Heroes and villains come to Bolton Arena Comic Con Mania

They had come for Comic Con Mania, a “pop culture extravaganza” which brought characters from Star Wars, Doctor Who, Harry Potter and many more to Bolton Arena on Saturday.

Attendees got to show off some truly incredible costumes and browse stalls brimming with some of their favourite science fiction and fantasy merchandise.

Stallholder Katherine McGovern said: “They’re all really nice here at Comic Con, everyone’s really friendly and dead genuine.

“They’ve got a really great sense of humour too!”

Katherine and Annie at their stall (Image: Henry Lisowski)

Katherine, who had come from Stretford with daughter Annie to run the Kawaii Killmoster stall said it had been her first visit to Bolton Arena for the event but she hoped not the last.

Similarly enthused was Ebony Henderson, of Action Force Toys, who had also come to Bolton Arena for the first time.

Ebony with a Back to the Future sports almanac (Image: Henry Lisowski)

She said: “It’s been really good, everyone’s really friendly and there’s just a lot of personality and humour.”

Fans of all ages had come to the event dressed as some of their favourite characters, known as "cosplay."

Boba Fett the bounty hunter with a storm trooper and scout trooper from Star Wars (Image: Henry Lisowski)

But as Mel Johal of the Central Legion group explained this could often involve more than just dressing up.

He said: “We do cosplay but we also try and be a bit more creative with things and we also do a lot of acting.

The event was thronged with cosplayers (Image: Henry Lisowski)

“It’s not just about wearing the costume, it’s about being in character so that when people see us, especially children, they see us in character.

“So if they see us dressed like Spiderman, we try to act like Spiderman!”

The event was full of elaborate costumes and displays (Image: Henry Lisowski)

But he said that group also helps raise money for charities like the Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

This was an ethos that Andy Kleek, of Monopoly Events, was keen to promote.

He said that the event had given him the chance to involve his old friend Charlie Barratt of the Harmony Youth Project to bring families down for a fun day out.

Lina and The Lions on the stage (Image: Henry Lisowski)

Andy said: “This has been brilliant, Bolton is a big place in and of itself and there’s definitely a big pop culture market here for sure.”

He added: “We’ll need to get out diary sorted out for next year but we’ll definitely be coming back to Bolton.”

The Comic Con featured at wrestling ring (Image: Henry Lisowski)

What set the Comic Con Mania event out from so many others of its kind was not only the vast array of stalls and exhibits but also the professional wrestling and music on show.

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Families were able to watch as Spiderman and others took on opponents in the boxing ring, while another corner of the hall was devoted to video games.

Lina and The Lions serenaded the event (Image: Henry Lisowski)

Serenading the event were Lina and the Lions with a setlist of classic eighties covers, film soundtracks and synthpop inflected originals.

Lead singer Lina Lane said: “We’re getting new people coming to our show here but also people who have seen use before coming back, they’re wearing the t-shirts, singing the songs.

“It’s like we’re really finding our tribe and finding where we belong and that’s really what this is all about.”

The star wars characters who appeared at the event are members of the 5th Legion Costume charity group who raise funds for UK charities.