The 2nd Edition of Mumbai Film and Comics Convention, organized by Comic Con India gave away a party weekend to all the comics and movie buffs. Spread over the weekend of December 21-22 at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon, Mumbai, there was a huge turnout of fans and a number of people were seen cosplaying.
With the tremendous response at 1st Ever Mumbai Film and Comic Con in October 2012, the 2nd edition of the event was planned with utmost dedication. The event had stalls exhibiting, promoting and selling Indian and international comics, graphic novels, special merchandise etc.
There were Workshops and Interactive Sessions, screenings, previews and panels from Indian Films, every hour at the dedicated stage area with Exclusive launches of Comics titles, book signings, competitions and Cosplay (Costume contest).
There was also meet and greet with Dora, Spongebob and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for kids.
All the superheroes, film and comic characters came alive as fans dressed in their favorite costumes!! The winners received interesting prizes from Comic Con India. Each day, winners got chosen from five categories and won prozes. Both days, One lucky winner out of the chosen 5 WON a GOLDEN TICKET to SINGAPORE TOY, GAME AND COMIC CONVENTION 2014!!
Jatin Varma, Founder, Comic Con India, shared, “We are extremely happy with the kind of response we have received at the 2nd edition of MFCC. This was the biggest convention we have ever organized, with tons of new exhibitors, activities and exclusives so far.”
Jatin further added, “We saw everyone having a wonderful time taking part in the variety of interactive sessions. Fans from all age groups eagerly flocked at the different Comics/Graphic Novels’ stalls. Comics and Movie Merchandise including Apparel, Toys-Action Figures, Mugs, Posters were a huge hit amongst fans”.
Increasing the presence of Manga at this convention was a highlight. There were international participants like Viz Media, IINE Toys, and many others featuring anime merchandise. Daisuki & Banpresto brought in stuff especially from Japan.
The two day fest saw a panel discussion with Tere Bin Laden Sequel Cast, Manish Paul & Pradyuman Singh and Director Abhishek Sharma. There were interactive sessions with Ashim Ahluwalia and Nawazuddin Siddiqui on their upcoming movie Miss Lovely and a special session by Scholastic with Illustrator/Filmmaker Shilpa Ranade, on the process of translating a book into an Animated Movie and her recent visit to Toronto Film Festival.
There was also a session by Motion Makers Animation Studio on their upcoming full-length feature film, ‘Nephilim’ with Gulshan Grover, Director/Writer- Danny Wilson and producer Dr. Vishwas Valvi.
There was a special Screening of Burka Avenger exclusively organized at Mumbai Film and Comics Convention. Burka Avenger is a Pakistani animated television series. It features a super-heroine who wears a burqa to hide her identity while fighting bad guys.
Mumbai Film and Comic Con 2013 saw over 15 exclusive book launches. Mumbai’s favourite character Angry Maushi: Second Blood got launched by Abhijeet Kini. The most awaited Munkeeman 3 was launched by Manish Paul and Zombie Rising by Luke Kenny at the event. Graphical Adaption of Anurag Kashyup’s Gangs Of Wassypur by HarperCollins, Pulp Quarterly by Pulpocracy, Gandhi – my life is my message – A graphic Biography by Campfire Publishing and Ground Zero Anthology Vol.2 by Meta Desi Comics were amongst the most interesting graphic novel launches at MFCC 2013.
A special treat was organised by Amar Chitra Katha for the fans at the fest. There was Tinkle’s ‘Hindi Ke Laal’ Quiz and special teaser of the upcoming Tinkle collections. “Wonder Bai” got re-launched in a brand new avatar at Mumbai, as the city’s convention’s official mascot. For the tech fans, there was a special launch of Intuos Creative Stylus by Wacom. Also, there were interactive sessions with Nickelodeon and AXN too.
The main participants of Mumbai Film and Comic Con were Amar Chitra Katha, Vimanika Edutainment, Pop Culture Publishing, Manta Ray Comics, Holy Cow Entertainment, Chariot Comics, Campfire Graphic Novels, Viz Media, Macmillan Publishing, HarperCollins Publishers India, Mario Miranda Gallery, Orange Radius, DC comics by Random House India, Meta Desi Comics Scholastic India, Marvel and Diamond Select Toys.
Comic Con India is a unique event celebrating the illustrated medium, which brings together the whole comics industry and related fields such as Merchandise, Toys, Games, Films and Animation, along with fans of this culture from all age groups. Now, after years, the comics’ community in India has a platform where they can meet and interact.
Sales & Footfall Figures – FYI –
1. At the 1st Comic Con India in Feb’11, the turnout was approx. 20000 and Sales touched 25 Lakhs in 2 days.
2. At the Comic Con Express Mumbai, the travelling version of Annual Indian Comics Convention that took place in October ’11, the turnout was approx 12000 and Sales touched
30 Lakhs in 2 days.
3. AT the 2nd Comic Con India that took place in Feb’12, the response was amazing, footfall touched 35 thousand and sales touched 50 lakhs in 3 days.
4. Last year the traveling version of Comic Con India went to a new city – the Technology capital of India – Bangalore in Sept ‘12, the turnout was approx 35000 and the sales crossed over 65 Lakhs in 2 days.
5. At the 1st ever “Mumbai Film and Comic Con” that took place last year in Mumbai in Oct‘12, the turnout was approx 26000 and the sales crossed over 45 Lakhs in 2 days.
6. At the 3rd Comic Con India that took place in Feb’13, the response was tremendous, footfall touched 50 thousand and sales touched a crore in 3 days.
7. At the 1st ever annual “Bangalore Comic Con” that took place in Bangalore in June’ 13, the turnout was approx 62000 and the sales touched 1 crore 25 Lakhs in 2 days.
8. Adding a new city to the travelling version, The Comic Con Express went to Hyderabad in Sept’13, and the response was overwhelming. At Hyderabad, the turnout was approx 25000 and the sales touched 75 Lakhs in 2 days.
