• ‘I’ve been really excited to meet the international cosplayers and actors,’ one visitor says
• Event comes after Super-Con and K-Con were held in the Kingdom earlier in the year

Nada Jan

JEDDAH: Comic-Con 2022 got underway at the Jeddah International Exhibition and Convention Center on Thursday.

The event, which is a must for all fans of comic books, superheroes and anime, follows the staging of Super-Con and K-Con in the Kingdom earlier in the year.

The exhibition features a host of different areas where visitors can meet celebrities, shop for the latest products and play board games. There are also live drawing stands, a music center and a photo booth, while outside there are shows, performances and food and drink stalls.

Visitor Sondos Saferaldeen, 27, said she had been looking forward to the event since the dates were announced in August.

“I have been really busy since the announcement, so I had just one day to prepare my costume. But I gave it my all so I could be here and enjoy my time,” she said.

Ghazal Rozi, 17, was equally excited to be at the show.

“It’s a really great comeback for Comic-Con following the slump the world has been through,” she said.

“I’ve been really excited to meet the international cosplayers and actors. And, to be honest, to buy new figures to add to my collections.”

Several manufacturers and retailers sought to stoke the excitement ahead of the exhibition by releasing videos and images of their latest products on social media.

Omar Alayoubi, who owns Shonen Store, an online shop selling anime products, told Arab News that exhibiting at Comic-Con 2022 was the first time he had ever put his stock on physical display.

The 25-year-old from Madinah, who has more than 31,000 followers on Instagram, said he opened his business eight years ago out of a passion for collecting anime figures.

He attributed his success to his use of Japanese agents who track down the hottest products.

“They cover the pop-up stores and hot spot cafes to know the latest and most trendy products … then buy them and ship them to me here in the Kingdom,” he said.

He said his store offered everything from figures and dolls, to manga, art books and all things anime-related, including rare and limited editions.

Comic-Con 2022 runs until Saturday.