Comic Con style event hits Warrington

'Warrington Market Into The Future' will be held on Saturday, May 16, when Star Wars fans can climb aboard a full size X-Wing.

There will also be a DeLorean DMC-12 from Back to the Future and an appearance by Titan, an 8ft robot who has appeared at the F1 Grand Prix and at film premieres alongside the likes of Will Smith.

Meanwhile, visitors can search for comics and collectibles from films, TV shows and games from around 50 merchandise stalls.

"People are using this one as a warm up before they go to Manchester Comic Con so we should be getting loads of people in costumes," said market manager Steve Pickering.

The event is part of a UK-wide campaign called Love Your Local Market which will run from May 13 to 27.

Last year Warrington Market won the award for the best national campaign and the convention is the latest addition to the 2015 plans.

Steve got the idea after Netherworld, a TV, film and game merchandise store, ran their own convention on a small scale during a teenage market event in 2013.

Then the Padgate resident teamed up with Mike Holman, who used to run Millennium Comics and is involved with a number of Comic Con events, both in the UK and in America.

Steve added: "He’s excited about it because it’s introducing comic conventions to a new audience.

"We wanted to make it enjoyable and something a bit of different as we’ve been successful with all the other events we’ve done.

"We’ve got a DeLorean from Back to the Future and I never realised at the time but that’s big this year because when they go to the future in the film they go to October 21, 2015.

"It’s going to be massive this year so that was a nice accident.

"We’ve got a Batpod bike from The Dark Knight and a Doctor Who David Tennant lookalike who is really good.

"He’s got three Daleks with him and they go around the town centre.

"But this time we’ve actually got a full size X-Wing from Star Wars to tie-in with the new film coming out in December. I put that on Facebook and it just went mad.

"You can sit in it. It’s a bit like when we’ve had the Spitfire or the Formula 1 car like we’ve had in the past.

"We’ve got a dinosaur that does a walkabout and then I realised that Jurassic World is coming out in June so people will think I’m being really clever! Everything seems to link to the movies."

Other highlights include a visit from Darth Vader and his stormtroopers as well as a Jedi and R2-D2, who will be returning to the big screen in The Force Awakens.

Younger fans can meet Elsa and Anna from Disney's huge hit Frozen and there will be a martial arts display by Dragon Whushu.

'Time travelling historian' Mark Olly will be giving talks and Netherworld will be introducing people to table top and trading card games.

But Steve, who has worked at Warrington Market for 16 years, expects Titan the robot to draw the biggest crowds.

"Titan has to go outside because he can’t get through the door," he said.

"The kids go absolutely mad for him because he’s quite a character and towers above them. He squirts water at them and takes the mickey out of people."

Cosplay is encouraged for visitors and there will be a robot fancy dress competition for youngsters.

Steve, whose favourite film is Return of The Jedi, added: "People seem to love dressing up in Warrington. We know that from when we’ve done the medieval market. People love the fantasy of it.

"What we’re trying to do is get our traders to dress up as well and join. When we get them into the spirit it’s a good blast.

"It’s a way of cheering everyone up so for two weeks we’re going to have a good party.

"There will also be three Apollo spacemen walking around the motion in slow motion and planting a flag on Andrew’s fish stall and claiming it for America. So we’ll have all that kind of fun going on.

"There’s that much activity that we want people to stay all day. Markets are about people coming together."

- Warrington Market Into The Future is on Saturday, May 16, between 10am and 4pm. Entry is free.

DAVID MORGAN