What is Cosplaying? Why it has attained a cult status among fans

Hyderabad: The eighth edition of Hyderabad Comic Con is making a grand comeback after a three-year hiatus, promising an enriching experience for fans of comics and pop culture with this year being bigger than ever for not only fans but also cosplayers.

Jatin Varma, founder of Comic Con India, expresses excitement about the event's return, highlighting its status as the largest edition to date.

“Cosplay, the practice of dressing as characters from various media, has evolved into a growing industry, with dedicated workshops and panels at Comic Con supporting newcomers” Varma Highlighted.

Zohair Khan, a cosplayer, shares insights into the tight-knit and supportive cosplay community at Comic Con, describing the joy of spreading smiles by embodying beloved characters.

What is Cosplaying?

Cosplay is a performance art in which the participants dress in costumes and make-up, representing characters from anime, video games, television, and film. In addition to creating authentic costumes, the cosplayers also act in character and are usually subject matter experts on the characters they are replicating.

Festivities

The festivities will include contributions from notable entities such as Crunchyroll, Warner Bros India, and Maruti Suzuki, along with the debut of The Arena, a dedicated gaming expo featuring tournaments, gaming experiences, and interactions with popular streamers.

This lively pop-culture celebration is set to host celebrity guests, showcase unique merchandise, and introduce some of India's and the world's best cosplayers.

Attendees will have the chance to engage with prominent creators, establishing a direct connection between fans and the driving forces behind India's vibrant comic book culture.

A significant portion of comic books is independently produced by creators or small indie publishing labels, resulting in a dynamic scene where emerging comics and creators gain prominence each year.

Webcomics, in particular, have seen substantial growth, offering diverse narratives.

Alok Sharma, co-founder and chief creative officer at Indusverse, emphasizes their graphic novels focusing on real-life incidents, including superhero origin stories addressing mental health, social media validation, and fake news.

Indian illustrator Akshara Ashok challenges the misconception that art and cartoons are exclusively for children, citing Comic Con as evidence that cartoons are inclusive and intended for individuals of all ages.

The event serves as a transformative experience, allowing attendees to encounter artists in person and hear their stories.

Danesh Mohiuddin, an Indian-Canadian cartoonist, presents unique creations at Comic Con, such as "Timeless Characters," exploring 200 years of fictional figures across various genres.

Another creation, "Sitar Wars," offers an Indian parody of Star Wars with an intergalactic musical showdown.

Danesh reflects on Comic Con's influence, noting its role in showcasing the variety in comics, dispelling the notion that they are solely about superheroes or kids.

International artist and designer Rico Renzi expresses excitement about meeting comic fans and emphasizes that Comic Con goes beyond cosplay, fostering a sense of community and belonging for fans of diverse interests.

Hyderabad Comic Con is scheduled for January 27th and 28th at HITEX Exhibition Centre, Kothaguda, with tickets starting at ₹899.