As I write this article I am filled with both joy and sadness. See Comic-Con-Africa 2019 has come and gone. It was a major step up from last year’s event. There was so much to do at the event and 4 days flew by faster than Superman on a caffeine buzz.
Finger Lickin Good
This is one of the best additions to the event. KFC is one of the biggest brands in the world and this year the teamed up with the biggest geek brand. This union came with direct benefits to the patrons in the form of wingmen. The purpose of the wingmen was simple. Get yourself a token from the KFC stall and you have a personal assistant for half an hour. This was very useful with the long ques at the con. All you had to do was download the KFC app. There were also prizes given out by the fried chicken colonel. We here at Nerdgasm found a much better use for our wingman…
Food was everywhere. The venue had food and refreshments at key locations. However, the thing about food is that we all feel hungry right about the same time. So this will always create longer ques. But with that being said it was very much improved last year and with most points being indoors it didn’t mean standing in the blazing Johannesburg sun.
Game On
There was an entire hall dedicated to gaming with all the key players present. Nintendo also launched its new Switch Lite at the event. Guests were invited to test out the new device which comes in a variety of wicked colors. Microsoft and Sony were there too, showcasing their consoles.
There were some serious gaming events and competitions at the event with some serious money on the cards. ESports is growing rapidly in South Africa and the convention left no stone unturned in its efforts to give gamers their due. There was also the Business of Gaming for more business savvy individuals or content creators. All in the entire gaming sector was checked.
The Stars in Our Eyes
There were no shortages of artistic talent. From budding young talent to mega superstar, Comic-Con-Africa had it all. From Donny Crates the mastermind behind the hit new comic Absolute Carnage to our very own superstar cover artist Warren Louw. Getting a comic signed by and artist or writer is a major part of any Comic-Con. This year Reed Pop doubled down on the dosage and gave us an incredible line up of talent.
William Shatner elevated the hearts of the fans with his down to earth personality. He genuinely seemed as happy as us to be here. And then there was Troy Baker and Nolan North, the dynamic duo from Retro Replay who also just happens to be highly talented voice artists. While most know them from Uncharted and The Last of Us, I fanboyed over them for the fantastic takes of Deadpool (Nolan) and Joker (Troy).
Local is always lekker and while Comic-Con-Africa ensured they have some great line up of international stars, they also brought us our gifted rising stars. From startups to local icons like Kwezi.
Stalled Up
The stalls seemed to have doubled from last year, and that was a good thing. There were loads of geeky great goodies. There was something for everyone. Collectables was the by far the best ever seen in South Africa. There was something for every pocket, from the ever-popular Funko Pops to the uber-exclusive XM Studios and everything in between. There was also a huge segment of home industry items, which allowed our local talent to showcase their fantastic products. Almost all of the South African comic book stores where there from our local friends Project Mayhem to the massive Comic Warehouse. Each store offering unique deals or items exclusive to Comic-Con-Africa.
Cosplay
Cosplay in South Africa keeps raising the bar. This year saw more and more people attend the event in some manner of cosplay. It didn’t matter if you were a professional, bought a costume or just strummed something together overnight. All were welcomed and all looked great. As a dad, I find nothing beats the parent/kid combination. Kids, in cosplay, are the cutest thing ever. The more advanced player brought their A-game. There were some incredibly detailed costumes that surely took ages to put together.
The proudest moment came in when our very own Durban based cosplayer Jinxkittiecosplay won the Cosplayer Comic-Con-Africa competition and will now represent South Africa C2E2 next year.
KidsCon
This was a wonderful extension to the main con. While the main event is exciting and bags of fun for young adults, teens and zombified working adults, it can be overwhelming for the little ones. But thanks to the KidsCon that is no longer a problem. They had plenty of activities and shows to keep the kids entertained for hours. A particular favorite was the Nerf arena. Here you could have the ultimate Nerf battle with your friends.
Till Next Year Must We Part…
So I sit here now, nursing withdrawal symptoms. As I eagerly await the next con. Wondering what exciting new features will find its way. Which artists will be here to sign my books? This year was a major step up from the previous con and was an absolute delight to attend. With Black Friday around the corner, make sure to grab your multi-day passes as ridiculously low prices when it comes up.
