{"id":829585,"date":"2026-07-27T17:15:12","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T17:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/829585\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T17:15:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T17:15:12","slug":"my-first-montreal-comic-con-set-a-new-standard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/829585\/","title":{"rendered":"My First Montr\u00e9al Comic Con Set a New Standard"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since 2016, I\u2019ve attended conventions all across the East Coast of the United States. With those travels, I\u2019ve inherited a feeling of familiarity. I\u2019ll get my badge, be herded through crowds like cattle, and barely have enough time to savor meeting a celebrity for a picture or an autograph. Comic cons and fandom gatherings can be invigorating, and yet at the same time, it’s easy for a con goer to feel lost in the shuffle. A consensus I\u2019ve gathered from my personal experience is that over the last 5 years, companies behind these conventions haven\u2019t quite put fans first. I am pleased to say, however, that is not the case for Montr\u00e9al Comic Con. Instead of an event where the biggest paid sponsored entities were on display and prioritized, I walked into a welcoming, thoughtful, efficient, fan-first-focused, unforgettable event. All of that was felt even before the doors opened.<\/p>\n

It began with something I\u2019ve never seen done before at a convention that I hope catches on and would like to see continue: an opening day ceremony. Members of the media, independent artists, and premium-tier badge holders who RSVP\u2019d gathered in the main hall of Palais des congr\u00e8s de Montr\u00e9al before the doors opened for general admission pass holders. What happened next wasn\u2019t a press conference or even an incognito one with an additional sales pitch hidden inside. This felt like theater, and it set the bar for the entire weekend. The vibes set forward were inclusivity, positivity, and hype, and the organizers prioritized that all of those vibes were felt by the fans first.<\/p>\n

It began with a performance by members of the world-famous Cirque du Soleil troupe, which originated in Quebec, making it a homecoming of sorts. I was able to see a preview of their latest production, ECHO, featuring juggling, incredible acrobatics, and a mind-bending contortionist. The troupe had us all in awe as we witnessed them bring a dreamlike performance of wonder to life on such a limited stage, truly revealing the power and effectiveness of their reputation for enchanting performances that have evolved and kept themselves alive for more than 40 years.<\/p>\n

Then, Show Presidents Alex La Prova and Oscar Yazedjian, who were presiding over the entire opening ceremony and clearly having a fun time, brought out all of their featured guests. This included the impressive and talented competitors and judges for the Cosplay Masquerade, creators from Artists Alley, and, in a moment that truly surprised me, virtually all of the celebrity guests who were there for panels and autograph appearances. This included my personal favorites: Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian, Breaking Bad, Megalopolis), Robert Patrick (Peacemaker, T2: Judgment Day), and Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund. Appropriately enough, they let Englund step forward to cut the ceremonial ribbon, which he did with expertise in a humorous moment as someone who knows his way around sharp handheld objects.<\/p>\n

While everyone on stage allowed time for us all to take pictures, applause and excitement began to grow until it reached a fervor. It was clear that this opening ceremony accomplished what it intended, and you could see that not only were the fans excited, but so was everyone on stage. They didn\u2019t feel like they were being paraded out for our amusement. Everyone looked hyped to be there and ready to engage with everyone who came to attend and have a good time.<\/p>\n

A Convention Built to Welcome<\/p>\n

\"\"One of the convention’s featured panels drew a capacity crowd, reflecting the event’s record-breaking attendance.<\/p>\n

According to MCC\u2019s official PR team, this year\u2019s attendance was a record-breaking +67,000 visitors. Remarkably, it rarely felt like the con was overcrowded. Whether it was on the show floor, through the aisles of the vendors and artists, or in line for panels, I never felt overwhelmed. I didn\u2019t get that old \u201ccattle herding\u201d feeling. Everything flowed comfortably, and I commend the event\u2019s crowd management staff, who kept the flow of traffic optimized in the event\u2019s layout. This didn\u2019t feel like a convention that was battling with its own popularity.<\/p>\n

With this being my first time visiting not only this particular convention but Montr\u00e9al in general, the language barrier was a personal concern I had going in. Montr\u00e9al is proudly bilingual, with French being the predominant language. I do not speak or read any French whatsoever, and I thought this might be my biggest hurdle, but thankfully, this never even became a challenge.<\/p>\n

Each team member was more than happy to help and would go out of their way before I even asked a question. I guess I couldn\u2019t hide my \u201clost foreigner\u201d facial expression when looking at the French-written convention map guide. They gladly gave directions, panel information, and anything else I needed to find in the building. The language barrier I was worried about never even came up, and the hospitality was consistent throughout the weekend.<\/p>\n

Panels That Let the Guests Shine<\/p>\n

\"\"Strong moderation kept conversations engaging while allowing guests and audience questions to take center stage.<\/p>\n

Being a panel moderator at a convention is a job that most overlook. It may seem simple to be a host on stage, talking to celebrities and fielding questions from the audience, but there is a certain artistry to it, and only the best of the best have staying power on the convention circuits around the world. A great moderator rarely pulls focus, keeps all conversations naturally flowing, and keeps the guests locked in with engaging questions for the panel.<\/p>\n

At MCC, I saw true pros do their job as moderators with cunning precision. During the Lord of the Rings panel featuring Andy Serkis, Elijah Wood, Billy Boyd, and Sean Astin, the moderator amazingly kept up with their delightful brand of brotherly chaos and humor that could otherwise derail an unprepared and inexperienced host. Prolific voice actors Tara Platt and Troy Baker, in their respective panels, had multiple moments of saying \u201cThat\u2019s a great question,\u201d to their respective moderators, which, having interviewed people in the past, is one of the best things you can hear during an interview. The questions were thoughtful and engaging, and everyone in the audience looked like they got the most out of their time, with no one feeling rushed to move on from the floor after they asked their question.<\/p>\n

Building a Community, Not Just an Event<\/p>\n

\"\"Artists Alley remained one of the busiest destinations throughout the weekend, connecting creators directly with fans.<\/p>\n

\u201cFans first\u201d was not just a mantra I heard in the opening ceremony. It was an identity that MCC embraced, one that the organizers made sure would truly differentiate them from the unpleasant trends that have popped up at some of the larger cons like those held in New York and Los Angeles. I\u2019ve personally noticed an unfortunate trend at those cons: independent journalists, photographers, and content creators increasingly feel separated from the very communities we are there to cover and communicate with. Restrictive access, impersonal communication, and a sense of being a prioritized credential holder rather than a fellow fan can cast a dour feeling over the event. While there are perks and privileges to holding a Media or Pro badge, there can also be a feeling from fans that con organizers prioritize the media and the content creators to gain clout for their brand. At MCC, this couldn\u2019t have been further from the truth.<\/p>\n

From day one, the collaborative celebration of artists, media, fans, vendors, and volunteers was set as the foundation. This truly felt like a community event and not a transactional corporate occasion that fans happened to be attending. That spirit of collaboration was indisputable with the way cosplayers were celebrated.<\/p>\n

When the competitors and judges for the Cosplay Masquerade were introduced alongside the featured artists and celebrity guests during the opening ceremony on stage, it put them in the spotlight, garnering respect, enthusiasm, and appreciation for their artistry and hard work. What\u00a0 may seem like a small gesture actually speaks volumes\u00a0 about the convention’s values.<\/p>\n

Montr\u00e9al Beyond the Convention Floor<\/p>\n

\"\"Stepping outside the Palais des congr\u00e8s meant stepping into the heart of Old Montr\u00e9al, where the city’s historic streets and vibrant public spaces became an unforgettable extension of the convention experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a moment to appreciate Montr\u00e9al itself because I was able to do just that, and it didn\u2019t disappoint. Since it was my first time in that part of Canada, having only been to Ontario before, I wanted to make the most of my trip. The beauty of Old Montr\u00e9al was on full display as if waiting for me. I reveled in the historic buildings with Parisian flair, the aromas of the remarkable food, and the life and vibrancy on the streets, each with a unique pulse of its own. Exploring the city beyond the convention halls was an adventure worth having.<\/p>\n

On Friday night, the sound of great music and the smell of delicious food trucks led me to the nearby Festival International de Jazz de Montr\u00e9al. The public spaces were transformed into open-air stages, and I enjoyed it all with poutine and beaver tails (a delightful Canadian flat fried dough delicacy). It was a welcome break from comic books and tabletop games, allowing me to see another side of culture that Montr\u00e9al had to offer.<\/p>\n

A Community Worth Returning To<\/p>\n

\"\"Celebrity guests remained a major part of the Montr\u00e9al Comic Con experience, but they were only one piece of a much larger celebration of fandom, creativity, and community<\/p>\n

Seeing celebrities and getting autographs are a staple of any fandom convention. They are arguably the ones who draw in the crowds most of all. Montr\u00e9al made itself different from my previous experience in how it presented itself and what it afforded its audiences. This went beyond the simple carnival barker style of bringing in a crowd to take their money and send them on their way when it was over. MCC created a space where crowds felt seen. The convention created a space for celebrities and the fans. They participated in the event together rather than just witnessing it happen.<\/p>\n

Attending Montr\u00e9al Comic Con for the first time reminded me that when it comes to fandom events, these things aren\u2019t defined by their attendance numbers or booked guests. What I felt was an overall sense of community. MCC brought fans together with care and open arms. By the end of the weekend, I left with more than just souvenirs, snacks, and great memories. I felt like I had been invited into a collective of fans that wanted you to join in on the fun. It was an event they didn\u2019t want you to just simply attend once and forget about later. This was a call to be a returning member of the community, and it\u2019s something I fully intend to do.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Since 2016, I\u2019ve attended conventions all across the East Coast of the United States. With those travels, I\u2019ve…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":829586,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194292],"tags":[49,48,17878,5847,289793,2338,289794],"class_list":["post-829585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-montreal","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-comic-con","tag-conventions","tag-couch-soup","tag-montreal","tag-montreal-comic-con"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829585","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=829585"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/829585\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/829586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=829585"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=829585"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=829585"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}