Inaugural Hong Kong Comic Con draws massive crowds and global vendors

Pop culture fans packed the inaugural Hong Kong edition of Comic Con, an exhibition featuring international and local animated figures and products, fuelling hopes among digital entertainment vendors that business will be strong over the three-day event that ends on Sunday.

Giant statues of characters from Japanese hits such as Dragon Ball and One Piece dominated the crowded show floor at the Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday.

Hollywood stars Mads Mikkelsen, Giancarlo Esposito and Christopher Lloyd are headlining the event. Fan-focused attractions on the show floor include pop culture exhibitions, an artist alley featuring original comic art, a cosplayer zone and displays of rare collectibles and convention-exclusive merchandise.

The wide range of booths and international elements attracted residents such as Chicago transplant Jeff Floro, who spent three hours dressing up in costumes from the Spider-Man universe with his family.

The father added that they spent about HK$700 (US$89) on the costumes and set aside another HK$800 to shop for merchandise.

“So we did a lot of DIY cosplay already. We’re happy to do a Comic Con,” Floro said.