Airsoft as an activity is like an animal that cannot be decribed clearly like the Big Foot apart from the fact that it is about replica firearms that fire plastic balls. It can be different things at the same time --- as a hobby, as a sport, as a LARP (Live Action Role Playing), a Milsim (Military Simulation), and as a Cosplay (Costume Playing).

Airsoft players love dressing up, spending money to get an impression right, be it a Navy SEAL, a Russian Spetsnaz, or as part of Umbrella Corporation (Biohazard game). Depending on how an airsoft event is organised, airsoft players will bring the gear and clothing that the scenario calls for. For those airsofters who really love the dressing up part of airsoft usually bring that love from the airsoft field to convention centres, attending Cosplay events such as Comic Con.

In Asia we see airsofters as an integral part of the Cosplay community, attending Cosplay events either representing historical military characters or as characters in shooter video games such as the airsoft community in the Philippines being active in H-Con that is hosted by the History Channel. In the U.S. whilst it is not much discussed, some airsoft players do attend such events as well.

So we attended the MCM Comic Con London 2018. This event takes place twice a year in London, with the next one scheduled in October at the Excel London. We went there on Saturday, the 26th of May, which we expected to be the day with the most number of people and Cosplayers as it is a 3-day event that started on a Friday. We were not disappointed as the DLR trains have been disgorging people left and right, many in costumes and even many more not in costumes excited to check out what is on display such as collectibles and video games. Others were there to watch the presentations and stars of movies and TV series as well as have some autograph signing. Whist we gawked at what was on display, especially at the Nintendo area where they had some tournaments on the Nintendo Switch.

As for the Cosplayers, there were lots of them ready to pose in front of cameras as it is one thing that we love Cosplayers for and it would be a shame not to capture them in their costumes which they have painstakingly put together. Too bad that we are not fully versed with all the characters and we’re mainly more familiar with comic book and shooter video game characters being airsofters, so we saw Wonder Woman, Ghost of Call of Duty, Master Chief of Halo, and an Umbrella Corporation soldier. Some confirmed that they are airsofters, though most are mainly video gamers.  We saw many Star Wars Imperial Storm Troopers but what we thought to be the most popular characters are Sailor Moon, Mario Bros, Poison Ivy, Deadpool and Harley Quin from the Suicide Squad.
In terms of booth displays, I was wishing that I would find an airsoft company present but I was disappointed that there was none, but there was a booth setup by the International Paintball Group.

Overall, even if there were few airsoft players encountered there, we thoroughly enjoyed the Comic Con. We wish to see more airsoft players attend with their gear and airsoft guns as they can do actually help promote airsoft in public without worrying about showing their guns. The organizers allow airsoft guns with removable coloured muzzles so you can remove the muzzle and place the appropriate colour for photo ops and we recommend that they have no batteries or propellant and the magazines empty. As always, transporting airsoft guns and tactical gear, we recommend that they be in bags and taken out at the venue. Organisers usually provide lockers for Cosplayers.

Airsoft companies such as retailers, distributors and manufacturers can look into showing up at Cosplay event such as the Comic Con. Tokyo Marui does this in Japan and Evike.com is always an exhibitor at the Anime Expo in the U.S.  The demographics of the Cosplayers is good for airsoft, they are young and are willing to spend on their costumes. All they need is to be orientated into airsoft via the presence of the airsoft community in such events.

We’ll be covering more Cosplay events such as Comic Con, as well as video gaming events as they also are interests of airsoft players. If you and your team are attending such, feel free to drop us a note and you can send us photos and event report that we can post at the site.

Photos of the MCM Comic London May 2018 at the Popular Airsoft Facebook Page.