It’s the final countdown: just a week to go before the event we’ve all been waiting for: Cyprus Comic Con! This year I’m looking forward to meeting The Mountain (aka Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, Game of Thrones’ very own silent strongman), chatting to Star Wars’ Tessek-Squid Head, and – as always – watching the cosplay competition, which brings dragons from their dungeons, villains from their lairs, and jedi from a galaxy far far away. And that’s not all – by a long way… Even though it’s still a relative baby by global standards, our fourth annual celebration of everything geek is leaping from strength to strength. With a whole host of new activities, celebrities and opportunities…
Billed as ‘Cyprus’ largest multi-genre convention full of exhilarating pop culture activities’, our local Comic Con began in 2014 with what Communications Manager Tony Michaels expected might be “500 or so people enjoying a small platform at which local artists were presenting their work and giving the community a boost.” In the event 4,000 visitors piled through the doors of the European University, and such was its popularity that the following year the event was moved to larger premises: the Philoxenia Conference Centre. And still they came… over 8,000 of them!
By 2016, the non-profit group had cottoned onto the idea of a two-day con. 15,000 people attended. So this year, the organisers (who are pretty earnest about heeding fan feedback) have Gone Big… “We needed somewhere that can accommodate the 16,000 people we’re expecting,” says Tony, explaining that even this staggering figure may be on the conservative side. “We need space, we need air conditioning, and we need something central-ish, so we’re relocating to the premises of Nicosia’s State Fair. It was the only logical choice!”
Four of the halls will be in use for the September 2 and 3 event: Hall 3 will be gaming and gaming-related retail; Hall A is set to host both artists and retail; Hall B will house table top gaming along with a number of presentations and talks; while Hall 28 is set to see the cosplay judging, film festival, and talks from some Very Special Guests…
In previous years, Julian Glover (the actor behind Game of Throne’s Grand Master Purcell, Indiana Jones’ nemesis in the Last Crusade, and Star Wars’ General Maximilian Veers), Miltos Yerolemou (Cypriot national and GoT master swordsman Syrio Forel), and comic book legend Neil Gibson have all headlined the event. This year, in addition to The Mountain and Gerald Home, the Con will be hosting Bulgarian animator and comic book creator Rumen Petkov (winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and the talent behind animated series such as Johnny Bravo and the Powerpuff Girls), and local painter and illustrator Chris Achilleos, who’s published several book collections and been commissioned by Warner Bros to do posters for Blade Runner and Supergirl.
“We’ve got more international artists than ever before,” Tony reveals, “as well as more local illustrators and the like in our Artists’ Alley. More original comics will be making their appearance than in any previous year, and we’ve even got two local video game studios involved: new companies who have been developing their own video games and will be giving an exclusive presentation of their product.”
But it’s not just about the inside – with so much space to play around with, the food court (which takes place in the open air) has expanded to include any number of food and drinks carts, vans and tables. And the outdoor festival will now include a massive stage, oodles of singing and dancing, and an exclusive concert (and album reveal) from local metal band Winter’s Verge. And there’s an after-party on Saturday night, Tony adds: “The halls will close down and you can stay there till the small hours – DJ shows, live bands, dance shows – we’re going to have everything!”
In other news, the massive new Gamers’ Hall is set to host three gaming stages (compèred by professional foreign commentators and live streamed throughout); the Vendors’ Hall will see tables and tables of handcrafted collectibles and the like; while the cosplay competition – a real highlight – now boasts cash prizes. “The Cosplay Competition is a huge draw at any con,” says Tony, “and we’re constantly stunned by the level we get here. These are people who spend a huge amount of time and money creating their costumes, so we thought a financial incentive would be very fitting. Plus the winner gets to attend the cosplay competition at the MCM London Con!”
While gamers will also be receiving cash prizes, there are a number of other rewards in the pipeline. One lucky ticket holder will be the recipient of a brand-new BB8 gaming pc (purpose-built for the event), while anyone who’s pre-ordered their ticket is automatically entered into the draw for the Guests’ Dinner – which may not sound that exciting until you discover it’s actually a two-person invitation to share a meal with all of CCC’s special guests (imagine the kudos of chatting to The Mountain over a meze!).
“Okay, it’s never easy putting together a whole con,” Tony concludes, “but the fact that the event has been so embraced by the fans is a big, big thing for us, and it helps us keep going. There’s a core team of nine who work all year round, another five who are instrumental in making the con a success, and then 50 or so volunteers – without whom we’d be totally lost – who are there from set up to take down during the two days of the event. We’re non-profit, so nobody gets paid and all the money we make goes straight back into the event. But it’s totally worth it: no matter what you’re into you can come to the event and find something you like, whether it be films, comics, collectibles, games, music, or just hanging out with friends. The whole premise of the event is that anyone can come in and find something they enjoy, and I think that’s what keeps us growing year on year: all ages, all backgrounds, all welcome!”
Cyprus Comic Con
10am to 8pm on September 2 and 3 at the State fair in Nicosia. Tickets cost between €5 (single day pass and €30 (VIP access). For more information and online bookings, visit http://cypruscomiccon.org/
