Kamal Ghorui
In one corner there are comic book fans discussing which DC superhero the next Absolute edition is going to be about, while in the other, if you can believe your eyes, you see Kamado Tanjiro, President Loki and Koro-sensei laughing together as Itachi Uchiha joins them.
A fan at Pune Comic Con cosplaying Koro-sensei from the anime Assassination Classroom (Picture credits: Jignesh Mistry)
These were the scenes that unfolded at the Pune Comic Con over the weekend, with fans, artists and creators coming together for a celebration of all things comics!Reliving their childhood
Savio Mascarenhas at the Pune Comic Con (Picture credits: Jignesh Mistry)
From Savio Mascarenhas, the creator of Shikari Shambhu and Supandi to Josh Blaylock, an international artist for whom this was a first at the Pune event, there were many known names to look forward to for fans. “I met people who grew up reading Tinkle and Amar Chitra Katha, and whose kids are now experiencing the comics. It is something I just can’t put into words,” Savio said, recalling a moment when a newly married couple asked him to autograph a copy of Tinkle for the child they would have some day.
“Bringing G.I. Joe back as a comic series ended up being bigger than I expected. It was the first time anyone had revived an ’80s cartoon in comics, and it really took off. I had no idea how popular the character was in India, and I was so surprised when I found out.”
Josh Blaylock, who has worked on a limited series revival of G. I. Joe, called G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
International guest Josh Blaylock at the Pune Comic Con
Cosplay, consoles and long queuesCosplay and gaming were other big attractions with booths offering everything from VR cricket to car racing simulation. Some booths had reflex-based games as well. The queues had some dressed in their regular attire, others in elaborate cosplay costumes.
Independent artist Vibha Rao, aka Indian Scribbles, at Pune Comic Con (Picture credits: Jignesh Mistry)
“This was my first time at the Pune Comic-Con. People actually came up to me and said, ‘Oh, I know you from Instagram,’ which honestly felt unreal! People knowing you for your art is something every artist dreams about”
Vibha Rao, aka Indian Scribbles, an animator and comic artist
Marvel Comics fans cosplaying Loki variants at the Pune Comic Con (Picture credits: Jignesh Mistry)
Omkar Jadhav, an IT professional, arrived at the event with two friends expecting to leave after just a couple of hours of browsing. “Instead, we ended up spending the entire day here. It was such a fun experience with the offerings, cosplay and games.”
