In toon: Over 5,000 throng city’s first comic convention

Dressed in his mother’s harem pants, his father’s over-sized kurta and a hand-made pirate hat, six-foot-tall Daanish Anant, 22, would ordinarily attract only bewildered stares.

Dressed in his mother’s harem pants, his father’s over-sized kurta and a hand-made pirate hat, six-foot-tall Daanish Anant, 22, would ordinarily attract only bewildered stares.

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But his elaborate Captain Jack Sparrow (a character from the film Pirates of the Caribbean) costume was greatly appreciated at Comic Con Express Mumbai, the city’s first comic book convention, held at the World Trade Centre, Cuffe Parade, on Saturday.

“I went to the Comic Con held in New Delhi dressed as Jafaar from Alladin and won a prize. Here, complete strangers have been trying to catch a glimpse of me and even taking photographs with me,” said Anant, production assistant in a music channel.

Anant was among the over 5,000 comic-book enthusiasts who attended the convention, which aims to celebrate the art of illustrated media and related industries. The two-day convention has more than 60 participants who sell, create, or promote comics and related merchandise, book launches, and workshops.

Comic Con India held its first event in New Delhi in February, and decided to take it to other Indian metros under the name Comic Con Express.

“Our aim is to promote Indian talent in the field of comics and graphic novels. The comic scene in India is growing, and we received a lot of enthusiastic participation from the industry, particularly from stalwarts such as Amar Chitra Katha,” said Jatin Varma, founder, Comic Con India.