This past weekend, many a pop culture fan flocked to the Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit, Michigan to take in 2015’s Midwest Media Expo. A sister convention of Youmacon, it focused on much more than anime. Fans of gaming, comic books, and various other forms of media all had something to enjoy. It really lived up to the title “Media Expo.”
Although the con spanned Friday – Sunday, I was unfortunately able to only attend on Saturday. Still, I was there quite a while and experienced much. I was joined by my good friend and Master of Unlocking JLAndersen01, who served as my photographer for the event. In this article, I’ll share the highlights of my outing.
– MIDWEST MEDIA EXPO COSTUME CONTEST
What would any convention be without a contest showcasing talented local cosplayers? Although the contest wasn’t very lengthy, there were many entrants who were extremely gifted at their craft. Comics, video games, and anime were all represented, giving those in attendance much to applaud. There were even some original creations and amalgamations as well! My personal favorite was one of the deserving big winners: Smallville Season 11’s Wonder Woman as portrayed by Kristen Wish.
– MEETING SUPERNATURAL’S RUTH CONNELL
Having been a fan of the television show Supernatural since the very first episode aired, I was thrilled that a member of the cast was appearing. Granted Ruth Connell joined the fold in the currently ongoing Season 10, she has made quite the impact as Crowley’s mother, Rowena. Meeting Ruth was a real pleasure; she’s extremely nice and didn’t need the assistance of magic to leave anyone enchanted. It was also cool to interact with other rabid Supernatural fans.
– MEETING AND SEEING THE SILENT HILL BAND PERFORM LIVE
Okay, this wasn’t just the highlight of my weekend, it was one of the highlights of my entire life. Having been a fan of Silent Hill since the first game was released in 1999 and Akira Yamaoka being one of my favorite musicians on the planet, there was no way I would miss this performance. I never thought I would be able to experience a concert like this, so I would like to take a moment to thank the organizers of Midwest Media Expo and hope they can book the Silent Hill Band again in the future.
Seeing Akira and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn up close and personal was a surreal experience, much like being transported to the Otherworld. Alright, it was probably a bit safer than that. Off the top of my head, these are the songs I can recall hearing that night: “Theme of Laura,” “Silent Scream,” “Shot Down in Flames,” “Hell Frozen Rain,” Tender Sugar,” “Letter,” “Room of Angel,” “Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Theme,” “Your Rain,” “When You’re Gone,” “Promise,” and “You’re Not Here.” If I missed any, please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
For the uninitiated – and for the enjoyment of existing fans – I’m embedding the studio recording of “When You’re Gone,” from Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, a personal favorite.
– THE COSPLAYERS
Before we part ways, I’d like to share some shots we took of my favorite DC Comics and Silent Hill cosplayers at the event.
All photos taken by JLAndersen01 and Eric Joseph
