Masks, vases, diaries, T-shirts, movie or video game relics, anime implements, comics, collectible figures and more wowed.
For a lover of the world of comics, video games, anime and fictional films, having walked these two days through the corridors of the Guayaquil Convention Center It was like having entered a toy store exclusively for them and with accessories made – mostly – by Ecuadorian hands. The Comic Con Ecuador In its fifth edition, it brought together more than 70 national and international exhibitors.
Comic Con Ecuador: Fans attended dressed as their favorite character to live the ‘geek’ experience to the fullest
Batman or Ninja Turtles masks, Harry Potter or Wonder Woman capes, BTS posters or illustrated movie covers, comic pins, keychains, T-shirts, comic book character caps, collectible figures and so many things to choose from captivated the visitors.
In one of the stands, some jugs with the shapes or faces of Frankenstein, Scooby Doo, Jack, or skulls awaited their next owners for prices between $ 20, $ 25 and $ 30. Was Mugs Mania Ecuador, the undertaking of Diego Manrique (Art Fx Studio), which was present at the convention. “This is where you can make yourself known, sell your work”, consider the craftsman who is dedicated to creating large-scale characters, miniatures and making scenery.
Instead, the romantic gothic art came from the illustrator Magda Chonillo, who through his store Magda’s Peculiar Shop, offered pictures, stickers, diaries and mugs with female figures created by her. “My style is a bit dark, but I know that there are people like me who love this Gothic art (…) I love it when people identify with the things I do. Since I was little I like fantastic stories ”, he claimed.
The artist, who has participated in previous editions of Comic Con, highlights the presence of other local colleagues. “Here we are many national artists, very talented. The truth is this type of event is perfect for us because we make ourselves known. Here come the precise people who like this kind of thing, who like culture geek, pop culture and they come to see artists and really appreciate art. “, Held.
Others of the stands came from Peru. With a scenography that gave the feeling of being in a museum BluBox Hyper Statues, it elegantly displayed its hyper-realistic statues. Among the pieces on display was Caesar de Planet of the Apes, the terrifying Valak of The nun and the inevitable Spider-Man.
Rommel Romero, One of the owners and artisans says that they started the business professionally in 2018. Since then they have dedicated themselves to making this type of exclusive statues, which can take up to six months to make. “We are known for working with platinum silicone or medical grade silicone, all of our work is full-scale. We always make fantastic characters from movies, series, videogames that don’t exist in real life; we try to shape them with silicone so that people can see them as if they were live, as if they existed “, said the Peruvian.
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It highlights the importance of participating in these types of conventions. “You always have to be at the forefront, you always have to be where people are because in the end they are the ones who consume. We are happy with the invitation, Guayaquil has been a very beautiful city “said Romero, who said that to move the statues to Ecuador they had to take them apart to assemble them again here.
Continuing with the Comic Con route, two young people with paintbrushes in hand finished a textile creation on a T-shirt for their entrepreneurship Rune Art. “We hand-paint all the t-shirts, we personalize the garments. A bit the idea is that people wear art, that they can make a handmade garment and that they take that experience from the person who made it ”, detailed the artist Jacob Benitez, who said that spaces like these “help craft to excel”. Their assorted-design T-shirts ran for $ 25 to $ 45.
With a kawai style Adriana Pino Velasquez plays with the traditional dishes of Ecuador in some of his designs embodied in notebooks, diaries, sketches, stickers and more. For the young artist, it is the second time that she has participated in the convention, which she says “Allows to have a greater scope.” He says that since 2016 he aspired to be part of the exhibitors, so he sent emails with his portfolio year after year, until in 2019 the first invitation arrived.
This is how in addition to the attractions, cosplayers and invited international actors such as Ray Fisher, the Cyborg of the League of Justice; Daniel Pesina, cocreador de Mortal Kombat, and Austin St. John, Jason in Power Rangers, the artists also stood out with their works and endeavors inspired by the fantastic world of comics, cinema or video games.
Comic Con Ecuador had the financial support of the Guayaquil Municipal Public Tourism Company. It took place on December 4 and 5. (I)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
