Comic Con India 2013: Be Your Beloved Superhero!

I love Delhi. With its wide streets and green spaces, it always feels welcoming to me. It is also arguably the cultural capital of India for in this town I have explored Mughal tombs that are over 400 years old, grooved to African tunes, seen French films and marveled at modern Indian art.  There is a little something for everyone in India’s capital city, even a Comic Convention!

From Batman to Politics

First held in 2011, Comic Con India is a convention for comics. Comic books are no longer just for children, geeks and fans of the Big Bang Theory, but for anyone who is interested in the arts, writing, animation and of course comics. More than just cartoons of super-heroes, comics are now works of art that tell stories far beyond the traditional novel. Different styles and techniques are used to tell stories of fantasy and fiction and even serious non-fiction (like the French work Persepolis).

Writers and artists from around India flock to attend this art festival and participate in its workshops and listen to speeches from various comic book artists and writers. Interactive sessions give everyone a chance to discuss and engage with each other and learn more about this dynamic industry.

A Convergence of Indian Culture

Comic Con India 2013 will be held at Dilli Haat from February 8 to 10. A unique open-air food and craft bazaar, this market in Delhi is permanent, with special themes that change regularly. The bazaar highlights the great variety of arts, crafts and food found across India and is a great place to compare different styles and tastes. You can get anything from a Bengali curry to a Hyderabadi pearl here. Dilli Haat is like all the different cultures of India have come together in one place.

Celebrating the Arts

This celebration of comics is also reflected in the Comic Con India Awards. To be held on February 8 till February 10, the awards will recognise the work of those who live and breathe comics and focus on this art form as a serious business in India. Last years winners included the comic book Nelson Mandela (Best Comic Book), Suhas Sundar (Best Writer for Odayan #1) and Amit Yatal (Best Artist of Jungle Book). Awards are presented for both adult and children’s works, representing the diversity of the audience that this medium attracts.  The awards also seek to encourage up and coming talent by recognising the best unpublished work.

Serious business is also done at Comic Con India, with publishing houses using it as an opportunity to scout for new talent and promote their publications. Demonstrating the broad reach of Comics, Comic Con spread out to Bengaluru and Mumbai in 2012 with other comic events in India sure to be added in the future. The event in Delhi however is still the premier one to attend.

Planning a trip to Comic Con India 2013? Choose from a variety of flights and hotels at MakeMyTrip.com!