The 2017 edition of the Mumbai Comic Con features a cosplay competition, new book launches, a host of international guests, and cool merchandise. Here are the highlights
The 2017 edition of the Mumbai Comic Con features a cosplay competition, new book launches, a host of international guests, and cool merchandise. Here are the highlights
ADVERTISEMENT
Attend a historical discussion
For half a century, Amar Chitra Katha has been introducing readers to some of India's greatest stories. At a discussion titled Amar Chitra Katha: 50 and Beyond, editor Reena Puri and art director Savio Mascarenhas will take visitors on a journey through its archives and share anecdotes. Puri says, "There was this one time, in the '90s, when our building burned down. We lost everything. But we managed to rebuild from scratch." Puri also shares that ACK will launch its 960-page six-volume box set of Ramayana, the publishing house's biggest undertaking since the 1970s, which took them six years to complete.
Pick up collectibles
Sure, you can order your limited edition action figure online, but isn't it better when you can see how it looks in person? You can do this when you peruse the numerous stalls at the venue. Comic Con India (CCI) will set up its own merchandise store, in addition to a host of other exhibitors including Planet Superheroes, Red Wolf and Souled Store, who will sell everything from figurines to t-shirts. Moreover, the CCI store will launch an exclusive Game of Thrones Mystery Box, which comes with items signed by George RR Martin.
Dress to impress
As always, the cosplay contest is one of the biggest draws at the two-day event. You can dress as a character from not just comic books/graphic novels or anime/manga series, but also as a movie, novel or game character. A panel of judges will pick a winner on each day, who will take home a cash prize of R50,000. The two winners will also represent India at the Crown World Championship of Cosplay in Chicago. Haven't started working on that costume yet? Time to get cracking!
Find your favourite comics
The event will see a host of book launches, including horror comic Footsteps 2, Age Of Immortals #3, and Rudra, as well as web comics like The Guide to Hipsters and State Bank of Comics.
Speaking about his new comic, Rhyme Fighters: Odes to our Unsung Heroes, Abhijeet Kini says, "It's a 20-pager with no story or dialogue. Instead, it features tongue-in cheek rhymes about the people we see in the city every day - traffic cops, fisherwomen, or rickshaw drivers."
Apart from Kini, several creators from across India, such as Aniruddho Chakraborty, Sailesh Gopalan, Saumin Patel, Vivek Goel, and Sumit Kumar, will also attend.
There will be a discussion and dramatised short play on the book Bharat: The Man Who Built a Nation (Penguin Random House), which is about Bharat, the son of Dushyant and Shakuntala. Yet another panel will feature Anuj Gosalia and Chintan Ruparel, the founders of Terribly Tiny Tales.
Meet the stars of the show
In previous editions, Mumbai Comic Con has played host to several international guests, including Supernatural actor Jim Beaver and Mark Gatiss, co-creator and executive producer of the BBC show Sherlock. This time around, the roster features Nick Seluk, creator of the popular web comic The Awkward Yeti; David Lloyd (in pic, below), a British comics artist best known for V for Vendetta; Andrew Griffith, designer and illustrator of the Transformers comics series; and Yishan Li (inset), professional comic book artist for DC and Dark Horse Comics. International pro-cosplayer Nicole Marie Jean (in pic, right), will also attend.
Catch a slew of performances
If you are a fan of stand-up comedy, you're in for a treat, as Sahil Shah (in pic, below) and Mallika Dua will perform at the event. That's not all, though. YouTuber Prajakta Koli (inset), who is known for her channel Mostly Sane, will also take the stage, in addition to the Beyounick team. Shah says, "I'll be doing a 20-minute set, of which some of the jokes will be about comics.
That said, I will be coming in my costume, because I love nerding out at Comic Con. If you spot Chewbacca doing stand-up on stage, that's me!"
On November 11 and 12, 11 am to 8 pm
At Bombay Exhibition Centre, NSE Nesco Complex, off Western Express Highway, Goregaon East.
log on to comicconmumbai.com
ENTRY Rs.499 onwards
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
