There is a strange crowd on the streets of Brussels, near the canal. A family of elves crosses the Suzan Daniel bridge. Behind, a group of dwarves and hobbits saunters along the pavement. To the left, a Jedi knight and a clone step out of their car. Everywhere you look, there’s a kaleidoscope of characters: wizards, werewolves, superheroes, steampunkers, vampires and video game avatars. All are heading in the same direction. And not to a carnival or even a space-time portal, but the Tour & Taxis exhibition space.
The tens of thousands of cosplayers – fans costumed as a character from a film, TV, comics or other – are descending on Comic Con Brussels, the festival of fantasy and science fiction. For pop culture enthusiasts, this is an event to celebrate their shared, geeky passion.
This edition in Brussels has a particular flavour, with medieval fantasy in the spotlight. The tantalising lineup features many stars, including several cast members from The Lord of the Rings. The army of fans eagerly awaits their arrival, ready to connect with the heroes of their beloved saga.
Among the guests, the four actors who played the hobbits: Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins), Sean Astin (Sam Gamegie), Dominic Monaghan (Merry), and Billy Boyd (Pippin), joined by Andy Serkis (Gollum) and John-Rhys Davies (Gimli).
It’s easy to get lost in the exhibition hall at Tour & Taxis, where fans are queuing to secure a moment with the stars, whether for an autograph or a photo opportunity.
Another Comic Con event in Ghent, on Saturday 02 April 2022 in Gent. Credit: Belga
They are willing to invest significant time and money. The queues for The Lord of the Rings actors, stretching hundreds of metres or hours of waiting, are a testament to the popularity of the film franchise, even though some fans were not even born when the first episode of the saga, The Fellowship of the Ring, was released in 2001.
The prices often reflect the high demand: an autograph or a photoshoot from Elijah Wood cost €100 and €110, respectively, while a photo with the hobbit quartet is priced at €380. Is this a fair price for a fabulous, if fleeting, moment? For fans, it doesn’t matter: the expense is worth the chance to get up close with the actors – or characters – they grew up with.
One of them is Jérémy, dressed in mediaeval attire, waiting in line with his nephew and brother for an autograph and meeting with Dominic Monaghan. “I grew up with these fantasy worlds, and I identified myself with the hobbits,” he says. “Clumsy, not very tall, a bit left out. Besides, there’s a bit of a Belgian touch in the hobbits who love food and beer.”
Not all the fan interactions are equal. Jérémy says, noting that while some actors rapidly sign autographs without saying much, others take the time to engage with each fan. "When you feel that actors really want to be there, it feels good,” he says. “John-Rhys Davies was genuinely interested in me. But there are also those who just come for money – and you can tell. Which is sad.”
Rhys-Davies is known for playing the endearing and valiant dwarf Gimli in The Lord of the Rings as well as Sallah, the loyal friend of Indiana Jones. At the end of the last day at Tour & Taxis, as the final stragglers leave, the 80-year-old actor agrees to talk to me.
Mechant selling replica swords at Comic Con
His deep, resonant voice makes me feel as if I'm chatting with Gimli himself – yet standing at 1.85m tall, he is no dwarf but an imposing Welshman with very a firm handshake. Yet while some stars see Comic Con events as scraping the barrel after their careers tail off and they struggle to hold onto some remnants of their former fame, Rhys-Davies takes a different tack.
“While I was a bit reluctant when I first went to one, this is the most valuable experience with an audience that I've ever had,” he says, emphasising how it builds the bridge between fans and actors. “It is learning to actually meet and talk to the people who have been paying my bills for the last 60 years.”
Rhys-Davies says he loves making connections with fans and hearing their different stories. “They teach me so much,” he says. “As actors, you develop a huge responsibility in a way. I enjoy trying to make people happy. If you can bring a touch of humour, compassion, and sharing into the lives of hardworking people, then I think you're doing something worthwhile.”
Actor John Rhys-Davis, who played Gimli in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
He is echoed by Australian Costas Mandylor, who plays the antagonistic detective Mark Hoffman in the Saw horror movies, who says these moments are vital for fans. "We become family for the day,” he tells me. “Ultimately, if people come, it means you're doing something right. A smile for a child, even though it’s business in some ways, gives you ten years of life. The ultimate thing is, I give everything to the fans, or I'm nothing. No fans, nothing.”
Not just nerds and geeks
Comic Con attracts all sorts of people and fans, not just nerds or geeks. People from different walks of life attend, with or without cosplay, in family groups or with friends of all ages. Most describe the atmosphere as positive, friendly, and like a family, with many self-identifying as geeks, embracing the term with pride.
A wide range of activities awaits, from "jeditation" (a Jedi-inspired meditation for Sunday morning) to cosplay catwalks, lightsabre battles, and even Disney karaoke. You can step inside the flying car from Harry Potter, attend the homemade R2-D2 rallies, take part in Aardman clay modelling classes, or attend Q&A sessions with actors.
Belgian Comic Con. Credit: Belga
The event also lets hardcore fans showcase their fantasy spirit. They may have unremarkable, mundane lives the rest of the year, but this is a moment to indulge their inner Dumbledore, Boba Fett, Freddy Krueger, Harley Quinn, Smurfette, Pennywise or Pikachu.
Meus and Tina, women from near Ghent are dressed as the rival Lord of the Rings wizards Saruman and Gandalf. Many cosplayers are so realistic that they look like they just walked off a film set. Two of the most popular characters at this Comic Con are not even from movies or comics, but rather dressed as the masked synthpop duo, Daft Punk. And for those cosplayers who prefer to buy their attire, there is plenty on sale (although the costs can quickly climb, for example, €130 for a costume of Itachi from the Japanese manga Naruto).
Cosplay is usually more than just dressing up. It is a way to identify with a character. “It allows us to be someone different. It gives us a sort of power,” says Edwin, dressed as Doctor Strange. Does he feel more like Edwin or Doctor Strange? “Today, I’m Doctor Strange,” he answers without hesitation.
Fantasy supermarket
Comic cons originated in the science-fiction conventions first held in the late 1930s. The first official Comic Con was held in the United States in 1970, starting in San Diego, which remains the epicentre for such events. Since then, Comic Con has become a global phenomenon and a franchise, inspiring similar events around the world. It was only in 2016 that Comic Con made its debut in the Belgian capital.
There are other such events. Heroes Comic Con which took place at Brussels Expo in Heysel on October 19-20. The biggest and such event, FACTS (which stands for Fantasy, Animation, Comics, Toys and Sci-Fi) has its next edition on November 2 and 3 at Flanders Expo in Ghent.
Belgian Comic Con fair. Credit: Belga
However, these events can court controversy. At the next Brussels Comic Con, again at Tour & Taxis on October 26-27, the special guest is Kevin Spacey, who has faced a slew of sexual misconduct allegations in recent years. While the disgraced double-Oscar-winning actor was acquitted of sexual assault charges last year, he remains persona non grata in the movie industry.
But Comic Con is undoubtedly big business. The Tour & Taxis event is spread over two locations, with a Geek Market in the Gare Maritime, where vendors can sell merchandise.
This is veritable Ali Baba’s cave with all kinds of stands for all types of fans. Nostalgic for old video games? There’s a vendor with Game Boys and a plethora of games, as well as PlayStation 2 titles. Fond of fantasy and medieval worlds? Grab the swords of Aragorn, Geralt of Rivia, or Viserys Targaryen. Adore old movies? There are original cinema posters for sale. Even the food is special, with some offering confectionery you'd only see in the wizarding world (Harry Potter’s Cockroach Clusters…), while many others specialise in Japanese fast food (onigiri rice balls, mochis, bubble tea, matcha Kit Kats…).
Exhibitors must align with the Comic Con theme – and for all fantasy weaponry on display, real swords and guns are banned. Still, it can be very lucrative. One fantasy sword vendor from the Netherlands who has been in the market for over 30 years, says she attends up to 35 conventions a year and often sells out her entire stock. Weapons from the Lord of the Rings are always the most popular, and when the actors are here, the boost in sales is tremendous, with a nearly magical effect. “Conventions are my main source of income,” she says. “I won't tell you how much I make – otherwise, next week, everybody will start selling swords.”
However, Comic Con is not always a gold mine, as one horror mask vendor notes morosely. “Masks take time to craft, so they are expensive. Fans already spend a lot to see the actors, so they don't always have the budget for new things.” Although he’s the only mask seller here, it’s near the end of the day and he hasn’t sold any yet.
