Nerding Out Over LEGO at Local Comic Cons
/When someone says “Comic Con”, San Diego is probably the first thing that comes to mind. SDCC is the OG, as every Nerd and/or geek knows. Especially when it comes to LEGO, SDCC usually has the best swag and the topmost in talent.
In recent years, many cities of moderate population have come to host their own local Comic Con - yay, fandoms! That’s what happened just up the road from San Diego, in a little town called LA. Los Angeles is an industry town, therefore home to a whole lot of talent related to a whole lot of fandoms which makes Los Angeles Comic Con an event to be reckoned with. It’s also the home of LUGOLA, a group of LEGO fans who have been representing the AFOL community at the convention for several years now.
LUGOLA is home to many serious comic fans. We usually pack a larger booth with a play area, but changes were necessary this year for obvious reasons. After a long hiatus, LA Comic Con was back and running on all cylinders, with at least double the scope and space. Thankfully Los Angeles city/county enforces loads of COVID-19 safety measures which made it safer for me to (finally!) break out my BrickNerd badge.
Everyone in attendance had to show either a vaccination card or a recent negative test, and everyone had to be masked at all times—but since when are these things a burden for a population known for embracing science!? And very few people are better at masking than cosplayers! Even AFOLs can get on board with such a mandate. But back to the event…
Ghost Rider, safe in his mask.
LA Comic Con is a blast. It’s much more accessible (i.e. not ridiculously crowded) than its big sister, which is especially great for the AFOLs. LEGO fans aren’t pushed unceremoniously by the crowd, they stop to appreciate each MOC (or at least a MOC related to their favorite fandom), and LUGOLA gave them a smorgasbord of fandoms to choose from! It was great to see one on one interaction again and try spotting the people that really take it all in.
Kpop and Fight Club, together at last.
Though it seems some people have forgotten their manners the last few years. Here’s a tip for LUGs who have not yet gone back out in public for shows or displays: set your tables at least two feet behind the stanchions. People are different now. Be prepared. You know how there would always be a kid or two with grabby hands and absent parents, and maybe they’d knock down a thing or two in their excitement? Or maybe they’d pocket a minifig?
It was easier to forgive a kid. But now, it’s the adults with issues. We actually had too many grabby adults, culminating in a serious accident. A dude grabbed at an amazing, giant MOC and when it fell and crashed in fifty pieces, they walked off quickly into the crowd before anyone could stop them. No remorse. It was not good.
Thank goodness AFOLs come together to rebuild! First aid was administered quickly, and the MOC wasn’t a total loss. When moving the tables back caused further upsets, we came together again.
But while the bad was bad, the good was extra good. Mostly, people were thrilled to be at Comic Con, and you could feel it. The cosplays were much more diverse and built to the individual's personality than in years past. People were proud of thier fandoms and dressed as more obscure characters. (Not just twenty Daredevils and Harley Quinns that you usually see in San Diego.)
My personal favorite memory at Comic Con this year was when a young lady came by the table three times to thank me for making a MOC of a newish fandom—she was surprised and delighted to see it built out of LEGO. I happened to be engaged elsewhere when she came by the first time, so she kept coming back. Those are the kind of moments an AFOL holds deep in their hearts, and all AFOLs in attendance got the love.
LUGOLA’s members’ builds and styles are all very different. What luck! Diversity makes a group stronger. I loved watching the reactions of attendees to all the different MOCs - and learning about fandoms and building styles with which I was not familiar. And Los Angeles Comic Con is intimate enough to have decent conversations and really get to know your fellow LUG members.
So, to wrap things up in retrospect, would I still go to SDCC? Sure. But LACC is just as awesome in many meaningful ways. So make sure to stop by and say hello the next time we both are at a Comic Con at the same time!
Have you ever displayed at a ComicCon event? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Do you want to help BrickNerd continue publishing articles like this one? Become a top patron like Charlie Stephens, Marc & Liz Puleo, Paige Mueller, Rob Klingberg from Brickstuff, John & Joshua Hanlon from Beyond the Brick, and Megan Lum to show your support, get early access, exclusive swag and more.
