Armageddon Auckland 2014

Recently over Labour weekend, Auckland hosted the annual Armageddon Entertainment Expo. I thought rather longingly about attending, but wasn’t sure it would be manageable with two rather hectic under 5 year olds, even a couple of pop culture loving ones. Then just two days before, I managed to win tickets to the show, so WAHOO! It was obviously meant to be. Here are a just a few of my highlights from the Monday I attended.

The cosplay
Due to those pesky pre-schoolers (I love them really), it has been a good 5 or 6 years since I last went to Armageddon, and oh my goodness how the cosplay has grown! My significant other and I used to lament the fact that NZ didn’t really do it on the level of overseas conventions, but that has changed indeed and I absolutely loved it :) My sons were in seventh heaven posing with an array of characters, including Iron Man, a rather amazing Dalek, and Star Wars characters galore.
We have some fabulous books on cosplay in our catalogue (I’m getting started on planning my costume for next year) such as:

1000 incredible costume & cosplay ideas : a showcase of creative characters from anime, manga, video games, movies, comics, and more! / Yaya Han, Allison DeBlasio & Joey Marsocci a.k.a. Dr. Grymm.

Cosplay New Zealand / Sylvie Kirkman.

Cosplay world / Brian Ashcraft and Luke Plunkett.

And you really need to see this video of Eveychu, the overall winner of this year’s cosplay competition (not to mention the Trans-Tasman Champion 2014), with her stunning cosplay of Katniss from the Hunger Games; she really deserved her win!

The exhibitors 
Ahhhh, there was something for everyone. From the big stores such as Mighty Ape to smaller stall holders selling the most amazing pop culture goodies. I’m a steampunk fan, and picked up some stunning steampunk pretties, Achievement Christmas shopping was indeed unlocked!

Yet our favourite stand would have to have been the Auckland Libraries one. I may be a little biased, but my aforementioned significant other and small people were extremely happy to have somewhere to put their feet up and play games on the library iPads, while I checked out the cool Makerspace badge making going on.

I did manage to get in a little trouble though, as said SO perused the collection there for borrowing, and noticed that we loan out games…I CAN BORROW GAMES! How did I not know this? (said he) *cough cough* (said I).  Did you know you can borrow console games from the Library? We have Nintendo DS, Playstation 2 and 3, Xbox and Xbox 360, PSP and Wii games for hire….there, hopefully I'm sparing anyone else from getting into trouble :)

The celebrities
There was a huge range of awesome guests this year, none of whom I ACTUALLY got to see (blame those small people, not so good with queues). From a number of brilliant voice actors from shows such as Ben 10, Regular Show and Adventure Time, to cast members from great shows such as Stargate SG-1 and Supernatural. The big two this year were MacGyver and Stargate SG-1's Richard Dean Anderson, and Jenna Coleman, Dr Who’s current companion Clara. Who, according to the many friends that DID get to meet her,  is just super lovely in person. I'm trying to be happy for them, really I am :) Guess I’ll just have to settle for watching her fantastic Dr Who episodes through our collections, or perhaps a little Richard Dean Anderson in his earlier (and somewhat tastier) years ;)

Wondering if I cosplayed myself? Miao ;)

PS - would love to hear about your highlights too, please comment away!

Fangirls (And Boys) Unite: Armageddon Is Here

Just say the word Armageddon to any science fiction fan in New Zealand and Australia and they will know exactly what you are talking about.

The Armageddon Expo is the event that fans of all ages look forward and the ongoing success is all down to creator, founder and god-like organiser Bill Geradts who started Armageddon 18 years ago because he was (and is) a Doctor Who fan.

Talk about an awesome job, doing something you love and sharing it with others.

As usual the Auckland event is being held this weekend, because what is Labour Weekend without a little Armageddon.

Personally I can't wait.

It's a chance to see some of my favourite actors from my favourite shows; Ben Browder, Ben Browder, Ben Browder.  And yes I have a thing and and yes I'm really looking forward to seeing him and you would too if you had ever watched Farscape or Stargate SG-1.  It is also a chance to met up with some of my twitter like-minded friends; some for the first time - which is kind of nerve wracking and awesome.

Even more awesome is that Auckland Libraries will be having a booth at this year's event.  So if you happen to be there why not pop on in and check us out.  You can even borrow a book or graphic novel while you're there and we will also be live-tweeting the event.  Now how is that for service.

For those who can't attend why not check out some if not all of the following.

The Hobbit : an unexpected journey : chronicles : creatures & characters

The second Hobbit movie is due for release just in time for Christmas but until then why not check out the above title which looks at each of the characters in detail and is filled with a array of behind-the-scenes photos.

Farscape. [7], The war for the uncharted territories. Part one [graphic novel]

Someone did a Farscape comic?

How did I not know this?

Somehow I feel like I am letting down the entire fangirl community by not knowing about this sooner.  Still never mind I know now and am off busy placing holds on the entire series.

As you do.

Doctor who : the doctor's lives and times.

November the 23rd is the 50th anniversary of the very first broadcast of Doctor Who.

So of course it is only natural that you just have to check out as many books and comics on Doctor Who that you can possibly find.

Well it is if your me.

The legend of Korra.

If you haven't heard of this show then you soon will.  The Legend of Korra has been getting rave reviews since it started screening in the United States last year with accolades calling it the "smartest cartoon on TV" and representing "some of the highest quality fantasy".

Intrigued?

Once upon a time.

Imagine if fairy tales and fairy tale characters were real.  And imagine again these characters living amongst us with no memory of who they really are.

If this sounds like your kind of thing, then Once Upon A Time is the show for you.

It also features the wonderful Robert Carlyle which is reason enough to watch it.

Armageddon: A Fangirly Moment

You'll be forgiven for thinking that I'm talking about the end of the world since December the 21st 2012  will soon be upon us, but though it might be a squealy moment for some if it does turn out to be the end of the world, it's not quite the event that I had in mind. 

What I am talking about is far more fangirly; that is the annual Armageddon Sci-fi Expo that is on in Auckland this weekend.

It will, of course, come as no surprise that I’ll be attending, after all how can any self respecting SyfyGirl not go to what is one of the biggest Sci-fi events in New Zealand; the event that I look forward to and circle on my calendar every year.

Now I know what you are thinking.  

She's one of those.  

One of those strange people who wears the funny costume, speaks in strange tongues and knows all the words to her favourite show.  Okay I'll give you that one, though I don't know all the words - just some - honest... and I definitely don't know any Klingon nor have I ever worn a costume, funny or otherwise but if I did well that's okay too.  Fans of Sci-fi come in all shapes and sizes and ages, and that's part of the fun of going to Armageddon.  It gives you a chance to revel in your geekiness in however you want.

Being a geek has never been so cool.

Wiffle lever to full! : daleks, death stars and dreamy-eyed nostalgia at the strangest sci-fi conventions by Bob Fischer.

If you've ever wondered what exactly goes on at Sci-fi conventions then look no further.

Bob Fischer dives head first into what is seen as a strange and mysterious world when one summer he travels around the UK attending  a huge array of Sci-fi conventions.  From Doctor Who to Blakes 7 he covers them all in his search to get reacquainted with the shows he use to love.

Comic-con and the business of pop culture : what the world's wildest trade show can tell us about the future of entertainment by Rob Salkowitz. 

To fans Comic-con is the holy mecca of conventions.  Held annually in San Diego, it attracts people all over the world.  So much so that attendance has been capped at 130,000 due to the huge demand from those wanting to go.

This is an eye-opening book that looks at not only the rise of Comic-con but the good, the bad, and the downright ugly business of conventions and the entertainment industry as a whole.

Comic-Con. Episode IV, A fan's hope by Morgan Spurlock.

Better know as the director of Super Size Me and POM Wonderful Presents, Morgan Spurlock  looks at the world of Comic-con with his latest project.

As a fan himself this accompany book to the movie is filled with photographs celebrating everything that is Comic-con.

The geek handbook : practical skills and advice for the likeable modern geek by Alex Langley.

Any book that has Sheldon on the cover has got my vote.  This guy is the master of geeks and has helped to make The Big Bang Theory the highly successful show that it is.

Covering all things geeky and things you've never even thought about; from the best shows to watch with friends to the kind of players you'll meet while playing dungeon and dragons to the threat level of computers when they finally do become self aware and want to kill you, this is the book to help you get in touch with your inner geek.

Geek girls unite: how fangirls, bookworms, indie chicks, and other misfits are taking over the world by Leslie Simon.

Most people tend to forget that girls can be geeks too and that geekdom isn't just about a love of Sci-fi or fantasy or comics.  There are bookworms and music fans and a whole world of geeky lifestyles and this book celebrates them all in a collection of essays that focuses on an often over-looked phenomenon - the girl geek.

Who knew there were so many geeks in the world.

The Big Bang Theory

This TV show has probably done more for geeks, geekiness and everything that goes with it than anything else.

And one of the reasons it has been so successful is that nearly everyone who watches can relate to what is portrayed.

It is a love letter not only to fans of Sci-fi and gaming and comics but to anyone who has ever felt awkward or nervous or out of place in the world.