This year’s Comic-Con Prague, which took place from April 5 to 7 at the O₂ Center in Prague, once again brought together fans of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. This annual pop culture festival has already gained popularity among fans, bringing together an incredible 27,000 participants from all over Europe. Especially for Mezha.Media, journalist Tetiana Shepel attended the convention and wrote a report about it, which we hope will remind you of Ukrainian pop culture festivals that are sure to come.

Comic-Con Prague hosted many events for every taste. Fans had the opportunity to meet movie and comic book stars, take part in cosplay contests, and attend lectures, talks, workshops, and exhibitions. In addition, special game rooms were organized where participants could try themselves in the most modern video games.

Game universe and master classes

In total, the game zones occupied more than 1400 m². It featured video games on computers and consoles, virtual reality, arcade games, as well as board games of various genres – from card and board games to word games and puzzles.

Comic-Con organizers also prepared a diverse fan program. From literary programs to parties with horror and post-apocalyptic scenarios, from fantasy to science fiction, everyone found something to their liking. There were also separate lines devoted to comics, Asian culture, the future, and games, which created an opportunity for a deeper dive into your favorite world.

Of course, there were many workshops, including the traditional Lego construction workshop. But the most popular was the artistic workshop on drawing comics for children and adults. This event provided an opportunity for everyone who wanted to develop their talents in graphic arts to learn from Czech and European comic book masters. Participants could get valuable tips, skills and insights on how to create their own characters, stories and drawing styles.

Cosplay: Hobby and skill

Cosplay is not just costumes, it is a real art that fascinates both children and adults. Some participants prepare their costumes for six months, putting their souls and incredible skills into them. Their passion and seriousness are impressive, because cosplay is not just entertainment, but a whole world with its own rules, traditions, and atmosphere.

At Comic Con Prague, cosplayers had the opportunity to demonstrate their talents as part of the PragoCosplay program and the KinderCosplay children’s show. Participation in the competitions required careful preparation and pre-registration.

Meetings with the stars

This year’s festival pleased guests not only with interesting activities but also with celebrity guests. Among them were American and Czech actors and writers who took part in press conferences, autograph sessions and photo shoots.

Emily Swallow (Supernatural, The Mandalorian), Tate Fletcher (Jumanji, The Mandalorian) and Brendan Wayne (The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett) shared their thoughts on new projects, the connection to the Star Wars universe and their personal experiences with us.

Emily Swallow: “I’ve just finished working on an interesting project where, unlike The Mandalorian, you can finally see my face (laughs). And now I’m traveling the world attending Comic Con conventions.”

Tate Fletcher: “I remember waiting for tickets outside a brick-and-mortar movie theater in Petoskey, Michigan. I was 7 or 8 years old. I can still feel the sunshine and the anticipation, because the adults were saying it was going to be something incredible. And then, when it all started… “in a galaxy far, far away…”. I was just blown away… Into outer space… The imagination… the possibility… I think Star Wars was and still is a new hope for many of us.”

Brendan Wayne: “It was an incredible honor to play Heavy Mando. Jon Favreau saw me and thought I was perfect for the role. Of course, I gladly agreed to put on this prestigious helmet. Armor fits as naturally as weapons. It’s our code, our religion, it’s who we are.”

Ukrainians at Comic-Con Prague

There were many Ukrainians among the festival visitors, both those who live in the Czech Republic permanently and those who temporarily moved because of the war. We managed to meet one of them, an artist from Ukraine, Daria.

At Comic-Con Prague, Dasha showcased her talent by creating wonderful anime-style personal portraits.

“I have been fond of anime since I was young. At first, I attended such conventions and festivals in Zaporizhzhia, and then in Kharkiv,” says Dasha.

This is the second festival she has participated in in the Czech Republic. Czechs and guests of the capital like her style.

Dasha is originally from Zaporizhzhia and studied at the Academy of Design and Arts in Kharkiv. Her family remains in Ukraine, and she came to the Czech Republic two months after the outbreak of the full-scale war.

In addition to working at the festival, Dasha works as an animator for an IT company, where she draws game characters.

“My favorite anime is Gurren Lagann. I like the philosophy of self-belief that is embedded in it,” says Dasha.

Art Market

In addition to the entertainment part, Comic-Con Prague offered visitors a real supermarket of virtual universes. There was a souvenir for every taste, as the festival featured about a thousand stands.

Even the Czech army had its own stand, where they didn’t sell anything, but were eager to talk and take pictures with visitors (in balaclavas, of course).

And between the rows of stands, guests were entertained by a wonderful robot from Boston Dynamics.