Comic Con Portugal debuted this weekend, with the aim to be the “number 1 pop culture show in Portugal,” according to the official website. The event joins a growing list of Comic Cons around the world that have spawned from the popularity of the largest pop culture convention in the world, Comic-Con International, which draws some 135,000 plus visitors over the five-day week every July.
However, Comic-Con International told the Portuguese American Journal that they “have no affiliation with any convention in Portugal.”
The organizers of Comic Con Portugal are expecting a modest turn out for a first time event, with approximately 20,000 fanboys and fangirls expected to move through the turnstiles this weekend. While that number pales in comparison to San Diego Comic-Con, it is very much in line with first year efforts of similarly positioned conventions. Stan Lee’s Comikaze, now a major player in the space, saw just over 20,000 attendees in their debut year, and in a short time has grown to become one of the more well-known comic conventions.
Comic Con Portugal’s mission is simple: become the signature event in the country for lovers of comics, Movies, TV series, video games, cosplay, anime, and manga in much the same way that San Diego Comic-Con has done for the U.S. In a country burgeoning with young, hungry talent, and with similar comic fanatic/artistic hotbeds in neighboring countries such as Brazil, the organizers of Comic Con Portugal might be surprised at what kind of turnout they have.
Game of Thrones star Natalie Dormer joins a slate of notable guests that were scheduled to appear at Comic Con Portugal. Amongst the other Seth Gilliam of The Walking Dead , Clive Standen from the History Channel hit Vikings , and cast members from TNT’s The Librarians and CW’s The Flash . Legendary comic artist Brian K. Vaughn of Y The Last Man is also scheduled for a signing.
Comic Con Portugal also boasts workshops in such areas as comic editing and 2D animation. In addition, Comic Con Portugal features gaming, such as League of Legends Portugal and Biodroid , a fan-zone manned by the 501st Legion, Q&A sessions with creators, a photo booth to accommodate the ever-growing cosplay community, an artist alley, and even a competitive race center thought to be something along the same line or in the same vein as slick trak, or, go-cart racing.
Comic Con Portugal runs December 5-7. They can be found at www.comic-con-portugal.com.
