13th Edition of Comic Con Malta this weekend
As we reach the end of October, the pop culture event of the year returns for another year. This weekend on Saturday 28 October and Sunday 29 October, the 13th edition of Comic Con Malta since 2009 will be held at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali.
The Malta Comic Con is an all-encompassing two-day celebration of comic books, movies, TV shows, video games, role-playing, anime, cosplay, and pretty much anything associated with comic/fan culture. According to Samantha Abela, Malta Comic Con’s co-organiser and cosplay presenter, this year’s convention is set to “take over more space at MFCC for a bigger event than we’ve held before”. Here’s a look at what visitors can expect this weekend.
Firstly, take a deep dive into the comic book realm and browse through aisles filled with publishers, writers, and artists displaying their most recent works. From rare copies to graphic novels, there will be plenty of gems to discover. And why stop at the finished product? Get a close look as artists transform their ideas into reality in front of your eyes with interactive demos and live sketches. But, if you’re really looking for something to take home with you, visit the Geek Marketplace for an assortment of merchandise, collectibles, and art prints so unique you’ll probably want to leave some extra space in your bag (or just take another one all together).
Gaming has occupied such a prominent space in culture over the past decade, so it comes to no surprise that Comic Cons all around the world embrace both tabletop games and video games more and more as the years go by. As for Comic Con Malta, attendees will be able challenge one another to nail-biting competitions. If you’d prefer something more lowkey, there will be a free play gaming area with table-top and console gaming tournaments, courtesy of Nintendo Gamers Malta with Pokémon in collaboration with Super Smash Bros.
Now, Halloween isn’t the only end-of-October event people get dressed up in costumes and put on questionable makeup for. Actually, Comic Con is well-known for the amount of cosplayers it attracts. It’s an opportunity for devoted fans to transform themselves into their favourite characters, but what truly makes it special is that many of them create their own costumes from scratch! You can make some memories and have your photo taken at a dedicated area in front of “a fantasy and sci-fi backdrop with forests and castles”, said Abela. There’s even a cosplay competition assessed by international judges, she continued, and anyone can sign up for it on the spot this year.
Furthermore, panels are a Comic Con staple. Every year, the organisers assemble diverse writers, actors, artists, industry pros, and more of the minds behind the brilliant pieces of media we consume. The panels also provide a platform for fans to interact with these creators, satisfy curiosities, get industry insights, and generally learn more about their favourite stories and characters in an organised setting. Among the notable names this year is Raymond Cruz, who’s best known for his breakout role as L.A detective Julio Sanchez in ‘The Closer’ (2005), and even more so for his memorable performance as temperamental drug lord Tuco Salamanca in the 2008 hit series ‘Breaking Bad’. A full list of the guests can be found here.
Music lovers can enjoy a 30-minute set at 6 pm on both days by reputable singers Shana Woods, Roger Tirazona and Rita Pace, who’ll be performing various animé TV hits that will definitely trigger a wave of nostalgia for those who grew up on 80’s and 90’s Italian TV. What’s more, there will be a ‘Music Tombola’, where you can put your skills to the test and see how well you can deduce famous pop culture songs/soundtracks from snippets.
The event will last from 11 am to 7 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, a full programme can be found here. Currently, tickets are available at the door or any of the following outlets; Eden Cinemas, Pandora’s Box, Game Breaker, Gamers Plus, Gamers Malta, Planet Consoles, Forbidden Power, and Solo Optical.
Contrary to popular belief, the convention isn’t for any particular age group, with content targeted towards a mature audience as well as children, respectively. So, get your tickets and get ready to embrace your inner geek, cause there’s no reason to miss out on this amazing weekend!
