
Cosplayers pose at the entrance to the second edition of the multi-genre entertainment comic and fan convention ‘Comic Con Africa’ in Johannesburg on Saturday. AFP
Glad in an array of capes, masks, pointy elf ears and spectacular face paint, comics fans gathered in South Africa’s biggest city this weekend for the second edition of Comic Con Africa.
Dressed as their favourite superhero, fans of cosplay – a portmanteau for costume play – strolled around Johannesburg’s Gallager convention centre, meeting writers, illustrators and fellow enthusiasts.
“It’s the first time I’ve been here. I have heard so much about it so I wanted to experience it,” said Nishen Deepchand, peering out from a Batman mask.
“I’ve teamed up with Tinkerbell as well. It’s a special love affair, but nobody knows about it so make sure you don’t tell Batgirl.”
Sponsors of the four-day event, which opened on Saturday, are expecting 60,000 attendees – a unique opportunity for new creators to showcase their work.
Guests of honour this year included Loyiso Mkize, the artist behind South Africa’s first superhero. Mkize’s three-volume illustrated story Kwezi – of a 19-year-old boy in South Africa who discovers he has superpowers – has been a hit in the country.
“The fanbase has grown to now the tens of thousands,” Mkize said. “That’s amazing, particularly for an industry in South Africa where we thought there was no industry.”
Mkize is among a growing movement of African illustrators striving to bring more diversity to the global comic scene.
Nigerian start-up Comic Republic has since 2013 created a series of superheroes referred to as “Africa’s Avengers” by fans. And Nigerian-born Roye Okupe launched the futuristic saga EXO: The Legend of Wale Williams in 2015.
Last year, Marvel studios released Black Panther, the first superhero blockbuster featuring an entirely black cast.
“Creating South Africa’s first superhero was the first leg,” Mkize said. “But continuing that legacy and the story and narrative along with our readers has been the journey”.