In its maiden Comic Con, Kochi brings together cosplayers from across the country

Kochi Comic Con's inaugural event unites over 100 cosplayers, showcasing vibrant pop culture with 20,000 enthusiastic attendees.

At the inaugural edition of the Kochi Comic Con, held at the Adlux International Convention Centre, at Angamaly near Kochi, on February 27 and March 1, popular icons of the past and present, ranging from Dr Strange from the Multiverse of Madness to the iconic Malayalam comic characters Mayavi and Luttapi, strolled around casually. The event saw a footfall of around 20,000 people, bringing together fans from across the country and transforming it into a multicultural pageant.

“The first edition of Comic Con in Kerala was truly spectacular. The love and excitement shown by the attendees is something we consistently witness across the cities we visit, which makes me believe that India is indeed united by pop culture,” says Shefali Johnson, CEO, Comic Con India.

Cosplay took centre stage at the Comic Con, as more than 100 participants turned up as different characters from comics, anime and manga, among others. “Kerala has always had a strong artistic culture. You see it in Kathakali, Theyyam, Koodiyattam, and the mural traditions across the state. This was visible at the event. Cosplayers approached their craft seriously, audience engaged thoughtfully during panels, and the overall warmth made this debut incredibly special for us,” says Shefali.

The cosplay arena paved the way for both rookie and experienced cosplayers. Samannay Majumder, a Bengaluru-based chip validation engineer by day, has been a cosplayer for the past six years, exploring Comic Cons across the country during this period. “I decided to come here because it was just a night bus ride away,” says Samannay, showing off an intricate blue Dr Strange attire with additional limbs attached to his back and makeup. He also carried a detailed model of the Darkhold, a sentient, ancient book of forbidden dark magic mentioned in the movies and comics.

 Samannay Majumder as Dr Strange | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

“My favourite part about cosplaying is interacting with the fans of my character. It makes my day, just to see their excitement,” says Swetha Thankachan, from Pathanamthitta, who dressed up as Nobara Kugisaki from the manga series Jujutsu Kaisen.