I was at Comic Con India 2022. It was bigger, better, and a hit with fans in Delhi
The much-awaited December Comic Con weekend has finally come to a close. We take a look at highlights from this year’s Comic Con Delhi and all that it had to offer.
After a three year, pandemic-induced sabbatical, Comic Con India returned on a scale much grander than ever before. The annual nerd pilgrimage has evolved in size and spectacle, with a jam-packed weekend of cosplaying, exciting guests, events and stores upon stores of merchandise.
As a celebration of things that would send your average geek into cardiac arrest, Comic Con has maintained its universal status of a geek-safe haven - a weekend when comic book nerds, otakus, gamers and pop culture junkies can be themselves without the occasional judgemental stares and whispers.
As has always been the case since its conception nearly a decade ago, Comic Con Delhi took place over three days - December 9 to 11 - at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in Okhla. A stone's throw away from Govindpuri Metro Station, the group of shinobis Naruto-running outside the premises is always a telltale sign that the convention is nearby.
First, the good.
The Comic Con in Delhi has always been a place where fans of all ages can come together and share their love for their favorite comics, movies, anime, manga, and video games; with attendees getting the opportunity to meet and interact with creators, as well as participate in panel discussions, workshops, and other exciting activities.
What likely seems a product of its three major sponsors this year - Maruti Suzuki, Meta and Crunchyroll - I found that Comic Con Delhi had upped the ante after its three years away, with an increase in merchandise stalls, exclusive live experiences from Marvel, DC, 21st Century Fox and Prime Video, as well as hall dedicated exclusively to gaming and tech this year.
Bringing the some of the long-standing exciting games to #TheArena Ubisoft booth is awaiting you!
— TheEsportsClub (@TheEsportsClub1) December 11, 2022
Join The Esports Club at Comic Con Delhi!#TheArena #TheEsportsClub #ComicCon #DelhiComicCon #GameON #Windows11 #Powerplay #Amazon #Intel #Grandgamingdays #GamewithIntel #ubisoft pic.twitter.com/fqBFu6WMTL
It seems that the event organisers weren’t the only ones to have levelled up this year. The heart and soul of Comic Con lies in the hundreds of fans showing up dressed as their favourite characters and showcase their creativity and passion for the art of cosplay.
Delhi comic con started with bang of emotions among the pop culture freaks, otaku's , gamer's etc
— Delhi Anime Club (@delhianimeclub_) December 9, 2022
after pandemic this year Comic con also Celebrating it's 10th year anniversary :)@ComicConIndia @TheEsportsClub1 @MSArenaOfficial pic.twitter.com/S75jN6UjbT
really felt like a space where you could be anybody, and not be judged for your interests. only fresh energy and good vibes ✨
— ari ♡ (@icetii_art) December 11, 2022
Had an awesome day at comic con today
— TurbanLegendz (@TurbanLegendz) December 10, 2022
Met some great cosplayers and also met with @sikhwarriorlive
Stay tuned for the last day of comic con i.e sunday . Open to meets if you guys are there.@ComicConIndia #comicconindia #comiccondelhi #ComicCon pic.twitter.com/wfOSmWvvtV
This year, an overwhelming majority of cosplays were anime/manga centric, to the point where it seems almost absurd to enter the convention premises without having watched at least one anime, at the risk of feeling extremely left out.
Now, the not-so-good.
Let's address the elephant in the room here: the crowd.
Granted that Comic Cons across the world have a reputation of a massive footfall; however, the frantic rush and cramped walking spaces between stalls coupled with the surprisingly warm winter afternoon slowly turned into a nightmarish suffocating situation with barely any space to move or breathe.
Although many at the event would gladly be stepped on and over by their favourite anime heroines, a slightly better spaced event and adequate spaces for attendees to sit and catch their breaths would probably be something to look into next time around.
That being said, Comic Con Delhi has been one of the most successful ventures in the event’s history and has left geeks from the National Capital just little bit more excited and hopeful for its future.