Being someone who has covered their share of conventions, I have a general idea of what to expect from events of varying sizes. Basically, you have your big shows that are chock full of celebrity guests, vendors and activities, and then you have your smaller ones that are made up mostly by vendors but can be great places to score some cool collectibles.
As it turns out, there’s something that blurs the lines.
Technically, MeggaXP is considered a smaller con, but what James Seagraves and company do exceedingly well each time is making sure that you have an experience. Sure, they were unfortunately unable to secure some celebrity guests this time around, but what they did boast were a heck of a lot of vendors, local artists and crafters, and more than enough to keep you occupied if you felt like kicking up your heels.
In a nutshell, there were a host of panels, game shows everyday geeks could participate in, as well as a vast room devoted to both tabletop and video gaming. And when it came to the latter, consoles from throughout the medium’s history were on hand, representing vintage and modern titles alike. Really, you could play Pac-Man, Injustice 2 and so much in between.
It’s because of all this that I’m willing to venture from my suburban Detroit apartment all the way to the Commonwealth Commerce Center in Jackson, Michigan. If you’re from out of state, that might sound meaningless to you, but believe me, it’s a drive that’s worth it. Anyone sandwiched between Detroit and Lansing should take notice if they’re looking for a great time to occupy the space separating Motor City Comic Con from Youmacon.
Obviously, there’s a key element I’ve thus far neglected to mention, and that’s the cosplay. Each time I’ve been to one of Seagraves’ shows, the cosplay scene has always been represented rather well, as the gallery above will evidence. Once again, I got into the spirit by suiting up as Green Arrow, but I left the sleeves at home since it was 90 degrees outside. Hey, I get an “A” for effort, don’t I?
So, if anything about MeggaXP strikes your fancy, be sure to check out their horror con, Blood Bash, on February 17, 2018.
