!  So, how was it?

I'm pleased to say that the buzz of attending a comic convention hasn't been dissipated by the gap.  I was uncertain about how I'd feel, but that doubt didn't last long.  We pulled onto the car park and saw Boba Fett, a DeLorean, and the Jurassic Park jeep.  Yes, this was a convention and it had the attractions to prove it; it was fantastic.

This Con was the first I've attended that wasn't at Staffordshire University (I missed the one in King's Hall Stoke) and I have mixed feelings about the relocation.  Previous cons have enjoyed the wide open spaces around the Staffs Uni campus.  In particular, the last Con made use of Staffs Uni's Sports Hall which was excellent - large and bright (great for looking at merchandise and for getting photos of ... well, everything) and carpeted (the acoustics were brilliant - it was possible to hold conversations without sound bouncing off every hard surface in the room).  Yes, sports halls (especially carpeted) are significantly better than night-club type venues for conventions.  Staffs also has the London Road Venue and Brindley building, which are both good for Cons (the LRV with its stage, the Brindley building providing additional space).

I mentioned the outdoor attractions; let's start with them: 
    The Fall Guy Truck (that was a novelty)
    Transformers Grimlock car (also unusual, and a change from Bumblebee, who I've seen elsewhere)
    An American police car (I don't know if it was from a specific show, but the lights and sound were awesome)
    An American muscle car
    The Jurassic Park Jeep (with scenery)
    Lightning McQueen 
    Back to the Future DeLorean (first time I've seen this at a Con)

...which were all excellent.  It was great to see something different and familiar, and the organisers had done well to choose a variety of vehicles to appeal to all age ranges; I've mentioned this before, and it's something they did well here.

There was a very good mix of professional and amateur cosplay, with the East Midlands Garrison providing a small but varied troop of characters, and a wide range of other characters (some I recognised, some I didn't) which meant that there was a photo opportunity round every corner.  The Staffordshire Tardis was open for photos, and it was good to see it again (and with all the cosplay Doctors taking a moment for a quick photo).  

The Cosplay competition was well attended, with prizes offered by the Convention's sponsors, and the Cosplay community did a great job of bringing the convention to life, and adding to the experience.  They were also fantastic at providing entertainment outdoors, for those who are still a little edgy about being inside with crowds of people (there wasn't very much social distancing going on, but masks and sanitiser were available to all attendees).

The headline attractions at Conventions are the celebrities (I probably should have started with them).  Unfortunately for Stoke Con Trent, a number of celebrities that were booked to appear had to cancel for various unrelated reasons.  The remaining celebs were - again - a good range and appealed to a very wide audience.  Will Mellor (Hollyoaks, among others) made an appearance and was very chatty throughout.

Star Wars fans saw Mike Quinn (Nien Nunb), Tim Rose (Admiral Ackbar) and Ross Sambridge (body double for Supreme Leader Snoke).  It was a slightly comical moment when we met them, as we saw the large and small of Star Wars - Mike Quinn is about 5'3" tall (my guess), while Ross Sambridge is 7' tall (according to Google).  We didn't see Matt Tyler, but such are the vagaries of Conventions.

The Gladiators were again due to attend - not in the numbers they have before, but even so I was particularly looking forward to seeing Jet again.  In the end, I think I either took a wrong turning, missed her completely or she didn't turn up.  The one minor disappointment I have from the day is not meeting any of the Gladiators, who are always a great crowd-pleaser at conventions.  There were other celebrities too, all ready to sign pictures, have photos and so on, but none that my children were interested in.  It turned out that they were far more interested in the traders' tables.  I attended the convention with two of my three children, and they both enjoyed it.  We particularly liked the range of stalls, and the good supply of Funko Pops (there were bargains to be had on the day, that's for sure). 

  
The kids had photos with the Star Wars characters, liked watching the Cosplay Parade, and came back with some new Funko Pops.  Keele has the advantage of a Co-op literally next door to the Students' Union, which was great for unplanned snacks, and the size of the Keele Campus meant that we had no trouble finding somewhere quiet and indoors to sit and have a quick food break.

The event was extremely well organised, with stewards and security on the doo.  The layout was shared on social media in advance, and there weren’t many signposts around between the different rooms and locations in the venue, but the enthusiastic photographer was frequently circling and leading people to the various parts of the convention.  It’s all small steps back to normality, and it’s all good.

It would be untrue to say that this was as big as the pre-pandemic Cons, but it would also be unfair to criticise.  I am certain that the next Stoke Con Trent (and if they keep to the usual two-per-year schedule, then we're looking at the next one in April 2022) will be as big as the previous ones, as guests; features; stall-holders and exhibitors will all be back to their normal capacity and Covid will be a thing of the past.  This was a significant step on the road back to normality, and I am most certainly looking forward to the next one already, anticipating a return to greatness (and a move back to Staffs Uni, please!).

*I was granted a press pass to cover the Con, share previews, a review and photos, and to Tweet throughout the day.  I paid for my children's tickets.

 

Stoke Con Trent Comic Convention, October 2021

The biggest and best Comic Convention in Stoke-on-Trent; Staffordshire and possibly even the West Midlands and beyond:  Stoke Con Trent is back.  This year sees a change of venue, as the convention moves from Staffs Uni (where it's been held since its launch) and we are invited to #KeeleTheForce.

Since its launch, Stoke Con Trent has become a leading event, featuring a wide range of sci-fi actors (Garrett Wang, various Doctors, Jeremy Bulloch) and a range of TV celebrities (Stoke Con Trent has become the place to meet the team from ITV's Gladiators), as well as comic artists (local and national).

Stoke Con Trent genuinely has something for all ages.  They've had guests including Hacker T Dog (CBBC) and Tiny Tim (of YouTube fame, and well worth a look), and members of S Club 7 (who have since gone on to have TV careers of their own).  If they're still a little young for you, you can hope to see the Gladiators, and if they're still not your cup of tea, then there are often TV stars from shows like The Chase.  It's grown significantly since its start as a sci-fi/comic convention to attract a much wider audience base (which means they get the ticket revenue to attract the bigger stars, in a positive, virtuous circle).

The wide range of guests is complemented by a wide range of stalls.  Yes, there are Funko Pops, and Lego figures, but there are also local gaming groups, stores, sweets, refreshments and so on.  Which reminds me: the convention venues (they've been at Staffs Uni, and at King's Hall Stoke on one occasion) are always very well equipped, with hot/cold food, toilets (including disabled toilets) and ideal for this kind of event.  

I've blogged before with extensive reviews and previews of earlier Stoke Con Trents, and this post is to remind everyone that it's back, on Sunday 10 October.  At the time of writing, guests are still being announced, and I anticipate frequent updates throughout September as we get closer to the date.

Guests announced so far include:

Robert Llewellyn (Kryten from Red Dwarf, Scrapheap Challenge)

Gladiators:  Lightning; Scorpio and Zodiac (and if that seems female-only, I strongly suspect that Wolf and Saracen will join the list at some point soon)

Sam Fox 1980s pin-up and pop star (yes, she had a top 30 UK single)

Hacker T Dog from CBBC returns for a second Con.

Jessica Stafford (The Real Hustle)

Ted Robbins (everything from Ackley Bridge to Peter Kay's shows)

Steve Cardenas (Red Power Ranger)

And there will certainly be plenty more.  The students from Staffordshire University's Comic and Comic Arts degree course regularly put on a great display of their artwork, which is also recommended if you're more interested in Comic Conventions, and in the past Lee Sullivan (whose work includes Transformers) has attended.

What really makes the conventions - the icing on the cake - is the number of people who attend in Cosplay.  Yes, the local Cosplay groups attend, and they're amazing, but many of the attendees also dress up, and there's a great atmosphere.  This is genuinely for all the family - I've seen the Incredibles Family, with Mrs Incredible pushing Jack-Jack (in costume) in his pushchair.  Hilarous!!

Tickets are reasonably priced for a convention of this scale and are available from the Stoke Con Trent website:

£40 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children)
£15 for adults (17 and over)
£10 for concessions (pensioners and those with a disability; carers' tickets are available)
£8 for children (5-16)
Under 5s are free

Great value, a great day out, and genuinely suitable for all ages.  I'll be reviewing the latest Con in an upcoming post, and sharing even more pictures!

Northwich Comic Convention, October 2021

It's back!  Comic Conventions generally are returning, and in particular Northwich Comic Con.  Northwich is one of the largest I've been to, since it takes over a whole gymnasium, plus surrounding corridors and entrance ways (and, if the weather is good, the car park too, with The A Team van, or KITT, or other vehicles).

These photos were taken at a previous Northwich Comic Con, where there was a wide range of Cosplay characters, including some guests who had even dressed up in Star Trek uniform (you don't see that every day).

This is massively recommended.  Previous Northwich Comic Cons have featured large numbers of stands, selling all the usual merchandise, in plentiful supply, and with a wide range of characters, themes, photo opportunities - it's well worth the admission price.  Ticket news is still pending, as the organisers work with the venue.

Northwich Memorial Court, Chesterway CW9 5QJ Northwich
2 October 2021, 10:00am - 4:00pm.
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/northwichcomiccon/

Review: Interview and Signing with Transformers' Simon Furman and Geoff Senior

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I was able to attend Forbidden Planet's store in Wolverhampton to take part in a live Q&A and signing with Simon Furman and Geoff Senior, the writer and artist for Transformers UK comics in the 1980s.

I have a video of part of the interview, which you can see here; I also took some notes of the interview.

Geoff Senior was originally approached by Ian Rimmer to draw for the Transformers, and initially thought it was drawing electric power components, like those you'd find in Scalextric (my parents and grandparents also made that assumption when I explained I liked Transformers). The art, Geoff explained, is very stylised - all artists have their own styles, based on their own influences. Originally done on card (which he had to cut to size), things are now very different, with the art for "To The Death" - their latest work - done on screen.

Geoff explained that as a child, he was mostly interested in TV, and this was before VHS, leading to the inevitable problem of missing his favourite shows. Comics don't have this problem - once you've bought them, you can read and re-read them at your leisure. The first comic he read was Countdown with the artwork especially. He remembered reaching the time when you grow up and start actually noting who wrote and who drew it, and the introduction of the credits box helped with this.

Simon Furman added at this point that it was a requirement from DC Thompson comics that you must not sign your work even though this was the only way they could get known. Transformers has always had the credits box (or similar) near the start of each issue. Simon grew up with the Marvel: Vision series of comics, and the Hulk. Geoff, in addition to Countdown, also read Beezer, Topper, and TV action comics, but was not attracted to Marvel/DC.

Simon commented also that he enjoyed meeting fans and doing signings, and as he explained, it's great to see a ragged and worn copy of a Transformers issue being presented for signing - "That's a well-loved comic."

Both Geoff and Simon posed for photos, signed anything and everything we put in front of them, and were both warm and enthusiastic about Transformers and Transformers fans. If you ever get chance to see them, meet them and talk to them, I can strongly recommend it!

Review: Heroes and Foes, Mander Centre, Wolverhampton

I attended the Heroes and Foes event at the Mander Centre in Wolverhampton on 9 November, and it was an event which was very different from any other convention I've been to.  It was approximately the same size and scale as Nanocon in Nantwich, with approximately 15-20 traders, and five celebrities from the world of sci-fi TV and film.  Okay, so far so typical, but the main difference is that it was actually held in the middle of a bustling shoping centre.  This had some significant advantages, and is definitely a good move for a smaller-scale convention (passing customers; reduced costs; free admission; and a central location for a start).

I visited the event on my way from Wolverhampton railway station through to Forbidden Planet for their event with Simon Furman and Geoff Senior (more on this in a separate post) and I was very, very pleasantly surprised at the event.

The atmosphere was warm and friendly (compared to the dark and wet early-November conditions outside).  The traders were enthusiastic and engaging, and there was the added attraction of a wide range of people in cosplay - I spotted the Riddler, a few Disney princesses and other villains on my wander around the tables.  

The stalls covered a diverse range of merchandise - I spotted some Star Trek replica models that I'd not seen before, a comic book stall from Oxfordshire with a wide range of comics and the best selection of Transformers comics I've ever seen; and around half of the stalls selling various assortments of Funko Pop vinyls (they're becoming ubiquitous).  Most of the stalls had multiple tables, and the total floor area was around 40 metres long by 20 metres wide (at a guess) - there was plenty of space to move around, and being in a two-storey open area in the middle of the shopping centre meant that there was no over-crowding or having to jostle to reach the best stalls.

I've already mentioned the friendly atmosphere, and a prime example of this happened while I was taking photos of some of the stalls on my SLR.  One of the event crew (I'm not sure if he was part of the Heroes and Foes event, or part of the Mander Centre staff) came to me to ask if I'd lost a part of the eyepiece of my camera.  Staff had found an eyepiece cover on the floor earlier and he was going around checking with SLR photographers to ask them each if it belonged to them  Like I said, this was a nice touch of above-and-beyond service (even though the part in question wasn't mine).

The list of celebrities wasn't long, and didn't appeal to me personally, but it was a good cross-section of well-known stars - Gareth David-Lloyd from Torchwood; recent Doctor Who villain Sam Oatley; Mickey Lewis from Star Wars Rogue One; Simon Fisher-Becker from Harry Potter and comic book artist Grant Perkins (I was on my way to see another comic book artist, as I mentioned).  And let's not forget that there was no entrance fee, either, so no complaints from me at all - well done to the organisers for arranging an event on a limited budget with no ticket sales to rely on. 

This was a rare occasion of a Day Out By Myself - the journey to Wolverhampton was a bit of a stretch for Daddy to take the kids, and I think I judged it correctly.  There wasn't as much to see or do as some of the other conventions, especially not for younger convention-goers, and it was 30 minutes on the train for me.  If I was more local,- I'd have definitely gone and taken the kids for a great morning or afternoon out.  The date for the next Heroes and Foes day has been set for 2-3 May 2020, and I shall certainly be looking into visiting again!

Stoke Con Trent XI - 13 October - Review

Stoke Con Trent held their 11th convention this weekend, and it was a great success, despite the intermittent rain.  The number and range of celebrity guests continues to grow, and there was a definite increase in the number of cosplayers (in my estimation).  This is definitely a healthy, growing event, and I'm already looking forward to the next one.

*I should comment that my 10-year-old, 8-year-old and I were admitted with press passes so that I could produce a full review, similar to the other articles I write in this blog.

The convention started at 10:00, and we arrived at about 10:30 - we couldn't get into the main Leek Road Venue due to capacity (most of the visitors hadn't yet moved to the other buildings), and were directed to the other buildings.  I will say immediately that it's advisable to grab an event guide/map, which shows the buildings being used for the event.  In previous events, they've used the science block - but not this time, and we had a long walk there and back!  However, each of the buildings are well suited to a convention, with three separate zones - predominantly traders and celebrities (LRV); traders and comic/superheroes/sci-fi (Sports Hall), and a kids' zone with food court (Brindley Building).

The kids' zone was based in the Brindley building (where it was also possible to purchase refreshments and find a place to sit) - there were toys to play with; a tombola; soft toys to purchase, and wide range of activities - making slime, playing with coloured sand, and so on.  Our 8-year-old enjoyed the dinosaur toys in particular, but he was far more interested in finding the traders' tables, and we only stayed for around five minutes in the toy zone.  This kind of zone is ideal, though, for parents with younger children - even up to age 8 or 9 - given the wide range of activities and the organisers hit their target audience with plenty to see (props, models) and do (toys, craft activities) and buy (more soft toys).

We made our way back to the Leek Road Venue, and we were very impressed with the number of stalls; the amount of space, and the range of celebrity guests.  Hacker The Dog was a real attraction for both of the children, especially the 10-year-old who is outgoing and talkative, and it would be great to see him at future conventions.  He was sitting next to Michael De Souza, writer of Rastamouse, and while he wasn't immediately recognisable, once I'd explained who he was, the children were very pleased to see him.

No mention of the guests would be complete without mentioning the Gladiators.  I mentioned them in my preview, and suggested that perhaps people had seen them enough in previous conventions.  I was wrong.  The Gladiators are a major attraction every time they appear, and there was a steady flow of visitors eager to meet and photograph them.  This time saw Lightning, Jet, Cobra and Wolf attend, and they were very warmly welcomed by the Stoke crowd.

Another recurring celebrity visitor is SoCal Val.  I confess I've not heard of her outside Stoke Con Trent - I've had to do a quick Google to find out more - she's a professional wrestling valet; ringside announcer and interviewer.  While we'd not heard of her, and didn't stay to chat, this shows the best part of Stoke Con Trent - there is something for everybody.  In the same way as the kids' zone appeals to some children, the guests are selected to appeal to as wide a fanbase as possible.  There are the current children's TV stars; there are TV stars from the 90s - like the Gladiators - and then there are the comic artists and classic sci-fi celebrities (who formed the nucleus of the early Stoke Con Trents), and these were to be found in the Sports Hall.

The atmosphere in the Sports Hall was unlike anything I've ever experienced at a convention before - it was calm, laid back and relaxed.  There was even more space to move around, even with a good complement of traders' stalls and celebrities, and the most unusual but welcome difference was that the floor was carpeted.  I know that doesn't sound like much, but it changed the acoustics completely - sound was absorbed instead of reverberating, and it meant it was possible to hold conversations at normal volume instead of having to raise your voice to be heard.  We were able to have a chat with the traders and with some of the guests, and in particular I was able to meet Lee Sullivan, comic artist currently known for Doctor Who and Thunderbirds, and who also drew Transformers comic covers.

Meeting Lee Sullivan was probably the main highlight for me.  He was chatty and outgoing, and kindly signed the three 1980s Transformers comics I'd brought with me - ones where he'd drawn the covers.  He posed for photos and talked through his current work, his portfolio and some of the history of the Transformers artwork he's done.  My children got bored while I played the fan for quite a few minutes, but this was quickly remedied when we went to meet the dinosaur.

There was a life-size (actually, it was probably less than life-sized) velociraptor prowling around the sports hall, and this was a major attraction for both of my children, who had a number of photos taken with it.  This was cosplay on a whole new level, and it was a great fit for Stoke Con Trent.  We moved on from the dinosaur to some of the more regular cosplay characters, and it was great to meet Central Legion, who run cosplay events across the West Midlands.  They were present in force, with Star Wars characters, Batman villains and Marvel heroes wandering the sports hall and the wider event area.  It was great to see a variety of characters as well as the usual Star Wars Stormtroopers, and they were all very happy to have their pictures taken - in fact, some of them insisted.  While the children were meeting the characters, I managed to grab some photos of the traders' stalls, and of the table set out by the Cheshire and Staffordshire Wargaming Club, (their Facebook page) who had brought some very photogenic Star Wars games.

The atmosphere throughout the event was warm, welcoming and friendly.  Everybody acknowledges that everybody else has some degree of geek-ness, whether it's meeting 90s TV stars or sci-fi favourites such as Paul McGann (Dr Who) or John Morton (Star Wars, Boba Fett).  As the Boba Fett cosplay character commented, "That's Boba Fett.  THE Boba Fett!"

My children particularly enjoyed two of the star guests - namely Eddie Hall, the world's strongest man, and Tim Bradbury (I didn't see his name on the event list, but my children both picked him out from the photo behind his desk) - "That's Tiny Tim!".  Tiny Tim is an internet and YouTube sensation - Tim Bradbury is a 36-year-old man who is able to produce the voice of a child who sounds "three, nearly six," and make comedy prank calls.   He was very funny (although he was also a little late), and well worth waiting for.  This was the highlight of the day for my 10-year-old.

There were a few minor disappointments - some of the replica vehicles didn't show up (The A Team van, The Knight Rider KITT and the DeLorean replica), but we still enjoyed those that did, especially the Jurassic Park jeep.  Overall, we spent close to three hours having a great time browsing, buying, chatting, playing, taking photos and posing for photos.  We each had our own separate highlights, and there was plenty for us to see and do, each of us with our own interests (the traders; the comic book artists; the cosplay and the celebrity guests) and Stoke Con Trent once again did a great job of balancing everybody's interests and appealing to a very, very wide audience.  A huge success, expanding beyond the typical narrow focus of a sci-fi convention, but therefore appealing to a wider audience than most 'comic conventions'; not everything will appeal to you, but there's something for everybody.

Tickets are £40 for a family (2 adults, 2 children); £15 for an adult (age 17+); £10 for concessions and £8 for children.  Stoke Con Trent is twice-annual event, with conventions in April and October.



  

North Staffs Sci Fi Convention (Bradwell, Newcastle)

THE PLANNED NSSFCON FOR 12 OCTOBER HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

One of the smallest conventions that I like to attend regularly is the North Staffs Sci Fi Convention, held twice a year (so far) at Bradwell Hall, near Newcastle Under Lyme.  It might be small, but it punches above its weight - "Judge me by my size, do you?"

It doesn't have the star-pulling power of the other conventions - in particular, Stoke Con Trent - but it does what it does and it does it well.  I've been to three of the last conventions, and it's generally a meeting of traders, some static props and some cosplay.  The North Staffs Stormtroopers are regular guests, as is the North Staffordshire Tardis.  As far as I recall, they've not drawn any celebrities, but this doesn't stop the convention from being a great place to meet like-minded enthusiasts, talk about your particular hobby (everything from Blake's 7 to Battlestar Galactica through to Star Trek, Star Wars and Transformers) and pick up some merchandise for your favourite book, film or TV show.

The traders offer a wide range of new and used items - toys, magazines and comics, DVDs and books are most prevalent (do you count Funko Pop as toys?).  They come from near and far - the most recent convention back in April 2019 also include Retro City from Longton (they've just moved to larger premises, but still in Longton) and I was able to grab a number of photos of their stall. 


Entry is reasonably priced, and there are also fairly-priced refreshments served in a spacious seating area, and there are plenty of characters in costume milling around and entertaining the visitors.  On our last visit, we arrived early, and were able to enjoy meeting the Star Wars characters and other costumed entertainers before it became crowded.

As I mentioned, it's small, but this is not a disadvantage (especially if you're a sci-fi enthusiast with younger children).   Think of it as compact. It won't take you too long to get around all the stalls, and you can be sure that you've seen everything and taken in all that's on offer.  In my case, it was a chance to see some 1980s G1 Transformers 'in the flesh' for the first time in 30 years, grab some photos and move on.  Younger children will enjoy some of the rummage bags and boxes of smaller items and you'll be able to get round everything without over-stretching their attention span.

And one other thing:  the focus here is very much on Sci-Fi.  I mentioned in my previous article that Stoke Con Trent has grown by becoming a Film, TV and Comic Convention - which is fair enough, and it's great to see it fluorish - and the North Staffs Sci Fi convention is much more strongly focused on Science Fiction (and superheroes).  It's very much a comic con, and the smaller size is partly a consequence of its narrower focus.

I highly recommend North Staffs Sci Fi Convention  - it's great to be able to support local traders and local fans, and I will continue to visit.

Next date:  Saturday 12 October (the day before the next Stoke Con Trent - either by coincidence or design, the two fall very close together on the calendar!).

Stoke Con Trent 11 - Preview

I've been attending Stoke Con Trent since their first convention back in September 2014.  I was delighted when our home town (city?) hosted its first comic convention and was very pleased with the organisation, guests and layout.  In the five years since then, it's become a regular bi-annual event at Staffs University, and one which I've only missed twice, through a family emergency and unforeseen circumstances.  

 
The convention has grown in scale from one event to the next, and in January 2016 was recognised as 2015's convention of the year.  It has new guests with each iteration, and is frequently visited by:

- comic book artists (both Staffs University's own students, but other professional comic book artists, such as Lee Sullivan and Lew Stringer who appeared at SCT 10)

- 1990s TV Stars, including BBC comedies, Gladiators, Doctor Who, Red Dwarf, Star Trek - on one occasion, Garrett Wang, aka Ensign Harry Kim from Star Trek Voyager.

- local cosplay teams - the North Staffs Avengers; North Staffs Stormtroopers and so on (and on at least one occasion, the UK Garrison).

The level of visitor participation in cosplay is also excellent, partly due to . We've met a wide range of characters, from Stormtroopers to Spiderman and Daleks to Nintendo's Mario and Luigi.  The standard of cosplay costume is generally very good too (ranging from semi-professional to dress-up-for-the-day).  This really adds a signficant element to the whole convention (encouraged by a cosplay competition), so even if the guests don't appeal to you, the range and professionalism of the cosplayers will definitely entertain you.

There's a very wide range of stalls, covering the full range of merchandise, from Lego to Star Wars, comic books to models, posters, and the stars tend to have tables for photos, autographs and so on.

If there is any one criticism I would make of Stoke Con Trent, it's the selection of guests.  For example, in the Autumn 2018 convention, in my opinion the organisers over-indexed on Gladiators (there were easily four or five attending) and there was a lack of range of other guests - e.g. from other TV programs or from films.  They tend to rotate their guests, but it's worth mentioning that SCT 10 and 11 both have Gladiators headlining (clearly Jet and Wolf are significant crowd-pleasers).  

I would not describe STC as a Comic Convention or a Sci Fi Convention, and to be fair, I don't think the organisers would.  The first convention is 2014 was marketed as a "comic and memorabilia exhibition"; that subtitle has disappeared more recently.  I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but please be aware that this isn't a pure comic convention; it's a more of a TV convention with a slight comic twist.  By widening the scope of their convention, the organisers have been able to appeal to a much broader audience, and then pull in some of the more famous (and more expensive) stars - this just means that the guest list reads like a mixed bag.

Overall, my criticisms aside, I thoroughly enjoy attending STC, and can recommend it.  We enjoy the range of guests, the variety of stalls (including collectibles, and just regular merchandise) and in particular the wide range of visitors who attend in cosplay, and who are all very happy to have their photos taken (but always ask first).

SCT 11 (or XI) is coming up in just over a month, and I'm especially looking forward to seeing the Jurassic World Jeep; the DeLorean car and Paul McGann (star of Doctor Who, among other things).  I'm slightly interested in seeing Jet and Wolf (again), but have no interest in seeing any of the other 'headline' guests (Paul Cooper, Justin Lee Collins, Sheila Reid and Clinton Baptiste).  Like I said, it's a mixed bag.