From Cosplays to Crowds: Tracing Comic Con Delhi’s rise to pop culture royalty

If you happened to wander into Delhi’s Dilli Haat in the winter of 2011, you might have stumbled upon a peculiar sight, something both modest and monumental: In the winter of 2011, a small but spirited gathering of comic book enthusiasts, a smattering of artists, and 13 cosplayers came together at Dilli Haat, drawn by a shared passion for comics, collectibles, and the uncharted promise of India’s first Comic Con. There was something electrifying and monumental about the meeting: a sense of community that would soon ignite into a cultural phenomenon. 

In 2011, the idea of an Indian Comic Con felt, well, foreign. San Diego and New York? Sure, those made sense. But Delhi? It wasn’t much of a spectacle, not yet at least. 

Jatin Varma, the founder and managing director of Comic Con India, reflects on those scrappy beginnings with nostalgia and astonishment. “I had no experience in event production,” he admits. “It was just me wanting to be the geek who held India’s first comic book convention.”

In hindsight, perhaps it was inevitable. The global tide of pop culture, from Marvel blockbusters to the global anime boom, was already lapping at India’s shores. Comic Con was simply the spark that ignited the inferno.

A bird’s eye view of Comic Con Delhi 2022
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

Today, it’s hard to overstate how far India’s first comic book convention has come, or how cleverly it’s evolved to stay relevant in a world increasingly dictated by viral trends and shifting cultural tides. As its 12th edition unfolds at the NSIC Grounds in Okhla on December 6, its scale and stakes are unrecognizable from those early days.

Cosplay, once a peculiar novelty, has clearly become the beating heart of the event. From the handful early participants, the event now draws thousands of cosplayers each year. For participants, it’s more than merely a hobby. “When you’re at a convention, you become a star,” Varma explains. “Everyone wants a picture with you. You connect with like-minded fans and really show your love for your favorite character.”

Cosplayer’s pose at the Delhi Comic Con 2023
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

With its meteoric rise has come inevitable commercialization. Sponsors like Maruti Suzuki, Crunchyroll, and Yamaha India bring financial muscle and immersive experiences to the table. But for Varma, the trick lies in balance.

“Commercialisation is inevitable as you grow, but I try to be honest about the approach — finding the right balance between fan service and sustainability, says Varma.” That balancing act is evident in every aspect of the event, from its partnerships to its programming.

The online streaming platform for anime, Crunchyroll, for instance, has tapped into the anime boom sweeping the country. “Anime was quietly massive and waiting to erupt,” says Akshat Sahu, Senior Director of Marketing at Crunchyroll. “The passion of these fans, their cosplay, and their love for characters showed us that India was ready to embrace anime in a big way.”

This year, Crunchyroll is pulling out all the stops with their Solo Leveling Dome that promises an immersive experience from the global manhwa phenomenon. There’s also a meet-and-greet with actor Rana Daggubati, who’s lending his voice to the Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu dubs of Solo Leveling ReAwakening. “It’s the perfect blend of storytelling and star power,” Sahu notes, and a step towards “making anime more engaging and accessible for all.”

Crunchyroll’s Solo Leveling Dome at Comic Con Delhi 2024
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

This year’s edition promises to be a sensory overload in the best possible way. From the moment you step onto the grounds, you’re swept into a whirlpool of sights and sounds: the flash of camera phones snapping cosplayers, the hum of gaming arenas, the chatter of fans swapping theories about their favorite franchises and everything else from live performances by stand-up icons like Rohan Joshi to gaming tournaments and even an exclusive Lord of the Rings experience by Warner Bros. India.

The international guests this year include New York Times bestseller, Ryan North, and Eisner-winning artist, Jason Loo. Indian creators like Indusverse and Bakarmax will hold court alongside beloved artists like Abhijeet Kini and Prasad Bhat, creating a space where established names and rising stars rub shoulders.

For attendees, Comic Con is a place where fandoms, no matter how niche, find their tribe. It’s a sanctuary for anyone who’s ever felt the need to explain why they’d line up for hours to meet a favorite illustrator or debate the finer points of One Piece lore.

Cosplayer’s pose at the Delhi Comic Con 2022
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

And it’s that very same sense of community remains the event’s secret weapon. The best marketing for Comic Con, Varma notes, doesn’t come from slick ad campaigns, rather from fans. Their vlogs, reels, and unfiltered reactions on social media have become the event’s most authentic form of marketing. “Nothing beats seeing someone have the time of their life,” Varma notes. “That excitement is contagious, and it tells our story better than any marketing campaign ever could.”

If the past thirteen years are any indication, Comic Con Delhi will continue to grow, evolve, and surprise. And whether you’re a veteran cosplayer, a first-time attendee, or a lifelong comic book lover, one thing is certain: the best is yet to come.

At NSIC Exhibition Ground Gate 6, Okhla Phase 3 Rd, NSIC Estate, Okhla Industrial Estate; December 6 to 8; 11am to 8pm; Book tickets on Insider ₹899 upward