As a pop culture and comic fan, the annual major Comic Cons are always incredibly exciting, with people lining up for hours just to see their favorite stars and buy coveted toys. In 2019, our Toy People editorial team visited Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Tokyo, to attend the grand Tokyo Comic Con 2019! In addition to bringing you extensive on-site coverage, we're also using our firsthand experience to present a special feature introducing "Tokyo Comic Con" to all you toy collectors!
Comic Con was first held in 1970 under the name "Golden State Comic Book Convention" by Shel Dorf and a group of "San Diegans." After several decades, when one mentions Comic Con today, the first thing that comes to mind for most toy fans is undoubtedly "San Diego Comic Con." The latest news on movies, anime, comics, and toys is all unleashed during these few days, creating a whirlwind that not only engulfs the massive crowds on-site but also rapidly spreads across the globe.
The meeting of the father of American comics, Stan Lee, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak not only led to the creation of "Silicon Valley Comic Con" starting in 2016, but Wozniak also proposed the idea of a "Tokyo Comic Con." Consequently, 2016 also marked the beginning of Tokyo Comic Con, which not only brings Japanese and American pop cultures together but also fully preserves the American style of Comic Con, allowing all attendees to experience and share their passion and love for popular entertainment.
Besides the new product showcases from various toy brands that toy fans care about most, the Tokyo Comic Con venue is filled with many other eye-catching activities, exhibits, comic artists and their works, and cosplayers. Next, we'll take you through the various facets to experience the charm of "Tokyo Comic Con 2019"!
Let's start with the large-scale exhibits in the center of the hall! In addition to prop vehicles and motorcycles from numerous films and series like "Back to the Future," "Batman (1989)," "Knight Rider," and "Terminator 2," there were also life-sized models of the T-800 Endoskeleton—one of the most iconic symbols of the "Terminator" series—and the newer T-1000, as well as costume displays from various movies.
▼ Even Batman, who gets to see his beloved car every day, couldn't resist taking a picture with his phone. XDD
▼ On the side, there are autographs from past guests who have attended this grand event.
Since we're at Comic Con, one thing you absolutely can't miss is the signature experience: witnessing the glamour of famous Hollywood actors in person and the heart-pounding excitement of autograph and photo opportunities! The superstars who attended Tokyo Comic Con 2019 last year included Daniel Logan, who played the young Boba Fett in "Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones"; Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in "Harry Potter"; Zachary Levi from "Shazam!"; "The Hulk" Mark Ruffalo; Ian Somerhalder from "The Vampire Diaries"; Jude Law; and "Thor" himself, Chris Hemsworth.
More handsome photos of Hollywood stars:
Tokyo Comic Con 2019 On-Site Flash Report!
At Tokyo Comic Con, comic artists from all over the world are present, selling their creations and various merchandise at their booths. Fans can seize this opportunity to get autographs, commissioned sketches, and more from their favorite artists. The Japanese artist duo "Gurihiru / グリヒル," a personal favorite of this editor, was also participating. Although I didn't get to see them in person, just seeing their drawing of Gwenpool was enough to make my day!
Other artists participating in the Tokyo Comic Con 2019 Artist Alley included Adi Granov, Mark Brooks, Stanley "Artgerm" Lau, Nico Leon, Takeshi Miyazawa, and more. Interested toy fans can click here to see the full list of participating artists in the Artist Alley. While the works displayed by the artists here were predominantly DC and MARVEL characters, you could still find pieces based on Hayao Miyazaki's "Princess Mononoke," Yukito Kishiro's "Gunnm" (Battle Angel Alita), "Transformers," playful homages to "Rick and Morty," and original characters. Let's take a look!
In addition to the booths here, the MARVEL section also showcased artwork from several Japanese manga artists from a collaboration between Marvel and the famous Japanese shonen manga publisher, Shueisha. Furthermore, at the Warner Bros. DC booth, legendary comic artist Jim Lee was live-drawing headshots of Batman, Harley Quinn, and Wonder Woman. Jim Lee even drew on and signed the "Batman" statue from "Batman: Hush" produced by Prime 1 Studio!
Next up is another must-see at any comic convention: the elaborately dressed cosplayers! Even though it was 2019, Harley Quinn from 2016's "Suicide Squad" and Wonder Woman from 2017's "Wonder Woman" remained incredibly popular cosplay choices. You could easily spot 3 or 4 Harley Quinns or Wonder Women just by walking around. Also spotted was the super-popular protagonist from this year's "Death Stranding," Sam Porter Bridges! And every cosplayer was incredibly friendly and enthusiastic when posing for photos—the atmosphere was just fantastic!
▼ On-site, there were also informational displays about classic Columbia Pictures films, a replica of the Iron Throne from "Game of Thrones," a recreation of the Central Perk café from "Friends," and—something that made this editor laugh out loud—Kaori's 100-ton hammer that famously smashes Ryo's Mini Cooper. Many booths went all out with impressive large-scale exhibits to attract attention.
▼ The Tokyo Comic Con venue also featured a wide variety of other booths. For instance, the SCREEN magazine booth sold special convention-edition magazines, celebrity photos, and autographs. The adjacent marketplace was also full of great finds, ranging from American and Japanese toys to kaiju figures, designer toys, and nostalgic collectibles.
As a comic convention located in Asia, "Tokyo Comic Con" not only maintains its American style but also serves as a melting pot where Japanese and American pop cultures meet and mingle. For toy fans in Taiwan, it's also a relatively accessible comic con to attend. Everything from the movies, comics, toys, and cosplayers to the booth designs and merchandise can satisfy your passion and love for entertainment culture. Of course, for this editor, the chance to see newly revealed toy prototypes and purchase exclusive items is also a huge draw! The mouth-watering movie prop replicas and the camera-friendly cosplayers are major factors that add to the joy of the event. We highly recommend that all toy fans make a pilgrimage to the event at least once!
That concludes what our Toy People editorial team wanted to share with you from "Tokyo Comic Con 2019." Have you ever been to Tokyo Comic Con? Or do you have any thoughts about it? Feel free to discuss with us in the comments section!