Day 3 of MCM has finally arrived, and I have returned once again like a nerdy messiah here to bring you all the good news. Though, put a pin in that for a moment because I wanted this Kirby gashapon. And further proof of my divinity, I got the one I desired. Sure, you might say, “Dave, it was a 25% chance, you’re not the nerdy messiah,” but to that I simply spit on you.

On my travels I once again failed at resisting Whatnot… because why not? Why don’t I deserve another tiny Lego man?

Now it was Turtle Time, because the original cast of TMNT were ready to take us down memory lane. Barry Gordon, Cam Clarke, Renae Jacobs, Rob Paulsen, Townsend Coleman, and of course Turtle co-creator Kevin Eastman. But before they joined us, the crowd as always was treated to a fantastic set by the legendary Level Up Leroy, MCM’s in-house DJ.

This was a really inspiring panel, especially because it showed how you never truly know where creative projects can lead once they begin. With the voice of Raphael saying:

“Everyone is accepted, everyone is welcome, and the fans at conventions have helped create a space that genuinely feels glorious to be part of.”

Then I had to head to the meet-and-greet zone, but was waylaid along the way by the fabulous Indigo Abbie, where I picked up an awesome T-shirt.

Next it was time for a meet-and-greet with the master of dark and dastardly comedy himself, John Robertson.

After that, it was over to the Creator Stage to listen to fans discuss Tokusatsu. Tokusatsu refers to Japanese live-action films and TV dramas that rely heavily on practical special effects such as pyrotechnics, miniatures, and suit actors. The genre encompasses giant monsters (kaiju), superheroes, and mecha, and is primarily defined by four major foundational pillars.

This was a really fun panel and, as someone who grew up on Power Rangers, I absolutely loved it.

Next up was a quick spot of lunch… and it was ice cream. My poor stomach is done for. Either I need better eating habits, or I’m beginning to doubt my divinity.

Then it was back around to eBay to join in some games and see if I could win anything. Thankfully, my encyclopedic knowledge of DC paid off with the answers Jason Todd and Kyle Rayner. So yes, more free Pokémon cards for me.

Jumping over to Artist Alley, I attended a talk about character design, and this was a genuinely fun and unique panel that I could absolutely get behind. Especially as someone trying to create my own characters, I loved hearing them discuss subtle storytelling through character design, like how the new Superman movie keeps the tiny red shorts to make Clark feel less serious and more approachable.

A fantastic panel about how we are judged by how we present ourselves.

As part of the press line, I also had the very special treat of sitting down with the cast of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. For more details on that, make sure to follow our socials. One piece of wisdom from the panel that really stuck with me was:

“Do something unique that you believe in.”

ALSO THANKYOU MR DEE BRADLEY BAKER, for taking the time to chat with me after the pannel.

Next it was time for Spica Derby, the first UK-based Uma Musume: Pretty Derby cosplay and dance cover performance group. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but it ended up being really fun and a great change of pace.

Then came the Brandon Sanderson lightning signing. We were lined up like we were about to fire on some redcoats, the whole thing was quick and efficient, but I still got the chance to thank him properly and even scored a fist bump, so honestly, good for me.

Once that was done, it was around to the Cosplay Masquerade where CJ and Leroy warmed the crowd up perfectly. There was PJ & Duncan references, beats, banter, and absolute chaos, a brilliant way to get everyone hyped for the masquerade itself.

As always, the talent on display was incredible. The cosplayers poured their hearts and souls into these beautiful creations, and honestly my talents as a wordsmith cannot do them justice. But I’ll be posting highlights to Instagram and TikTok.

Finally, it was over to Pop Asia for some live music before I headed back to my hotel room to, quite frankly, have a small emotional breakdown.