Thousands of fans cheered and clicked pictures with their favorite comic characters Saturday at India's annual comic book fest at a sprawling fairground in southeast New Delhi.
The fifth Delhi Comic Con had something for everyone who attended on this mild, wintry day. Die-hard fans came dressed as their favorite comic characters. Others crowded the more than 200 stalls selling comic books, graphic novels and merchandise on cartoon characters.
There was real live entertainment, as well.
Crowds of college students and young people cheered and roared as Kristian Nairn, best known for his role as Hodor in "Game of Thrones," ascended a stage and addressed them. Nairn was mobbed as eager fans pushed to get themselves clicked with the star of the popular television series.
Huge crowds lined up for a shot at the arcade game "Star Wars: Battle Pods," which was making its appearance just weeks before the worldwide release of the latest film in the space adventure series.
The single-seater pod lets the gamer play out space flight sequences from the Star Wars trilogy, accompanied by the feeling of acceleration, surround sound acoustics and vibrating seats.
Indian mythological heroes, dressed in gaudy costumes with bejeweled crowns and sparkly clothes, added to the carnival atmosphere, ready to oblige fans with an autograph, a selfie or a photograph.
Indian comics have seen a revival in the last decade thanks to new funding and technologies for printing, animation, digitizing and distribution.
Jatin Varma, the founder of Comic Con India, said the number of people attending the New Delhi event grows each year. He said he expected more than 40,000 people to attend the three-day fest.
Gaurav Bharadwaj, a 42-year-old New Delhi resident who came to the event with his wife and 4-year-old son, said he was surprised at the huge crowds.
Both father and son sported Superman T-shirts and Batman masks.
"Everywhere I turn, I run into a Batman or a Superman or a Spiderman. I never realized there were so many fans in Delhi alone," Bharadwaj said.
(AP)
Kristian Nairn, best known for his role as Hodor in Game Of Thrones, speaks to fans at Delhi Comic Con in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Nairn was mobbed as eager fans pushed to get themselves clicked with the star of the popular television series. The fifth Delhi Comic Con had something for everyone who attended on this mild wintry day.
Fans dressed as comic characters, Akane, left, and Satoru, right, from the animated series Breakers, pose for photographs with another dressed as the Joker, at the Delhi Comic Con in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Die-hard fans came dressed as their favorite comic characters. Others crowded the more than 200 stalls selling comic books, graphic novels and merchandise on cartoon characters.
Fans cheer as Kristian Nairn, best known for his role as Hodor in Game Of Thrones, arrives on stage at the Delhi Comic Con in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Nairn was mobbed as eager fans pushed to get themselves clicked with the star of the popular television series. The fifth Delhi Comic Con had something for everyone who attended on this mild wintry day.
Gaurav Bharadwaj, wearing a Spiderman's mask, poses with his wife Aditi and their son Aarav, wearing a Batman mask, at the Delhi Comic Con in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Bharadwaj, a 42-year-old New Delhi resident who came to the event with his wife and 4-year-old son, said he was surprised at the huge crowds.The fifth Delhi Comic Con had something for everyone who attended on this mild, wintry day.
A young fan, wearing a Catwoman mask, poses for a photograph next to a woman dressed as Lulu from "League of Legends" at Delhi Comic Con in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Thousands of fans cheered and clicked pictures with their favorite comic characters at India's annual comic book fest Saturday at a sprawling fair ground in southeast New Delhi.
Fans dressed as their favorite comic characters reenact a scene at the Delhi Comic Con in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Thousands of fans cheered and clicked pictures with their favorite comic characters at India's annual comic book fest Saturday at a sprawling fair ground in southeast New Delhi.
A fan dressed as Kristian Nairn, best known for his role as Hodor in Game Of Thrones, pushes a wheelbarrow carrying another fan at Delhi Comic Con in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. Thousands of fans cheered and clicked pictures with their favorite comic characters at India's annual comic book fest Saturday at a sprawling fair ground in southeast New Delhi.
Fans stand in a queue for a shot at the arcade game “Star Wars: Battle Pods,” just weeks before the worldwide release of the latest film in the space adventure series, at the Delhi Comic Con in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015. The single-seater pod lets the gamer play out space flight sequences from the Star Wars trilogy, accompanied by the feeling of acceleration, surround sound acoustics and vibrating seats.