Three-day comic fanfare livens up Mumbai

Mumbai: The three-day Comic Con Mumbai Film & Comics Convention from December 19- 21 at Bombay Exhibition Center in Mumbai came to an end on Sunday with thousands of comic fans and geeks crowding the venue.

The fourth year of Comic Con Convention not only witnessed a pop culture explosion but also provided a platform to the artists who brought into light some hard-hitting issues that deserve visibility.

Through the newly launched comic book ‘Priya’s Shakti’, conceptualised on the gender-based violence like rape and its aftermath that grapples the victim, we can say that promoting social causes through graphic novels is a smart way of reaching out to wider audiences.

“When I heard the story, I knew instantly I had to do it. I hope the cause that we are promoting through this comic book travels and moves the masses,” said Dan Goldman, the artist of the comic book while he was signing the posters and comic books.

_{(Image: Priya's Shakti Comic Book)}

Although comic fans were seen flocking around the American brand of comics and Star Wars experiential zone, stalls with Indian comics like Aghori, Amar Chitra Katha, Angry Maushi also saw a good fan following.

Young volunteers were seen running around to make sure the fans were making the most of the event.

The star-attraction this year was Mark Gatiss, co-producer of BBC's popular television series Sherlock and Steven Moffat, the co-writer of Dr. Who, who enthralled the crowd with quirky chat sessions and signing the posters. 

_{Bollywood director Dibakar Banerjee talking about the movie. (Photo: DC)}

While Bollywood director Dibakar Banerjee talked about his upcoming fictional detective film 'Byomkesh Bakshi' and Bengali comics, Telugu actor Rana Duggabatti was present for the launch of the Telugu VFX film 'Bahubbali'.

The vibrant energy of the crowd knew no bounds when Cosplayers wearing costumes of their favourite superheroes were seen strolling the venue with their quintessential gestures. The Cosplayers are the participants of the Cosplay Contest wearing costumes and fashion accessories to represent a comic character. The excited fans rushed to click pictures and selfies with these cosplayers and the superhero standees. 

^{_{Cosplayers wearing costumes of their favourite superheroes posing for a picture. (Photo: DC)}}

The venue was populated with stalls of brands like Wear Your Opinion, Bewakoof, Superherotoystore, etc selling superhero merchandise and also the artists who had put their art on display and were even making on-the-spot digital caricatures of the fans picturing with their chosen superhero. 

_{Stall selling the posters of the actors from the famous television series ‘Game of Thrones’. (Photo: DC)}

‘Fan boys’ and ‘fan girls’ were gifted with take-home goodies, all they had to do was, post their pictures on social media.

The three-day convention received an enthusiastic response from fans all over the city who were not willing to leave the venue hours after the event was officially over. The Comic Con Convention will be back in December 2015 for the ones who missed it.