In exactly two weeks the streets of Cape Town will be flooded with pop culture lovers when Comic Con Cape Town (CCCT) finally kicks off.
Get ready to get your geek-fix in the Mother City from 27 April to 1 May at the Cape Town International Convention Centre as one of the biggest pop culture events on the continent returns. Last year the organisers went all out, and you’re probably wondering how they will top that? Well let me tell you, you’re in for some big surprises.
Comic Con Cape Town 2023 was amazing, but it needed something… It needed to be bigger, because they obviously didn’t know how many of us wanted to be there. I was lucky enough to go and trust me you can’t miss out on it this year. Tickets are selling out fast.
This year will officially introduce KidsCon, so if you were wondering what to do with your kids then here’s your answer. There will be a dedicated area for the kids with a bunch of activities and a special curated Toys “R” Us shopping experience. If you’re looking for some toys for kid-adults or the family then you’ll be at the right place.
CCCT will also be extended to a 5-day event, with Monday, 29 April and Tuesday, 30 April being specially themed days and on these days the doors will open at 11:00 and close at 20:00. The other three days the doors will open at 09:00 and close at 18:00.
On Monday you can expect something spooky. The convention will be transformed into a horror haven. There will be a variety of activities to take part in, including: horror movie screenings, murder mystery games, escape rooms, prosthetic and make-up tutorials, horror-themed panel discussions and much more.
On Tuesday you have to put on you favourite PJ’s and join us for the biggest family pyjama party. Ackermans will be teaming up with CCCT for the ultimate sleepover. There will be PJ cosplay, a dance party with DJ Elliot, a family quiz event and the day will end with a movie night.
The celebrity guest list for this year is really long, so make sure you pre-book your autograph and photograph sessions in time. Sean Gunn, known for his roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, Gilmore Girls, The Suicide Squad and many more will be one of the headlining celebrities. He will be a the Comic Con from 27 to 29 April.
Lesley-Ann Brandt, known for her role as Mazikeen in Lucifer will also be there! She is also set to star in upcoming Walking Dead spin-off. She will be at the con on the 27th and 28th.
Joining Gunn and Brandt is Ash Ketchum or rather, Veronica Taylor, the voice of Ash in the English Pokémon dub. If you’re a Poké-fan, then you should definitely book and autograph or photograph session with her. She will be there for all five days.
If you’re a fan of the One Piece live action show, then be prepared to meet a bunch of the actors. This includes South Africans Aidan Scott (Helmeppo), Langley Kirkwood (Axe-Hand Morgan), Alexander Maniatis (Captain Kuro), and more!
You can’t forget the reason comic cons exists, comic book writers and artists. This year there will be a bunch of awesome comic book creators, maybe you can even pick up a signed copy of your favourite comic or event commission a special art piece.
Cosplayers are you ready to meet some of the best cosplayers the world has to offer? There will be a bunch of cosplay competitions during the con. If you just want to dress up for the fun of it, then let your imagination go wild. There will also be panels with some of the world’s best cosplayers.
And of course there will always be something special for all the gamers. The Gaming floor and StreamerCon is always one of the areas I look forward to most, it’s like a nerd’s paradise. There will be a bunch of tournaments and gadgets to get your hands on.
This year will also see the return of StreetCon. I’m all for street art, and you cans usually find some of the best street artists in South Africa at Comic Con. So come have a look at see what you’ve been missing out on.
If you’re a film lover like me, then get ready because there will be expert panels on filmmaking and screenwriting on 1 May. There will also be a bunch of other panels presented over the course of the event, so make sure you check the schedule.
Comic Con Cape Town – in partnership with FanCon – has announced international comic book icon Dan Didio who has made an impact on the medium by being involved in ushering in DC Comics’ New 52 Reboot and All-Star Series. Didio is also currently working on a project that involves another industry icon – Frank Miller.
On the local front, Comic Con Cape Town has also announced the appearance of Durban’s Anand Ramcheron, who has made an impact on the comic universe by contributing artwork to the Marvel: Crisis Protocol board game, as well as freelancing for the visually spectacular Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.
In addition to artist spotlight guests, Comic Con Cape Town will also feature a dedicated area for artists and creatives to retail original prints, engage in creative exchanges, and even commission one-of-a-kind pieces called the Artist Alley.
And if you’re just going to Comic Con Cape Town to meet me, then I will be honoured. Let me know if your going. And if you’re not sure yet then listen to me, you are going because no one wants to suffer from FOMO. Get your tickets below.
