It may have been only the second ever Comic Con Cape Town, but it feels safe to say that 2024’s pop culture celebration will be remembered as an outlier due to its five-day duration, running from 27 April to 1 May. Not even the wold’s biggest geeky gatherings – we’re talking the likes of San Diego Comic-Con and CCXP – are open to the public for more than four days. So you really can’t escape talking about it.
The Comic Con Cape Town organisers have already said that five days will likely never happen again; that it stemmed from how the April – May public holidays (particularly Freedom Day, 27 April) fell so awkwardly. We won’t be in a similar situation for the next six years or so. Unofficial word on the street is that it was the sponsors who were pushing for as long a con as possible due to their investment. Either way, with the event behind us now, Comic Con Cape Town 2024’s unusual length did appear to have a wide-ranging impact.
Disregarding it for a moment, though, Comic Con Cape Town 2024 was a big level up over its inaugural predecessor. We’re talking bigger name guests (like Sean Gunn, Veronica Taylor, South African-born stars Lesley-Ann Brandt and Sharlto Copley, plus former DC Comics head Dan Didio); a superb, lively and very popular gaming section; a packed calendar of stage events, including some surprises; a thriving tabletop area; and the addition of a KidsCon that actually ended up being more than a glorified toy store. While Toys R Us and its partners dominated the space set aside for kids, there were still activities like cookie decorating, LEGO stations, and a welcome colouring-in and bean bag zone courtesy of Multichoice.
KidsCon is one example of organisers Mogull Media, operating under licence from Reed Exhibitions, listening to feedback and implementing improvements since the first con. Another welcome change this year was the shifting of the Artists Alley stage, dedicated home to the comic creator panels, to the far side of the Pop Culture Hall, away from the overwhelming noise of the Main Stage. This created a more intimate space where it was easier to listen and engage with the knowledgeable professionals.
From a logistics standpoint, hosting CCCT at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) meant that was always fast and easy to get a coffee, Coke, sandwich or other quick snack via the decent in-house catering, even if the queues for the outside food trucks were long. Less successful was the parking situation and early, unthinking or dismissive attitudes towards the mobility-challenged from venue staff. A surprise midday rain storm on the first day also drenched the outside tables and chairs. Though no one’s fault, it did reveal a shortage of seating, as attendees were forced to rest on the floor.
That situation was also a sign of how busy Comic Con Cape Town was this year. The opening Saturday and Sunday were sold out long before the event, and closing day Wednesday started with just a hundred or so tickets available at the door before they too were gone. CTICC 2 is a smaller space than Johannesburg’s Expo Centre, where big brother event Comic Con Africa takes place, and you definitely felt the crush during peak periods, especially in the downstairs Pop Culture Hall 1.
That was great for vendors but less appealing for ticket holders. Browsing and shopping was far more pleasant on the convention’s Monday and Tuesday – work days with later event hours (11am to 8pm, as opposed to the traditional 9am to 6pm) to accommodate people coming from school or the office. That said, if your first ever CCCT was on those days, which hovered around 50-60% tickets sold, you definitely weren’t getting the full con experience.
The organisers tried something new, theming the two days as a Horror and Family Pyjama Party respectively. The scarefest definitely drew people in. However, if you were hoping to see the big name international guests (or pursue photos with cosplayers portraying your favourite characters), they were most absent, taking a break before returning on the Wednesday… while some were already long gone.
To be fair, in their social posts for the event, CCCT 2024 was always very clear about what days celebrities would be present, and convention regulars know to keep an eye on the Comic Con app and plan their attendance accordingly. For example, at Comic Con Africa 2023, John Barrowman had only one single main stage slot over the course of four days. Unaware of this typical situation, though, newcomers and casual attendees of Comic Con Cape Town 2024 had a higher chance of disappointment if they attended on a workday.
At the same time, the Monday and Tuesday created a strange gap that, speaking to some crafters in Artist Alley, was deathly quiet and very low on sales in comparison to the other days. Some felt it wasn’t worth their time. This sentiment was shared in advance by retailers who would need to travel to Cape Town from elsewhere in the country, and couldn’t afford Mother City accommodation, or hiring remote staff, for such a lengthy period. Just in case you were wondering why some convention stalwarts were absent.
It circles around to Comic Con Cape Town 2024’s unprecedented five-day length again. It was just too long. Which is a pity because this year’s gathering was well-thought-out, very busy and brought its A-game on the back of feedback.
Check out the cosplay of Comic Con Cape Town 2024 here.
All images in this article credited to Comic Con Cape Town and photographer Matthew Ashley
