Maidenhead Comic Con and Toy Fair sees fans bring fiction to life

Nearly two thousand people attended the Maidenhead Comic Con and Toy Fair where children and adults donned costumes and became their favourite characters for a day.

Capes and masks and were in plentiful supply at the colourful event held in Braywick Leisure Centre’s sports hall on Sunday (01 October).

Tickets could be bought in advance or on the day for the attraction first held in April this year.

Organiser Mark Woollard said: “It’s a day where everyone can feel included and no one feels out of place.

“You can just be yourself and enjoy what’s going on, not having to worry about everything that’s going on out in the world.”

Storm Troopers and Chewbacca could be seen posing for photos, in a rare moment of peace, and Mario and Luigi stepped into reality only to be ‘mobbed’ by crowds.

“The Mario and Luigi mascots couldn’t move for about thirty minutes, they were really popular,” said Mark.

Movie-themed vehicles were another highlight with Back to the Future’s iconic DeLorean pitching up as well as an appearance from a police car from Stranger Things.

In addition, Liam Neeson’s double in Star Wars The Phantom Menace, Andrew Lawden, delivered a lightsabre masterclass to some of the event’s budding Jedi apprentices.

A free green screen also gave attendees the chance to immerse themselves for a quick picture in worlds from Jurassic Park to Mario Kart.

Mark said: “People had a fantastic day. There were lots of smiling faces on the way in, and even more on the way out.

“It was really nice to see both generations enjoy the same thing.”

Mark wanted to thank Braywick Leisure Centre, his co-organiser Zoe Crofts, and the event crew.

He added: “Without our crew we wouldn’t be able do it, they make the day come to life."