19 Jul 2015

Armageddon my costume on...

7:47 am on 19 July 2015

Thousands of comics fans, geeks and zombies, many in elaborate costumes, have descended on Wellington for the pop culture festival Armageddon.

Armageddon is expected to bring millions of dollars to the capital's economy.

Armageddon is expected to bring millions of dollars to the capital's economy. Photo: RNZ / Kate Gudsell

Organisers of the New Zealand Comic Con event estimate it will generate millions of dollars for the local economy, as fans from all over the country have flown in to mingle with kindred spirits.

Among the costumes were Catwoman, Harlequin, Darth Vader and Doctor Who, characters from Game of Thrones, as well as a number of zombies.

Armageddon is also an opportunity for fans to meet some of their heroes.

I am Catwoman. Hear me roar.

I am Catwoman. Hear me roar. Photo: RNZ / Kate Gudsell

This year Armageddon features Karen Gillans who plays Amy Pond in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, Stephan Roche from Supernatural and theVampire Diaries and Rick Mora from among other things, Twilight.

Organiser and creator of Armageddon, Bill Geradts, said this year's event is more than double the size it was three years ago. 10,000 people will attend this weekend.

And in terms of what it contributes to the economy, he said that is on a par with a rugby event.

"I was talking to some people who were flying down this morning and they said the plane was full of people in costumes, and the trains were full coming in had Harlequins and Batmans in there.

"It's very noticeable that people are coming in from out of town, and if they're coming in, they're spending on average a few days here."

Among the attractions of the 20-year-old event is a zombie run, which Ian Mckissack, 8, has put himself through twice.

He said he was petrified.

"I feel very shaky, and I'm not that sure if they were actual people dressed up as them, and when that army man got pulled into the zombie apocalypse, I didn't actually see that man infected when they were running at us."

Armageddon continues today.

Thousands of comics fans, geeks and zombies descended on Wellington.

Thousands of comics fans, geeks and zombies descended on Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Kate Gudsell