The Manchester edition of MCM Comic Con has proclaimed its 2012 event a resounding success after attracting nearly double the number of attendees as last year.
 
The one-day show at Manchester Central on 21 July reported 11,300 visitors (unaudited) to its second annual edition in the North West, ranging from gamers to sci-fan fans, anime aficionados and comic collectors.
 
“We were delighted with 2011 but 2012 was so beyond our expectations,” Manchester Comic Con co-organiser Bryan Cooney said. “We knew we would have a great show but the turnout was even greater than we expected.”
 
Highlights included several movie stars and industry celebrities such as Life’s Too Short star Warwick Davis; Rupert Young and Tom Hopper from the BBC’s Merlin; and the cast of Young Dracula. The event also featured the ‘Dance Dance Revolution’ zone, a comic village and the Cosplay Masquerade hosted by anime voice artist Vic Mignogna.
 
Cooney said it is now looking into securing a larger hall and bigger crowd for its return to Manchester in 2013. Floor space between 2011 and 2012 was up 50 per cent year-on-year and featured about 50 exhibitors.
 
MCM Comic Con is also held in the Midlands and launched in Birmingham alongside the Memorabilia exhibition this year.
 
The flagship show returns to Excel London on 26-28 October.
 
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