Arctic Lights Comic Con and cosplay self-esteem

    

Arctic Lights Comic Con(ALCC) was held 16-17.5.2026 in Helsinki. This was first of the sort, as previous two were arranged by the comic con companies of Sweden. And well, there were similarities, but also many differences.

At the end I'm also talking about an issue of mine that really got a name this weekend and which hindered the con experience.. boo.

Nevaracos came to my place on Friday. On Saturday morning we only put on the cosplay makeup and the wigs, rest was left for convention center after the train ride to Helsinki. Queues at convention center were minimal around the opening time at 10am, and the cosplay dressing room was very very spacious and neat! Maybe tad unisex, even if I don't really care who gets to see what kind of underwear Aerith wears. But lots of space to dress up a princess, so Aerith and Zelda were ready for the convention floor.

Flower girl and princess report in. I finally made Aerith's shoes more ref accurate. About time!

Different area of the expo center was used than last year. It was smaller, but also by layout clearer. One huge space. Overall there was maybe one third of the space used compared to last year? So way smaller. They clearly had listened to the feedback and the cellphone plan sellers were acting nice and even had a huge lounge area for trying out crocheting! Overall there were numerous places for sitting down and relaxing. Which can't be said for all cons, but which is very very welcome.

Cosplay guests

Cosplay guest programme is always my top priority, even if I didn't know the guests beforehand or if the subjects weren't something I'd normally think about. Maybe new people to follow and get inspired by, new things to learn?

 Madsfive and Mistvein Q&A

On Saturday Madsfive and Mistvein  had a Q&A-session and we also went to see the "So you wanna be a pro cosplayer" -lecture by Madsfive. I was so sad to see how few people were in the audience, but it didn't take away from the panels. I'm honestly so sorry for the ass in audience who asked about certain song contest when it had nothing to do with anything. 😣

Hazarielatelier Q&A

On Sunday we went to see Hazarielatelier's Q&A. Main message out from that was, that "Do the thing. Make original designs. Enjoy the hobby."

I think the popularity of Cosvision back in the day demonstrated that cosplay as the main attraction in events just isn't a thing (in Finland?). Which blows. For me, cosplay is the reason I go to conventions. Cosplay competitions are always, if not the highlight of my day, at least THE programme I want to see. Cosplay technique panels? 👌 The nerdier, the more technical, the nitpickier, the better. Some panels like "3D print finishing" by Majo, "Shoes and more shoes" by Elina, "Introduction to everything glue" by Fukka, or from international guests, "Huge ass improbable projects" by Enayla live in my head rent-free. So, I really want to see ALL the cosplay content in every con, all the competitions. All the guests. But it requires that people come to see the programme for us to keep having those programmes.

Reality check on pro cosplayer's world by Madsfive. Both slides' timetables: "not recommended, don't do that"

But I was a wuss and didn't dare to even see the guests at their table. We'll come back to this later.

Cosplay competitions, FCC!

Finnish Cosplay Championships, what is there to say. Everyone was so talented, so many awesome crafts, so many fun and heartfelt skits. Congratulations to all the winners! It was very hard to tell who would take which spot with all the talent. I'm definitely taking home all the inspiration, maybe one day competition's call will be answered.

I especially loved how Megurinemagnet's and Maerye's Arcane skit didn't feel like cosplay skit at all. It was like straight outta show/game/any performative media. ✨👌Momentarily we got inside the characters' heads. 

All competitors on the stage

Other programme, venue, stuff

Aside cosplay stuff, we went to see BG3 VA Tim Downey's Q&A(what a fun dude. I learnt that dungeon synth is a thing) and briefly glanced at some dance&comic&other stuff. Q&As differed from last year. For the BG3 VAs last year, it was mostly host's questions and some time at the end for audience. Now majority of the time was reserved for the audience questions. Bravo! 

Lee Bermejo draws He-Man live

The venue was lacking in broadcasts and timetables. I don't think I heard any expo center broadcasts. Was it bacause of all talk programme being in the same space? Maybe. But it was so... silent. Overall the placement of the stages was nice, with the noise being tolerable between concurrent shows. But the placement of guests of honor were bit odd. The comic guests were placed all the way to the back, as if hidden. Another place where I was bit sad to see lack of visitors. The (superhero) comic book fandom just isn't the same in Finland... Compared to some 50k+ attendee European cons, our small Finnish ones just can't compete. Or the right people don't find their way to the events. Will see if there will be another ALCC. 

Overall, the con was about hanging around, seeing star guest panels and, well, browsing the shops. It could've also been about meeting new people, but, we'll return to this.

I would've wished for bit more programme that wasn't Q&As, but that would've meant having guests that do panel like appearances. I have watched Stranger Things and One piece, but something like "how much D&D affected the screen writing of Stranger Things" or "bringing manga into life on live screen" would've caught my attention more than just the actors answering to questions I don't know beforehand. Know what I mean? Audience might ask what their favourite animal is. I want to learn overall about the industry and what it was like to make the series.

I think I'm more of a fan of the series usually, than inividual performers? I would love to meet some artists/authors though. Brandon Sanderson please come to Finland. 

There was The Booth which is becoming a yearly tradition to fill my fridge door with. With Nevaracos as Zelda!

I think every cosplayer has probably noticed that cosplay has become more mainstream. Ten years ago, people asked for pictures and geeked over characters and cosplay. Now it's mainly conventions like this with "normal people" who ask for pictures. It IS fun to geek over characters and to bring something to the event. Just pondering. Has the con-goer audience changed, so that it's just the same people every year? Is it just introverted Finland? I'm jealously looking at every single convention abroad with 20+ Critical Role fans attending the meet-ups.

DNA had the backdrop for some Aerith pictures. 

Cosplay self-esteem

Now onto a subject, which plagues me, and which had a clear impact in this con. Being afraid to do stuff because of undervaluing yourself. Thinking that you're nobody in the hobby because you haven't really formed connections with that many people, and now it is too late. Not doing something because mind already declared it dumb beforehand. 

Like not asking a photographer you like if they'd like to shoot together, even if they posted on their socials openly that they are looking for shoots. Of course they only meant it for their friends, even if it was posted publicly. Right? Rationally thinking that's stupid, I know. But maybe they only meant it for cosplayers with better costumes. Right? 

Like, no fault in asking. At worst it takes a minute, at best it could result in more hobby collaborations. 

Or hey, how stupid would it be to go see a cosplay guest at their booth and take some of their time. Maybe they only want to talk to noteworthy people. Surely they didn't get asked to come to convention so anyone could meet them. I literally stood next to the cosplay booths but decided that I had nothing smart to say. Then regretted it for whole day.

It's so easy sometimes to let your cosplay speak for you, when wearing one. I don't need to speak aloud of my interests in this hobby if I'm wearing it. People can see it. Evn in social media, people see the costume. Take the costume away and what's left is an introverted person unable to meet new people. Or even say hello to people you have already met once. "They don't remember me. I remember them but no way THEY could remember me."

It's stupid thinking. I will soon be visiting conventions for another 10 years without getting to know even a single new person. I would love to collaborate with so many people on so many projects, but it is so so hard to gather the courage. That's a goal for next conventions and next cosplay years. More projects together, more collaboration, more sharing the joy of nostalgic costumes.