I was invited today to announce that Comic Con is coming to Cape Town in 2020.

I must admit that I am super excited that Comic Con will be here at the Cape Town Stadium between 1 and 3 May next year.

This is definitely a highlight for my year ahead.

I have tried to support every other event like this, such as FanCon, StelCon, Electronics and Gaming Expo and others but this will be a first at Comic Con.

Organisers beware: our expectations are high.

Comic Con is no longer geek culture. It has become mainstream culture which has gathered increasing interest due to the successes of comic book superhero franchises and series like Big Bang Theory which has given prominence to a culture which appreciates the nerdy and smart and loves all things sci-fi, fantasy, gadgets and games.

Locally, we’ve been involved with events like FanCon, which grew out of International Free Comic Book Day, which is supported by entities like Readers Den.

The City has also been supporting them and they draw around 6 000 people. Comic Con will build on this and take it to the next level.

The first Comic Con was held in Johannesburg last year and the next one will be held there as well later this year, with Cape Town following in May next year. This event thus holds a great appeal.

We welcome the extension of this successful international franchise which draws massive support with attendance of around 150 000 people in San Diego in the United States of America as well as huge numbers in Sao Paulo in Brazil. It also has a massive following in India.

The South African extension was presumably premised on the successes of movies like Black Panther and others, which convinced the franchise owners to consider Africa and South Africa in particular as host options.

2020 CT Comic Con is planned to attract:

• 120 exhibitors
• 20 000 to 30 000 visitors
• Local and international film industry interest

The key pillars for next year’s Comic Con are pop culture, including cosplay, comic books; anime; manga; other creatives like film, series and games; books and authors.

There will also be entertainment elements in animation, toys, gadgets, clothing, collectible card games (a personal favourite), video games, webcomics, fantasy novels, and an Artists’ Alley.

This notable event will attract much more than the diligent Comic Con fanatics; it will also drive the promotion of the City internationally and increase investment and growth to our economy and fuel our Film Cape Town development.

The City chose to heed the call for support to this internationally acclaimed event because it really is a no brainer.

The impact of such a big event coming to town is that it will benefit fans of the genre, but most importantly, it gives ordinary citizens an opportunity to gain access to jobs.

The City’s contribution of R1 million towards this event will go far in returning our investment.

Comic Con promises to be a major cultural event for those who love the fringe and geek culture: a veritable pilgrimage to the land of geekiness. I often say that the geek shall inherit the earth and Comic Con is one major annual calendar addition closer to that goal.

Film Cape Town is aimed at promoting the Mother City as the premier film and media destination, while also providing prospective clients with tools to make their production a success.

These initiatives speak to the City’s commitment to providing an environment conducive to attracting both local and international film productions, but also events, by cutting red tape and enhancing the ease of doing business in Cape Town.

We are also reviewing our film strategy, policy and Film By-law to be aligned with latest developments, trends and international best practice, while also addressing the needs of the industry and those of residents.

Cape Town has already attracted some big international productions in this financial year, including Ridley Scott’s Raised by Wolves, Bloodshot starring Vin Diesel and HBO series Warrior. This is because location scouts are spoilt for choice with a variety of spectacular backdrops in a city so diverse that it offers the world in one location.

The City has undertaken various interventions to assist the film industry, including freezing film tariffs for the 2018/19 season; establishing the Film Cape Town initiative with the local film industry and updating policy to meet the sector’s modern needs.

In terms of events, we continue to work hard to attract high caliber events. We certainly have the space and the means to host world class events, like the HSBC Rugby Sevens which has become an annual highlight and the recent Monster Truck Jam, both of these events were hosted at the spectacular Cape Town Stadium.

Comic Con Cape Town will be another prominent feather in our cap, and will no doubt drive other event organisers to our city.

The City is excited to be a partner in this venture, which further solidifies our accolade as the World’s Leading Festival and Events destination.

The top eight events in Cape Town generate over R3 billon of economic activity and every new event creates the promise of many new sustainable jobs in our city.

I cannot wait for Cape Town Comic Con 2020! It is going to be out of this world!

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