Armageddon outa here

Armageddon: the end of the world or just a 'normal' expo?

The term 'Armageddon' usually conjures up images of fire storms, chasms in the earth and wailing souls. Or possibly, if you happen to have a penchant for cheesy Bruce Willis action films, it may mean handsome oil-drillers, impossible heroics and Liv Tyler in frocks.

However, for many people it also means a fun weekend of dressing up as your favourite computer game character or sci-fi hero, heading down to the ASB showgrounds, and enjoying all that this expo has to offer. This year was no different and thousands of loyal fans flocked to see Seth Green (tv/film actor and co-creator of Robot Chicken) and other stars including cast members from Battlestar Galactica and Legend of the Seeker.

As well as recognisable faces there was a hefty team of  'voice-actors' from many familiar anime series such as Dragon-Ball-Z, and these stars easily rivalled film-stars in their rock-and-roll glamour outfits complete with unbuttoned shirts, raffish hair and aviator sunglasses.

Another draw card to this annual event is the merchandise on sale. Stalls selling classic (and not so classic) comics and 'zines' stretched into the distance, alongside figurines and posters of all your favourite cartoon or movie characters. For entertainment you could choose from viewing classic 'geek' films to watching the somewhat confusing (and pointless) roller derby, to pro-wrestling home-grown style.

There were some impressive costumes to be seen walking around, but unexpectedly, the majority of attendees to the expo were dressed like every-day 'normal' citizens, prompting us to wonder - what is 'normal'?

Could it be that something that was just the domain of 'hard-core gamers' or the like has become a 'normal' event to take your grandparents or young children to? The answer is definitely yes, so don't forget to look out for it next year - and invite your mum!

By Rachel Osborne, October 2009