As the sun sets, organisers of Comic Con India are trying to reroute cosplayers at Chennai Trade Centre to step outside for a quick group photo before they lose light. The clarion call brings at least 100 cosplayers in elaborate costumes, pink, purple and blonde wigs and armour that seem true to life, into one colourful, eccentric frame. Multiple Vecnas, Piccolos, Jokers, Harley Quinns and Darth Vadars pose in front of a temple-like structure. There is no better imagery than this of the city’s first comic con.
A cosplayer who rushes to join a group photo excitedly says, “I thought I’d be the only idiot in pink,” pointing to her wig. However, she is in the company of others who do not favour derision and critique about cotton candy hair.
Inside the venue, it feels like nearly every attendee is now a katana-wielding (Japanese sword) warrior. Bobble heads and manga magazines dominate stalls. There is a rush to purchase posters, some shy meet-and-greets with comic book artists, and several unfortunate dents of the wallet. “I am going broke today,” is the most repeated phrase, as participants trawl through the merchandise, which includes comic books signed by Stan Lee, the Marvel comics frontman and the co-creator of several iconic characters, for a princely sum of ₹1.85 lakh.
