Happy Comic Con Cape Town Eve! The day before the Mother City’s second-ever Comic Con experience – from the organisers behind sibling Johannesburg event Comic Con Africa, in conjunction with FanCon Cape Town Comic Con. We’ve already covered how CCCT 2024 is distinguishing itself from its previous, inaugural event. Today we’re pinpointing the attractions and stage activities we’re most excited for.

That said, you’re encouraged to check out the daily programme here (or on the app), which covers the con’s various zones and offerings, including Main Stage, Pop Culture, Gaming, Artist Alley, Tabletop Gaming and the After Dark Events. You can also check out attraction snapshots here: Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

As a reminder, Comic Con Cape Town is taking place this year over five days, from 27 April to 1 May, at CTICC 2. We hope you have your tickets because Saturday and Sunday are already sold out, along with the five-day passes. On days that aren’t sold out, you can get tickets at the door, although you can also prebook them through Howler. Day passes are R190 per person, and kids under 5 enter free.

International guests

Comic Con Cape Town 2024 has enjoyed a big step up in terms of celebrity guests making an appearance. You can find a rundown of all of them here, but the standouts include Guardians of the Galaxy star Sean Gunn and Pokémon voice actress Veronica Taylor.

Then there are the South African stars who have made it big on the international stage. For the first time, local fans will be able to see Lucifer actress Lesley-Ann Brandt at one of our cons, and the same goes for the last-minute addition of District Nine and The A-Team’s Sharlto Copley. Copley will be appearing on the Spotlight Session for new over-the-top action movie Boy Kills World, which is happening on the Main Stage at 4pm on Saturday. So will his co-star, Warrior actor Andrew Koji.

Barring Copley and Koji, paid photograph and autograph opportunities (starting at R300) are available with these celebrity guests through Howler.

Cosplay

South African cosplayers have limited opportunity to strut their stuff in public, so when the occasion comes around, they really bring their A-game. In addition to daily casual cosplay competitions (on the Main Stage), Comic Con Cape Town 2024 is home to two “serious” contests, with big rewards.

First up is the World Cosplay Summit South African Qualifiers, on Sunday at 3pm on the Main Stage. This event puts emphasis on the “play” part of cosplay, as duos must perform a scene from a piece of Japanese pop culture. Winners will represent South Africa alongside 30+ countries at the WCS finals, held in Japan. Then, on the Wednesday of CCCT 2024, at 2pm on the Main Stage, there’s the Comic Con Cape Town Regional Cosplay Championships, where the overall winner gets a fast pass to the continental finals at Comic Con Africa later this year.

Of course, cosplay isn’t just about competition. The big thrill for con attendees is seeing your favourite characters brought to life. Get photos of or with your faves, but remember to always ask permission beforehand, respect the cosplayer’s response, and do not touch them without asking. Oh, and don’t forget that you can join in the fun by dressing up too.

One Piece Cast Panels

If you loved Netflix’s live-action One Piece adaptation (we were blown away), you’ll want to check out the special cast interview sessions happening on the Main Stage on Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday. Comic Con Cape Town 2024 has managed to assemble most of the South African actors who had key supporting roles in Season 1 of this hit anime adaptation, which was shot in the Western Cape. This includes the likes of Aidan Scott (Helmeppo), Alex Maniatis (Kuro), Langley Kirkwood (Axe Hand Morgan), Chioma Umeala (Nojiko), Celeste Loots (Kaya), and many more.

In this candid panel discussion, the cast will share insights into their character portrayals, reveal behind-the-scenes stories, and answer questions from the audience.

Artist Alley

Artist Alley, on Level 1, is not only a great way to support local creators, crafters and small businesses. You can pick up unique original artwork, jewellery, clothing and other hand-made items from the 120+ vendors who’ll be displaying their work at Comic Con cape Town 2024. While Artist Alley has its own dedicated stage, we’ll be checking out a special launch for several new South African comic books on the Main Stage on Sunday at 4:20pm.

International comic creators

To be honest, we’re a little sad that there is only one notable woman comic creator briefly taking part in Comic Con Cape Town 2024 – Kwezi and Moon Girl’s Mohale Mashigo – but the line-up is otherwise impressive in terms of globally famous international guests. These include former DC head, and now Frank Miller collaborator, Dan DiDio, Chew creator John Layman, Spider-Man’s Todd Nauck, and the surprise return (after last year’s Comic Con Africa) of Sebastian A. Jones, the driving force behind the African fantasy universe central to Stranger Comics books.

You’ll be able to engage with all the creators in Artist Alley, and maybe even commission custom pieces. Plus, for aspiring comic industry professionals, there’s a lengthy portfolio review session taking place on Wednesday, 1 May, at the Artist Alley stage, kicking off at 2pm.