Hyderabad: It was a fun weekend of cosplay and games for the city as the eighth edition of Comic Con came to an end on Sunday. First-time cosplayers stole the spotlight this year, filling the halls of the city’s Hitex Exhibition Centre with their stunning costumes.
Cosplay, far beyond mere dress-up, is about embodying favourite fictional personas. For Brundavani Bonagiri from IACG Multimedia College, the event was a chance to bring Smiling Li from the Chinese series Dragon Hunter to life. “It took me a month to make the costume. I bought the black fabric, had it tailored, and painted it myself for added details. My friends and teachers helped me throughout,” Brundavani shared.
FICTION MEETS REALITY
From Rocket Raccoon to a towering Grim Reaper and a giant Space Marine from Warhammer 40,000, the novices dazzled on stage. For many, the journey to perfection was no small feat.
Using the platform for creative endeavours, 44 students from IACG Multimedia College entered the cosplay arena this year. Among them was Alok Vishwakarma, who cosplayed as the Monkey King from the video game Black Myth: Wukong.
“This is my second time at Comic Con. It took over a month and a team of 15-20 people to craft the costume,” said Alok, who clinched the Hyderabad Comic Con Cosplay Contest title on Friday.
Shravani M, who cosplayed as Groot, endured challenges to make her vision a reality. “It took me 40 days to bring the character to life. I worked on the costume for two hours daily, using cardboard painted brown and green to give it a tree-like appearance,” she said, happily posing despite needing help to move around.
DONNING MANY HATS
First-time cosplayer Shashank debuted as a Grim Reaper, navigating on meter-high platform shoes with an imposing scythe, while techie Raghav Babu lived out childhood dreams by donning a Spider-Man suit. “Putting it on felt surreal. It’s amazing how a costume makes you feel like a hero,” Raghav said.
Pavan Kumar Reddy, a veteran cosplayer since 2015, displayed his versatility by embodying characters like Predator, Batman, and Deadpool. At 42, he also runs a costume rental business, sharing his passion with others.
“Every year we support students to cosplay at Comic Con. When they go through that, they know how to make things unfold. They know how to get the result with what they have. We taught them 3D design and how to work with different materials for the costumes,” says Chaitanya, who is IACG’s Multimedia Academic Manager and used to teach VFX at the college.
PLATFORM FOR ARTISTS
This year’s Comic Con also featured a diverse line-up of Indian and international artists who offered fans a glimpse into the creative processes behind the visuals defining the comic world.
Josh Blaylock, international artist and founder of Devil’s Due Studios, made his debut in India at the event. “It’s really exciting and wonderful. This is my first visit not only to Hyderabad but to India,” said Blaylock, known for relaunching GI Joe, a cult classic for 1980s action fans.
Lilia Jose and Roshan K, a Kochi-based couple, showcased their handmade bag label, LiloRosh. Their standout creation, the ‘Artie’ artist satchel, has gained admiration from artists worldwide, including Academy Award-nominated director Aaron Blaise.
The idea began when Roshan, a comic book artist, struggled to find an affordable bag for his tools. “I asked my wife Lilia, a fashion designer, for help. She learned how to make bags and created one for me. Encouraged by friends and colleagues, we officially launched LiloRosh,” said Roshan.
The three-day extravaganza also featured creators like Indusverse, Yali Dreams Creations, Prasad Bhat (Graphicurry), Garbage Bin, Corporate Comics, Tadam Gyadu, Happy Fluff, and many more.
STALLS UNLEASH MAGIC
With around 53 stalls, four zones and 17 guests, the three-day pop culture extravaganza opened its doors to a world of fantasy. While Amar Chitra Katha provided a touch of nostalgia, Penguin Random House India showcased a wide range of graphic novels and comics, much to the delight of comic book lovers.
Echoing the excitement of a comic lover, 24-year-old Rohan V from the city said: “Comic Con highlights the vibrant world of comics. It’s a place where fans pour out their passion, creators share their artistry, and the magic behind the scenes comes to life, making our love for comics even stronger.”
Cosplay, far beyond mere dress-up, is about embodying favourite fictional personas. For Brundavani Bonagiri from IACG Multimedia College, the event was a chance to bring Smiling Li from the Chinese series Dragon Hunter to life. “It took me a month to make the costume. I bought the black fabric, had it tailored, and painted it myself for added details. My friends and teachers helped me throughout,” Brundavani shared.
FICTION MEETS REALITY
From Rocket Raccoon to a towering Grim Reaper and a giant Space Marine from Warhammer 40,000, the novices dazzled on stage. For many, the journey to perfection was no small feat.
Using the platform for creative endeavours, 44 students from IACG Multimedia College entered the cosplay arena this year. Among them was Alok Vishwakarma, who cosplayed as the Monkey King from the video game Black Myth: Wukong.
“This is my second time at Comic Con. It took over a month and a team of 15-20 people to craft the costume,” said Alok, who clinched the Hyderabad Comic Con Cosplay Contest title on Friday.
Shravani M, who cosplayed as Groot, endured challenges to make her vision a reality. “It took me 40 days to bring the character to life. I worked on the costume for two hours daily, using cardboard painted brown and green to give it a tree-like appearance,” she said, happily posing despite needing help to move around.
DONNING MANY HATS
First-time cosplayer Shashank debuted as a Grim Reaper, navigating on meter-high platform shoes with an imposing scythe, while techie Raghav Babu lived out childhood dreams by donning a Spider-Man suit. “Putting it on felt surreal. It’s amazing how a costume makes you feel like a hero,” Raghav said.
Pavan Kumar Reddy, a veteran cosplayer since 2015, displayed his versatility by embodying characters like Predator, Batman, and Deadpool. At 42, he also runs a costume rental business, sharing his passion with others.
“Every year we support students to cosplay at Comic Con. When they go through that, they know how to make things unfold. They know how to get the result with what they have. We taught them 3D design and how to work with different materials for the costumes,” says Chaitanya, who is IACG’s Multimedia Academic Manager and used to teach VFX at the college.
PLATFORM FOR ARTISTS
This year’s Comic Con also featured a diverse line-up of Indian and international artists who offered fans a glimpse into the creative processes behind the visuals defining the comic world.
Josh Blaylock, international artist and founder of Devil’s Due Studios, made his debut in India at the event. “It’s really exciting and wonderful. This is my first visit not only to Hyderabad but to India,” said Blaylock, known for relaunching GI Joe, a cult classic for 1980s action fans.
Lilia Jose and Roshan K, a Kochi-based couple, showcased their handmade bag label, LiloRosh. Their standout creation, the ‘Artie’ artist satchel, has gained admiration from artists worldwide, including Academy Award-nominated director Aaron Blaise.
The idea began when Roshan, a comic book artist, struggled to find an affordable bag for his tools. “I asked my wife Lilia, a fashion designer, for help. She learned how to make bags and created one for me. Encouraged by friends and colleagues, we officially launched LiloRosh,” said Roshan.
The three-day extravaganza also featured creators like Indusverse, Yali Dreams Creations, Prasad Bhat (Graphicurry), Garbage Bin, Corporate Comics, Tadam Gyadu, Happy Fluff, and many more.
STALLS UNLEASH MAGIC
With around 53 stalls, four zones and 17 guests, the three-day pop culture extravaganza opened its doors to a world of fantasy. While Amar Chitra Katha provided a touch of nostalgia, Penguin Random House India showcased a wide range of graphic novels and comics, much to the delight of comic book lovers.
Echoing the excitement of a comic lover, 24-year-old Rohan V from the city said: “Comic Con highlights the vibrant world of comics. It’s a place where fans pour out their passion, creators share their artistry, and the magic behind the scenes comes to life, making our love for comics even stronger.”
