NEW DELHI: The Second Comic Con India over the weekend in the capital saw a footfall of around 35,000 people, and the sales touched a figure of around Rs 5 million.

Comic Con India Founder Jatin Varma of Twenty Onwards Media told indiantelevision.com that the three-day event from 17 February saw around 20 book releases and several launches of merchandise.

For the first time, awards were given away in the world of cartoons and comics, and the eminent R K Laxman received the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Costume competition with participants dressed as their favourite comic book heroes were seen on all three days and prizes were given those who took part in the best Cosplay. The event showcased a huge range of heroes, both new and old, from Chacha Chaudhary to Suppandi.

There were around 50 stalls exhibiting, promoting and selling comics, graphic novels, merchandise etc., and workshops and interactive sessions were held every half hour at the dedicated stage area with exclusive launches of Comics titles, book signings, competitions and Cosplay (Costume contest). The stalls included some by foreign teaching institutions in animation technology.

?We try to bring Retailers, Publishers, Merchandisers, Writers, Artists, Illustrators etc. from within the Comic, Animation, Gaming, Movies/studios and related communities together and give them a common platform. The three-day event showcased 80 participants and several interactive sessions and talks by world renowned artists like Robert Crumb. We were extremely fortunate to have speakers - from the legends of the Indian Comics Industry, to veterans of the industry from outside the country this year,? added Jatin.

The pioneer of India‘s comic book revolution - Amar Chitra Katha - released one of their most-awaited titles ?Anant Pai ? Master StoryTeller? as a tribute to the ACK founder.
Fans of Walt Disney Pictures highly anticipated release of epic, action adventure film ?John Carter? had their first taste of the 3D film at the John Carter Fan Zone.

"This is for the first time that Marvel?s superhero Iron Man visited India to meet and greet Indian fans and we are overwhelmed by the response we have got from our fans in India,? said a Disney spokesperson.

NEW DELHI: Veteran satirical cartoonist RK Laxman received the first-ever Comic Con India Lifetime Achievement award on the eve of the Second Comic Con India Convention which began in the capital today.

The award was received by his daughter-in-law Usha Laxman who had flown in from Mumbai for the occasion.

This is the first time that awards have been instituted by any organisation in the field of comics, cartoons and animation. The Convention, organised by Twenty Onwards Media, will last for three days from 17 to 19 February.

Suhas Sunder received the award for best writer for the first issue of ?Odayan?, while Lalit Kumar Sharma received the best artist award for ?Jungle Book?.

?Nelson Mandela? by Campfire Graphic Novels received the Comic Book of the Year award, while ?Tinkle? Holiday Special received the Best Publication of the year award.

?Best Legion? received the award for best web comic, and Vimanika Comics received the Best Cover award for ?I am Kalki?.

The website flipkart.com was named best retailer and Variety Book Depot the best distributor for comics.

In addition, an unpublished work, ?Satya Police? by Gagandeep, was awarded a grant of Rs 50,000 and a publishing deal with Comic Con.

Comic Con India Founder Jatin Varma said the aim was to felicitate the best Indian Comics and Comics Creators, and give them the recognition they deserve, among their peers.

There are no awards for the Indian comics industry and he hopes these will serve as a catalyst to push more people into the industry.

The Awards aim to recognise the work that the professionals in India‘s Comics Industry do. It?s an attempt to bring into focus the novelty of this art form and acknowledge the efforts of numerous writers, artists and publishers in this field.

The jury consisted of Orijit Sen (Graphic Artist and Designer), Vaibhav Kumaresh (Animation Filmmaker) and the Comic Con India Core team.

Meanwhile, the Comic Con opened with presentations by several renowned artists and publishers. There are around 50 stalls including those by Animation schools from Vancouver in Canada and San Francisco in the United States. Around 80 participants from India and overseas are attending the three-day event, and the first day saw huge crowds around the stalls.

In addition, there were a large number of persons dressed as their favourite comic characters who moved around the Comic Con venue.

NEW DELHI: Over 80 participants and around 50 exhibitors are taking part in the second Comic Con India commencing in the capital tomorrow, with over 22 exclusive launches including book releases and the launch of the Indian Comic Journal.

Apart from the launch of the first-ever Comic Con Awards to felicitate the best new Indian Comics and Comics Creators in the industry, the meet will see around 30 sessions on different subjects relating to comics and animation.

Unlike the first event in February last year, the second meet will be spread over three days from 17 to 19 February at the Delhi Haat.

Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma told indiantelevision.com that the first Annual Indian Comics Convention had seen a turnout of about 15,000 with sales touching Rs 2.5 million while the traveling version, Comic Con Express Mumbai, in October saw a turnout of 12000 and sales touching Rs 3.5 million. He hopes the footfall will double in the second event. "We expect to see a healthy mix of families and young adults, based on our experience last year," he said.

There will be workshops and interactive sessions every half hour at the dedicated stage area. Exclusive launches of comics titles, more book signings, competitions and Cosplay will mark the various events. Cosplay will be bigger and better, with more prizes and more participants. There will be two different categories for Cosplay contests for kids as well as for adults separately.

The participants and exhibitors include those from the comics industry, publishing, merchandise, toys and games, animation and films, speakers ranging from the legends of the Indian comics Industry, to veterans of the industry from outside the country as well.

Awards are being given in categories like writer, artist, political cartoonist and graphic novel.

Varma said the aim was to felicitate the best Indian comics and comics creators, and give them the recognition they deserve, among their peers.

The Awards aim to recognise the work that the professionals in India‘s comics Industry do. It?s an attempt to bring into focus the novelty of this art form and acknowledging the efforts of numerous writers, artists and publishers in this field.
Awards are being presented in the following categories: best graphic novel/comic book of the year - (For Comic Book Series Only One Issue Is Eligible To Enter); best publication for children of the year; best webcomic; best writer - (Includes Adaptations); best artist, best cover - (Includes Illustrated Published Covers Of Publications Of Any Genre), and best political cartoon of the year.

In addition, there is a Lifetime Achievement award and a Comic Con India grant for best unpublished work - eligible for artists and artist-writer teams. Winners will receive a Rs 50,000 grant towards completion of the project and a publishing dealing with Comic Con India.

Other events will include a costume play with people dressed as their favourite comic characters and launch of Anand Pai?s Amar Chitra Katha by his wife Lalitha Pai.