If you love comics, games, and Nigerian entertainment, then you would absolutely enjoy the Lagos comic con. Being the 10th anniversary of the first Comic Con to hold in Africa, it was something of a big deal. Well organized, fun-filled, but nothing too grand. I went there expecting big reveals from big-name studios; I was disappointed.
Upon entering the venue at the popular Landmark Events Center, you are struck by the beautiful atmosphere. The buzzing crowd, the many pockets of activity and reunions, the bright colours.
The convention showcased different sessions that appealed to the newly initiated, hardcore enthusiasts, fun lovers, and those who just came to buy comics. There was something for all lovers of comics and it was a comfortable space to have conversations about stories, artworks, artists and writers. It was beautiful how much was on display and how much was offered to all that came with a ticket. Even if you were working with a small budget, the Lagos Comic Con found a way to entertain for hours.
As with any comic con, the area was occupied by many book stands. Various studios came with their best work to sell to potential buyers, while some others showed off their products merely to create awareness. Most of the big names in the Nigerian industry were there, like the headline sponsor, Rapture.io, and others like Kugali, Magic Carpet Studios, SM Comics Nigeria, and others. The stands were closely packed, so you always had comics in your face to the point where it made walking around a difficult endeavour.
It was a well-attended convention, and it was a pleasant surprise to find a bunch of new names in what had hitherto been a close-knit community. It wasn’t a massive crowd by any means, but moving through tight spaces became a hassle at the crowd’s peak. The best part, however, was being in the presence of many like-minded people. From gamers to cosplayers, to folks only interested in debating superheroes. The cosplay in the convention was front and centre for those with a regular ticket. There was a competition where the audience got to vote for their favourite artist and it was great watching all the professionals show up after putting the time and effort into their costumes. Sadly, there wasn’t as much cosplay as a huge fan such as myself could hope for. Not a lot of people showed up repping their favourite fictional characters and most of the ones that did had a competition in mind. Nigerian/African characters should be the soul of Lagos Comic Con seeing as giving African comics a voice is part of the reasons this event was set up. That way, newcomers would be immediately introduced to the heroes, heroines and villains; and this would help create a sense of pride amongst the creators and fans. Two cosplayers showed up as native characters though; and as applaudable, as that is, it seems that they came solely to promote their studio and not just for fun. A lot of thought was put into their design and they did put on a show. Overall, the cosplayers made the effort to come out as living works of art — from a Jedi to a Samurai, Harley Quinn, Mario brothers, a Vampire, to Sandman.
Lagos Comic Con had other sessions: one for film and another for animation. These had various panels with experts that shed some light on what it is like being in this industry. For anyone interested in how the industry works, the panels were a necessity. There was a ton of knowledge imparted and ample opportunity to network. Getting access to those sessions costs more, with tickets going upwards of two thousand naira. Full VVIP access to the event and both stands was at ten thousand. Might be a bit pricey for unhindered access, but it was worth it. I mean, it came with a special lounge. For most, the main event was just the comics and cosplay, which is just enough. The best part is that a regular ticket (priced at one thousand naira) gave access to games.
The games section was sponsored by Gamr, an African company focused primarily on Esports and they delivered. The sad part is that only FIFA, a football game made by Electronic Arts (EA) and an older version of E-football by Konami were available. If you don’t like football at all, then there was nothing for you here. Seeing as this was the only stand with consoles (PlayStation five), most gamers had to wait before they had a chance. There was a section for Virtual Reality and Laser Tag for all those interested in such.
I was excited about Nigerian studios who came to show off their games. Jaru’s Journey from Griot Studio got some love and attention as it was promoted with a board game and a great on-stage performance. They brought their best to take their game to the forefront, and it delivered. Events like these shouldn’t be missed because they are a great opportunity to interact with the fans and update them on what is cooking.
Which brings us to literal cooking! Of course, no convention would be complete without food. There were food stands with a small section given to them. Some of them took the market to their customers, carrying their products, while others waited for the customers to come to them. It wasn’t Bole Festival, so no one was expecting a wide variety of food items, but out of the many stands there, there was something for all hungry bellies.
The tenth anniversary of the Lagos Comic Con was a pleasant experience, and it was fun for all those who knew what to expect. It isn’t quite at its best but it has been 10 years and it shows that the convention is being consistent and there’s visible progress. Local comics, game creators and animators being given more room to express themselves was a delight to watch. Hopefully, that’s improved on next year!
Akpoebi Tno Daniel Dan-Asisah is a content creator with over four years of experience in comics, narrative design, game writing, and screenwriting.
When he is not trawling the internet for new worlds to explore, he can be found spending time with his ever-trusty Xbox. He writes from Lagos.
