A spectacular fiesta of superheroes

The second edition of Bahrain Comic Con 2019 has been dubbed a grand success following an increase in attendees, exhibitors and participants as the two-day convention welcomed locals and expats who flocked to the Bahrain International Circuit to indulge in multi-genre entertainment. “More than 16,000 visitors in a span of two days is a great turnout, these kinds of events help place Bahrain on the map and increases the Kingdom’s recognition as an entertainment hub,” revealed organiser Khalid Bukhari of Dallah Promotions and Events.

Started as an international event in California in 1970 and travelling across major cities every year Comic-Con is a popular pop culture convention that has gained global recognition. Last year witnessed the first ever Bahrain Comic Con which attracted masses from across the Kingdom making the 2019 convention a much-anticipated event. “As compared to last year, this year there is more preparation in terms of the Comic-Con event itself and our museum. The features of Comic-Con and the increase in activities are more. The attendees have definitely increased and are well handled this year,” stated Richard Martin, Exhibitor in charge of the Collectibles Museum.

One of the four zones, the Gaming Arena notably received the most enthusiasts as compared the Exhibitors Zone, Cinema Hall, and Studio Hall. “Personally for the gaming section this year is more organised and more appealing for gamers, we saw a lot of tournaments improving in terms of rules and structure of the area,” said Mohammed Nasser, Co-owner of Respawn Gaming Centre. “There is more emphasis on not only the players but how one can view the games being played. For us (Gaming Section) one major concern is when people are playing a game there are many spectators and this year the facility to comfortably play and also watch was incorporated in every station,” he added.

The venue instigated a sense of pride in the staff of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 as numerous people gathered to know more about the international event set to take place at the same venue in a matter of weeks. “This year our Formula One stand at Comic-Con has been a great success as compared to last year. We have sold a lot of merchandise and Formula 1 tickets. We had many people approaching us enquiring about the F1 and purchasing tickets. It is exciting to see the interest,” revealed Zainab Ali, salesperson at the Bahrain 2019 F1 stand.

The effect of the 2018 convention not only resulted in many exhibitors and artists participating for the second time in a row but also welcomed many first-timers. “I attended the 2018 Comic-Con as a visitor and I really loved everything about it, so I decided to make it a point that I participate this year and showcase my art,” said Maram Alghannam, illustrator for Pink Sheep, a social media platform where she showcases her hobbies. “It is very nice and everyone is extremely friendly and lovely. I’m from Saudi Arabia and meeting the local people here is wonderful as they are very welcoming,” she added.

Apart from the entertainment set up, the celebrity line up gained a vast audience as it included celebrity David Harbour who plays Jim Hopper in the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things as well as portraying Hellboy in the 2019 Hellboy movie. Alison Sudol who plays Queenie Goldstein in the Fantastic Beasts movie franchise was next in the celebrity line up followed by Pom Klementieff, popularly known for her role as Mantis in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and in Avengers: Infinity War.

“I got to meet all three celebrities and though 2019 has just begun this is definitely going to be the highlight of my year,” exclaimed Nassir Ali Abdulla clad in a Spiderman suit. “As a marvel fan, it was incredible to not only attend Pom Klementieff’s Q and A but also meet her and get her autograph. I think the celebrity line up is perfect in connection to the current popular movie and series franchises. Can’t wait for 2020 Comic-Con,” added the star-struck fan.