Comic Con descended on Liverpool this weekend, with more than 13,000 people in attendance on the Saturday - and I was one of them.
Prior to this weekend, I'd never been to Comic Con before. A devoted (and slightly obsessive) fan of multiple television shows and films, it's the kind of event my teenage self could never have imagined - being from a small town in Yorkshire, it wasn't something I had easy access to.
Understandably, I was incredibly excited to go. It wasn't anything like I'd expected, and I left with a tension headache and tears in my eyes - but from the sheer, unadulterated excitement and joy.
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Comic Con is a regular convention geared towards and for fandoms. Comic Con Liverpool is the North West's largest comic book and film fan extravaganza, and boasts some of the UK's biggest celebrity guest exclusives.
Occurring biannually, the November weekend was a packed affair with stars from cultural phenomenons including Stranger Things, The Vampire Diaries, Peaky Blinders, Matilda, One Tree Hill, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and more.
For me, my desire to volunteer working an additional Saturday shift this month was all due to James Marsters' appearance. The actor and musician, now 60, has been a regular fixture in my life since he swaggered onto the Buffy the Vampire Slayer set back in the 90s, in the season two episode, 'School Hard'.
Buffy is my favourite show of all time. If you've tried your hand at any of the ECHO pub quizzes I've written, you'll have come across questions about the hit show. It began in 1997, when I was just six years old, though it didn't hit BBC screens until a year later.
From the very first episode, I was hooked - my desire to be like the stake-wielding, titular heroine, Buffy Summers, even saw me bag a black belt in karate at 13. My excitement at potentially being in the same room as Spike, one of the most beloved characters on the show, was palpable even to my colleagues.
Upon arrival at the Exhibition Centre, we were immediately struck by the seemingly never ending queue of dedicated fans. The costumes were absolutely incredible, with cosplaying extraordinaires dressed as Marvel characters like Thor and Loki; Scream villain Ghostface; DC queen Harley Quinn; Star Wars characters; Avatar characters, and more.
There was a real sense of joy and excitement, with the freezing temperatures and depressing drizzle doing nothing to dampen spirits.
Inside, it's a feast of stimulation. Spread across two spaces - the Exhibition centre and the ACC - there's photo opportunities with recreations of iconic sets. The Vampire Diaries fans could sit outside the Mystic Grill; Stranger Things fans could sit in Joyce Byers' chaotic living room; and Breaking Bad fans got a glimpse of Los Pollos Hermanos, with Gus Fring himself - the impossibly talented Giancarlo Esposito - behind the counter.
There was also a smorgasbord of stalls offering fans everything from film and TV prop replicas (Captain America's shield! Harley Quinn's bat! Buffy's scythe!), to mugs, jewellery, spicy sauces, and even soaps and fudges. It's a complete delight, with every inch of each space jam packed with memorabilia, treats, artwork and more.
In addition to the props, there's celebrities at every turn. Mara Wilson, star of the beloved 90s adaptation of Roald Dahl's enduring classic Matilda, was happy to chat to us about her experience of Liverpool Comic Con.
The Vampire Diaries and The Originals stars Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley, Arielle Kebbel, Nathaniel Buzolic, Sebastian Roche, and Riley Voelkel were in attendance, as well as Cobra Kai stars Xolo Maridueña, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan, Hannah Kepple, Annalisa Cochrane, and Paul Walter Hauser.
Twilight stars Peter Facinelli, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone and Kellan Lutz were there, as well as High School Musical star Lucas Grabeel. Stranger Things fans were delighted as Dustin actor, Gaten Matarazzo, also made an appearance. The star was joined by fellow stars of the Netflix juggernaut including Tom Wlaschiha, young Henry Creel actor Raphael Luce, and Hellfire Club members Gwydion Lashlee-Walton, Trey Best, and Grant Goodman, plus many, many more actors and actresses.
We tried our best to get as many interviews as possible but it's tricky business given the thousands of fans vying for a moment with their favourite performers. We also didn't want to take away from anyone who had paid for interaction with any of the guests, but we still managed to chat with Mara Wilson, Lucas Gabreel, Ashley Greene and more.
For me, selfishly, my sights were set on James Marsters. Near the end of the day, at his final table signing, we ventured to a large room and joined the hoards of fans keen to meet the beloved actor.
My colleague described me as "fizzing with excitement"; my palms were sweaty, my heart was racing, and a tension headache from all the anticipation started to bloom at my temples. Would he agree to an interview? Would I even still have the ability to form words in his presence?
As the crowd parted and I caught my first glimpse of a Buffy star in the flesh - for the first time after loving the show for 24 years - I froze. Emilie McMahon, video journalist extraordinaire, had to remind me to breathe.
I queued and paid for an autograph - if he said no to an interview, at least I'd still get to ask him some questions as a fan - and tried my best to channel my inner cool girl. It did not work.
Upon meeting him, James Marsters (Spike! From Buffy!) extended his hand warmly and asked how I was doing. I blurted out some incoherent babble about being a huge fan. I asked him what his favourite episode to film was (season six's famed musical episode, 'Once More, With Feeling') and his favourite episode to watch as a fan (season five's powerful and heart-breaking depiction of loss and grief, 'The Body') and asked him to repeat a popular five word quote from the show that ends with a mild expletive. He obliged.
Then, the impossible happened. His handler asked if he'd be up for chatting with the local press and HE SAID YES. I now have video evidence of a lovely chat with a brilliant actor whom I've loved for more than two decades.
James Marsters sang Liverpool's praises, played a game of guessing the meaning behind common phrases and words said here, and just oozed effortless charm and likeability. Even if you've never watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer (erm, what are you doing? Watch it!), it's clear to see what a passionate, dedicated and endearing actor James Marsters is.
I left with happy tears in my eyes. I will never, ever forget my first experience at Comic Con. I'll also likely never have a better day at work in all my life.
Comic Con is a long day - or weekend - with lots of queuing and huge crowds, but it's so worth it. It's completely magical to get a moment with so many icons of the screen and I'll absolutely be attending again.
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