The enthusiasm for this latest Comic Con could be seen before even entering the Tour & Taxis building in Brussels; the queue stretched far into the street, and for a good reason. Three Star Wars actors — John Boyega, Hayden Christensen and Giancarlo Esposito — were headlining this spring’s edition, with Christensen (recently returned to the franchise to reprise the role of Anakin Skywalker) being the most anticipated guest.
Fortunately, organizers had planned for this. Christensen was given a dedicated building called Anakin’s Mansion to divert the crowd coming specifically for him from clogging the aisles of the rest of the convention.
Thanks to this setup, we enjoyed a more relaxed morning than usual along the first visitors to the artist market at La Gare Maritime. We were able to walk freely into the alleys and chat with some of the creators before experiencing the bustling activity of the afternoon.
Besides the Star Wars guests, there were numerous actors present, from David Bradley (Harry Potter and Game of Thrones) to Paul Anderson (Peaky Blinders) to Charles Martinet (the voice of Mario) to Carla Gugino (Watchmen). The lineup also included Harry Lloyd and Katie Leung, the voices of Viktor and Caitlyn in the series Arcane.
The numerous cosplays and overall love for this show were difficult to miss, and Viktor in particular seemed like a fan favorite. It was evidenced by a record-breaking, enthusiastic scream from the crowd at the cosplay catwalk at the entrance of a cosplayer, and mostly by the fact that a few creators ran out of Viktor merch by the end of the first day.
Speaking of the artists, they were without doubt one of the highlights of this edition!
If you weren’t there for the guests in particular and wanted to bask into the atmosphere like we did, the artist alley was the place to be. Illustrated prints, stickers, fan arts (Star Wars and Arcane, of course, but also Hazbin Hotel, Our Flag Means Death, Supernatural, Baldur’s Gate, you name it) and original art. Even after spending the whole day there, you might have missed some creative gems.
As usual, the buildings were both equipped with a permanent ramp to give disabled visitors and wheelchair users access. The ramps were unfortunately on opposite ends of each hall, and it’s a long walk to get from one to another. Since visitors spend the day moving between halls, this made getting around a lot more time-consuming for some.
This time, however, we were lucky to find an additional, temporary ramp on the other side of the building, closer to the one of La Gare Maritime. It was probably placed there to allow a Ford Anglia into the building for exhibition, but we’re crossing out fingers that it will be back next time. If only because the next version will probably include vehicles again.
An issue unrelated to the organization, but worth mentioning to raise awareness, is (lack of) sensitivity toward fellow conventiongoers using walking aids. Especially in a crowd, you don’t need to wait until someone asks before giving them some space!
If you’re not the kind of person who bags a homemade meal for a day out, the food court has you covered. You’ll find various options, from pasta to corn dogs, hamburgers and some vegan dishes.
Once again, we recommend the boswandeling (Dutch for: walk in the forest) pasta, as we went for it for the second time this year, knowing the service is generous. (If you’re like us, sharing one portion is the best way to avoid leftovers.)
You may also find yourself quite tired and overwhelmed by the constant noise, music and activity if you plan to spend the whole day at the convention. A pair of earplugs may be worth slipping into your bag, and in spring the outside of Tour & Taxis provides the perfect atmosphere to decompress. (A tasty cookie, also sold at a stand in the convention, will surely help.)
Overall, we had a ton of fun at this edition and can’t wait to discover the next one!
