Northeast’s maiden Comic Con India stirs latent pop culture

Comic Con India, the subcontinent’s largest pop culture celebration that brings together fans of comics, anime, gaming, movies, cosplay contests, and other interactive activities, proved to be a “considerable hit” in its first exposition beyond the metropolises and “mainland” cities.

The multi-city event, organised in Guwahati on November 22 and 23, attracted a few thousand of pop culture enthusiasts. The organisers said the response exceeded expectations in a city where the general gloom after the death of Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg was palpable.

“Founded in New Delhi in 2011, Comic Con India has been travelling across the country’s metropolises and other major urban centres. Our first outing in the northeast, known for its passion for pop culture, especially cosplay, has been strong,” Shefali Johnson, the CEO of Comic Con India, told The Hindu.

Cosplay, which originated in Japan, involves dressing up as and playing a character, often from video games or comics.

“The northeast is full of energy, passion and creativity, and the crowd has reaffirmed just how vibrant this community is. Our aim is to create a space where fans, artists and storytellers can come together to celebrate the worlds they love, while inspiring the next generation of creators in a region so rich in stories, talent and imagination,” she said.

Held at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex, where Garg’s mortal remains were kept for three days for people to pay their last respects, the event saw a mix of creator sessions, performances, interactive experiences, and several activities to keep the participants engaged.

The highlight of the event was the interaction of fans with Bill Golliher, the comic book artist and writer best know for his contributions to Archie Comics. Sixteen Indian creators of comics and anime joined him during the show.

Among the Indians were Tadam Gyadu, an illustrator from Arunachal Pradesh who has worked with leading Indian publishers and with Marvel on titles featuring Spiderman, Wolverine, Iron Man, Ghost Rider, and The Avengers, alongside Indian legends, including Nagraj, Dhruva, Doga and Rakshak.

Assam-based digital artist and visual storyteller Debojyoti Choudhury and Bengaluru-based artist Rajesh Nagulakonda drew strong interest among the aspiring creators. Fans attended the launch of Raj Rahman: The Weight We Carry by Bullseye Press, while a special Amar Chitra Katha session brought classic Indian tales back into focus.

Fans also witnessed Guwahati’s biggest cosplay contest, with talented cosplayers participating and bringing their beloved characters to life. The popular comic book characters portrayed by the cosplayers included Deadpool, Ironman, Welma, Hellboy, Mitsuri from Demon Slayer, and Quanxi from Chainsawman. EOM