
The Supa-Stars are aligning once more, as Supanova Comic Con & Gaming prepares to take over the Melbourne Showgrounds, this weekend!
Some of the biggest names in fandom, including Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who, Thor: The Dark World), John Noble (The Lord of The Rings, Star Trek: Prodigy), Nicholas Hammond (The Amazing Spider-Man, Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood), Georgina Haig (Once Upon A Time, Archive 81), Matt Doran (The Matrix, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones) and more, will feature throughout the event, but Supa-Star celebs are just a fraction of what’s on offer this weekend!
Here’s just a taste of the Supa-Activities fans can experience across the weekend at Supanova in Melbourne.
Fan experiences, Photo-ops & more
Harry Potter fans are set for a magical weekend, with the cast of the award-winning play Harry Potter & the Cursed Child stopping by Supanova on Sunday for a special one-day-only appearance, offering autographed posters and socially distanced selfies ahead of an exclusive Q&A panel at 10:45am on the Cosplay Theatre main stage.

One lucky Supa-Fan will win this full-sized moulded cowl!
Once you’ve met the cast of the play, why not head over to the Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore stand, where you’ll be able to take part in photo-ops and enter giveaways all weekend long!
As well as the usual fan favourite Mad Max vehicles on display, there’ll also be two Harry Potter cars available for magical photo opportunities.
From the Cursed Child to the Dark Knight, The Batman is bringing a taste of Gotham to Melbourne, thankfully leaving The Riddler behind. Stop by for photo-ops and the chance to win a full-sized moulded cowl displayed in an acrylic display case with a stand, plus more!
Set to be one of the year’s most exciting animated releases, The Bad Guys will be stopping by ahead of the film’s March 31 premiere. Grab a green screen selfie with the gang before Aaron Blabey, author of the New York Times best-selling book series the film is based on, treats fans to a must-see panel (complete with prizes and limited pre-signed posters!) on Sunday at 2pm.
Get to know #TheBadGuys at Melbnova, with a special guest appearance by Supa-Star Aaron Blabey!
Go behind the scenes of this upcoming action-comedy in an exclusive panel on Sunday in Melbourne – your only opportunity to catch the author and producer! https://t.co/Ew9DA0kUNX pic.twitter.com/nuB261M7hS
— Supanova Comic Con & Gaming (@SupanovaExpo) February 27, 2022
All The Best Merchandise
Home to everything from hard-to-find collectibles to one-of-a-kind original art, checking out our Exhibitor Hall is a MUST at Supanova in Melbourne. Browse the aisles and hunt for all the best pop culture wares on offer, courtesy of the sensational sellers who will be exhibiting this weekend!
Anime fans won’t want to miss the Ichiban Kuji stand, brought to you by Madman Anime and Bandai Spirits!
Japan’s #1 favourite prize game, Ichiban Kuji is a super fun way to get merchandise and collectibles from your favourite anime brands including Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball and more. Simply buy a ticket to the Ichiban Kuji game with your favourite show or brand; every ticket will get a prize, from kawaii plushies to the rarest of anime merch!
If you happen to buy the last ticket, you’ll also score the Last One Prize – an additional one-off item that is often ultra-rare and highly sought-after by collectors. What’s more, you can grab a bonus collectible pin of Ichika Kuji–the official Ichiban Kuji mascot–during the event by sharing your prize on social media with the hashtag #KujiAUS.
This is the biggest ever Ichiban Kuji stand at Supanova, so don’t miss out!
There’s More To Do At Cosplay HQ
Cosplay HQ is your one-stop shop for everything cosplay at Supanova! Proudly sponsored by Singer, who’ll have their signature sewing machines available to try out at their neighbouring stand, head to Cosplay HQ to check-in or register for the Supanova Cosplay Showcase, running in the afternoon on both Saturday and Sunday. Blending together elements from our famous Cosplay Competition and Cosplay Dash, entrants are invited to take to the stage, strut their stuff and strike a pose, with the chance to win one five double passes to the Supanova event of your choice next year!

Singer at Supanova 2020 – Gold Coast. Photo by James Presneill (Elementice)
Online pre-registration for the Cosplay Showcase has closed, but there will be a limited number of reserve spaces to sign-up in person on the day. Whether you’ve been working on something new, or simply have an old favourite you’d like to wow us with, make Cosplay HQ your first stop at Supanova to join in the fun!
Cosplayers can also have their hard work immortalised with a photograph taken by our Resident Cosplay Photographer, Steamkittens! Known for his stunning portraiture and dedication to the community, you can find examples of his work here.
Of course, you don’t have to be in costume yourself to appreciate the craft! Fans are invited to check out the incredible work of the Melbourne Costume Group, which will be on display at Cosplay HQ. After making their public debut at Supanova in Melbourne in 2012, the group have gone on to provide their services at numerous charity events, aiming to benefit the wider community through their love of cosplay. Find out how you too can take your passion beyond conventions with the Melbourne Cosplay Ground take to the Imagineer’s stage on Sunday morning!
Setting the scene for Local Screen
Supa-Fans can take a crash course on filmmaking as part of Supanova’s returning Australian Film Showcase, which will once again shine a light on the country’s thriving film and TV industry.
Animated children’s series Little J & Big Cuz leads the showcase, with Clare Madsen (Script Producer/Script Editor) and Samuel Nuggin-Paynter (Writer) taking fans behind the scenes of the Logie Award-winning production.
Meanwhile, the team behind award-winning independent film production collective Cinema Viscera, directors Paul Anthony Nelson and Perri Cummings, will unpack their latest thriller, Apparitions, which tells the story of Lily, a graduate who returns to her family home and discovers not all the ghosts that haunt us are dead.
This is just a fraction of the fun that will be on offer, this weekend at the Melbourne Showgrounds. From Supa-Star celebrity Q&As, free-to-play gaming, giveaways and more, there’s SO much to do at Supanova in Melbourne, so download your Event Guide, grab your tickets, and get ready for another awesome weekend of fandom fun!
Lead image: Cosplayers at last year’s Supanova in Melbourne. Photo by Kanami Tsunoyama