Tens of thousands of South African comic book fans flocked to Johannesburg to celebrate the sixth edition of Comic-Con Africa. The four-day festival, a vibrant celebration of pop culture and gaming, began on Thursday with a variety of entertainment.
Comic-Con Africa Show Director Carla Massmann stated that this year’s event has been “bigger and bolder than ever before,” delighting many fans. Organizers anticipate a total of 70,000 fans will have attended the festival by the time it concludes on Sunday.
One fan, Nkosinathi Skhosana, called the event “nothing short of amazing” because it served as another vital “safe space.” Skhosana added that Comic-Con is a place where South Africans of all races can forget social issues and have fun together.
International celebrities graced the main stage, including actor Jessie T. Usher, known for his work in the hit Amazon Prime series “The Boys.” Fans were delighted to have autograph and photograph opportunities with these international stars, and also gushed over each other’s costumes.
Owami Sibanyoni, a fan dressed as Musa, said the first picture she took was with her favorite character, Sailor Moon. The event, usually held in September, was moved to August to make way for the upcoming G20 summit at the same venue.