Last year’s Comic Con Africa in Cape Town was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, but this year, the event finally launched in the Mother City to an overwhelmingly positive response. All four days of the event sold out quickly, and even extra weekend tickets released on Thursday were snapped up in no time.
The energy in the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) was palpable from the moment fans of all ages and backgrounds arrived.
The atmosphere was electric as enthusiasts of comics, anime, books, films, television series and games came together to celebrate their favourite pop culture media.
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CTICC 2 hosted the Comic Con Africa event, which was divided into two main areas. The ground level was dedicated to pop culture and featured the Main Stage, Artist’s Alley, the Cape Town Animation Festival stage, StreetCon and the Cosplay Zone. This bustling area was the epicentre of the event and drew in crowds with its vibrant atmosphere.
On level 2, visitors were transported to the gaming area, which catered to all types of gamers. From console and streaming to tabletop games, there was something for everyone. Whether you were a seasoned gamer or just starting out, you could explore and experience the latest games and technology. This area provided an immersive and interactive gaming experience that left visitors enthralled.
Here are some of the highlights of Comic Con Cape Town 2023:
Hosting by DJ Elliot
DJ Elliot, who is well-known as the fandom’s favourite DJ, presided over the main stage. The American DJ conducted interviews with celebrity guests while also keeping the crowd amused with games and other fun activities.
He spoke with local illustrators as well as some very esteemed celebrity attendees.
A big highlight of the weekend was when the legendary DJ Fresh taped his brand-new podcast ‘WAW! (What A Week)’ from the main stage on Saturday.
Celebrity attendees
One of the main highlights of the weekend was the appearance of international celebrities who flew to sunny Cape Town to meet and greet their fans.
Tati Gabrielle, known for her roles in the series You, Uncharted and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, shared fascinating insights about her martial arts training and spoke fondly about her co-stars.
Another celebrity who stole the show was Ross Marquand, best known for his role in The Walking Dead. He entertained his fans with his incredible impressions, gaining many new followers along the way.
Kat Graham was another celeb attendee. The talented actor rose to fame with her roles in The Vampire Diaries and Love in the Villa. Fans flocked to the stage to hear her speak about her iconic roles, and were thrilled when she joined a local troupe to learn and perform a traditional South African dance on stage.
Jason R. Moore, known for his role in The Punisher, also made an appearance, introducing fans to his upcoming comic book and sharing his experiences on set.
Finally, David Oakes from Vikings: Valhalla made his first appearance at the Con on Saturday. His insightful responses left the audience impressed and inspired.
The presence of these celebrities added an extra layer of excitement and glamour to the already vibrant event, making it an unforgettable experience for everyone who attended.
Comic Con Cape Town’s cosplay winner
Every day of the con was filled with fans dressed up as their favourite characters, competing in the casual cosplay competition to win exciting prizes from sponsors like Cricut and Brother. But Sunday was the day when the event reached its peak.
One of the event’s most esteemed contests is the Cosplay Regional Championship, featuring professional cosplayers from across the city competing for the title.
This year’s competition was fierce, with participants showcasing their impressive skills and creativity. After a long and intense competition, Nicola Andalis emerged as the winner, impressing the judges with her incredible portrayal of Nadja from the hit television series What We Do in the Shadows.
Andalis’ attention to detail and flawless execution earned her the coveted title of Comic Con Cape Town’s 2023 Cosplay Regional Champion.
The Telkom vs. Gaming 32-player FIFA tournament
In addition to the big prizes being given away on the main stage, the gaming hall upstairs was also hotly contested.
Daily contests for cash prizes were held, including the 32-player Telkom VS Gaming FIFA tournament, which was won by Zaheer Hoosain, Reatile Thakholi and John Walenga. Toyota also offered a racing simulator where players could compete to see who could complete the course in the shortest amount of time.
The Doritos Crunch Cup
Doritos then ran a series of competitions in which you could win daily cash prizes and an Xbox by playing games like Call of Duty (COD), Fortnite, Tekken and FIFA.
Zaid April, the Doritos Crunch Cup winner, received a R4 000 cash prize.
This was a weekend jam-packed with thrilling competitions, jaw-dropping cosplay showcases, insightful workshops, inspiring talks, exhilarating e-sports events and everything pop culture enthusiasts could hope for. With so many amazing activities, it’s hard to pick just one highlight.
Despite all this, the event’s biggest highlight still had to be:
The passionate fans
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Picture: Comic Con Cape Town / Facebook
