It’s the year 2020 and no one ever thought holding a public gathering with thousands of people would be deemed significant. As odd as it may seem, some countries are going back to normal and New Zealand is one of those countries at the front of the line with it’s public Armageddon Expos being held across the country.

Adapting has become somewhat of a theme for many this year. Whether work or home related, the idea of planning or attending an event seemed farfetched a few months ago. Despite this, the Christchurch based team behind the Armageddon Expos kept the ball rolling behind the scenes. They would adapt, change, keep what they could and develop into something new.

Wondering about the unknown future of events such as Armageddon Expo around the world would cross anyone’s mind who enjoys attending public events. If it remains and the show goes on without precautions, is that safe? If it changes, will it still be an enjoyable event to attend or has the world changed too much for it to work for the foreseeable future? These questions certainly crossed my own mind. But, as I made my way through the doors of Wellington Armageddon, those thoughts disappeared and I was there to enjoy an event New Zealanders had earned.

Located at Sky Stadium in central Wellington, the hustle and bustle of the lower North Island was immediately prominent as the weekend began. People were eager to get their fix and be surrounded by a bunch of like-minded individuals who loved to celebrate entertainment, pop culture, technology and gaming. Albeit sections of the ‘circular ring’ set up were bare with patches of concrete as opposed to more stands but it was understandable given current circumstances and restrictions around the world. I will admit I was holding out to see Mighty Ape but they surprisingly did not attend.

A highlight was easily ‘artists alley’ as it oozed with the magic and wonder of creative minds. Taking your time in this section of the event at any Armageddon Expo is highly recommended to consume every item large and small by the artists. My own little gems found at the event were a print of a PlayStation 4 controller by the artist Sam Smith, a print of various swords and daggers by Ent Noot and some enamel pins by Cobalt Heights.

I would have loved to have seen more technology and video game related brands because although there is a huge market for anime, it did feel a little bit overpowering to those who may have been interested in attending the event for something technology or video game related. I guess that’s what we must look forward to at Auckland Armageddon in October though!

Speaking of technology, 2020 brought about the first year of completely virtual guests, beaming in from their own living space to live stream to an audience in New Zealand. The exclusivity is honoured as the virtual panels would not be live streamed or be uploaded to social media. On one hand it’s commendable to gain guests we might not be able to see normally and that technology can allow us to work around circumstances to still form connections and conversations.

On the other, you can’t help but feel the distance and have the experience feel not as special. Alas, that’s just the world we live in right now and I’m sure we’ll have international guests attending our gorgeous country again very soon.

The final Armageddon Expo event, Auckgeddon, is going to be held Labour Weekend October 23-26, 2020 and promises to be a massive event. They have got a 25th birthday to celebrate after all!

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It’s April 2019 which can only mean one thing, New Zealand’s Wellington Armageddon Expo (or Wellygeddon to many) was here and bombarded you with cosplay, shops and entertainment at every turn, just the way we like it.

Being the first of the year’s Armageddon Expos, there’s always a certain excitement by default as you’re eager to be reunited with your fellow crazy nerds and lovers of entertainment.

This year, I opted to take the expo at my own pace, going around the oval outer ring of Westpac Stadium and simply wait to view the shops if they were overcrowded. I do mention every year that I’m not a fan of the location because it forces you in a particular direction like an escalator, but hey, it is what it is and it’ll grow on me eventually.

Artists alley was a highlight for me this year and I loved seeing various artists showcasing their talents. I picked up a few business cards along the way to check out more of their collections on various social media or websites later too. If there’s one thing to say about Expos is that it’s hard to decide what to buy sometimes when you’re put on the spot!

I had my eyes set on looking for and purchasing a dagger prop. I’d seen a range of them at the previous Auckland Armageddon and regretted not purchasing one then. At least I knew it wasn’t too long until the next Armageddon Expo, an event I love and appreciate its continued strong presence here in New Zealand.

Celebrities and panels weren’t my target this time round, but I constantly noted fans queuing up for signings, photographs or both this time round. Wellygeddon 2019 was the first-time selfies were available (for a price) to be used in conjunction with autographs. As I observed, the selfies seemed to be doing wonders for fans who loved the more intimate and casual interaction as opposed to a professional photo (though as I can concur, having a professional photo with a celebrity is epic).

Rules have also changed for cosplayers this time round due to the mass shooting in Christchurch last month. Costumes mimicking realism (e.g. an outfit that could be found in everyday life like military or weapons), was banned. As the folks at Armageddon mentioned, there are plenty more appropriate costumes to choose from out there and it was great to see those attending both respecting this new rule and still going full out for their cosplay too.

Wellygeddon has started to move in a new direction for me and I’m loving how my focus has shifted over the years. Perhaps that’s due to what is being shown or maybe just me. No matter what though, I’ll still be attending no doubt for years to come, eager to get pop culture goodness in the country’s capital city.

*Image credit: Armageddon Expo.

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Wellington Armageddon Expo or Wellygeddon for short, puts on a great show for itself, even though I wish there was just… more.

Situated in the Westpac Stadium right in the city centre, Wellygeddon, like it’s other shows around the country, has been a yearly event for some time now. Things have changed since my first show back in 2010 such as the location, but for the most part, things haven’t, which isn’t always a good thing.

This year, Wellygeddon was pushed forward to the March time slot, a first for the Wellington shows (at least to my knowledge).

This was mainly due to the weather conditions and winter season in June (in New Zealand). Personally, I don’t think it really made a difference. Although it’s no doubt difficult to find a suitable location in the heart of Wellington City, I do wonder how much longer it will be situated at the stadium for. The limitations are paramount, and the environment isn’t a fun one to be in. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always have a place for Wellygeddon, I just don’t know much longer I can take circling the interior like a conveyer belt, being forced in one direction and having no room or time to stop and have a look at the stands.

Jeremy Renner

There is hope for Wellygeddon though.

As we all know, Auckland is New Zealand’s hub for entertainment events etc, so it comes with a certain understanding that Auckgeddon will always be the biggest event for Armageddon Expo. Saying this, other areas around New Zealand are getting more attention and it’s exciting to see this in the industry.

A prime example of this would be around the celebrity guests. I can’t tell you how many times I roll my eyes at those who moan about ‘bigger’ celebrities always being at the Auckland show and not in the other areas when the celebrity’s own personal schedule is a huge factor to what show they can attend in the year.

Wellygeddon 2018 was able to host one of the biggest stars of this generation and in one of the most successful franchises of all time: Avengers’ Jeremy Renner.

Despite the difficult weather situations of the outdoor stage, people filled the seats to catch a glimpse of a real life Avenger. The energy was high, comfortable and welcoming. There aren’t many places that celebrate being whoever you want to be or dress up however you want to dress up. Being able to sit next to a random person and having a conversation with them to fangirl or fanboy about the opportunity to meet someone from your favourite TV show.

They’re great environments to be in and I’m so glad New Zealand can put on these shows despite our location in comparison to the rest of the world.

Bigger shop names made way for the smaller, independent artists and businesses, allowing people to showcase their artistic talents or provide knick-knacks and collectibles for customers to buy and treasure. My purchase for the day was a Mockingjay pin from the Hunger Games movies, something I’ve been wanting for years. I was surprised by the likes of Mighty Ape having a smaller stand at this year’s Wellygeddon and was a tad gutted because I think it’s always great to see the online store out and about at events. Saying this, Omen HP did have a stand and it was cool to see people having hands on experience with the products, something usually dedicated to Auckgeddon.

Wellygeddon faces two options, let the spark dwindle away or ignite the flame and glow brighter than ever before. I very much hope it’s the latter because there’s something special about Wellington Armageddon Expo.

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