Written and photographed by Samantha Demangate
A copy of Marvel’s War of the Realms has been in my backpack for the past year while traveling Latin America. While on the road, I’ve found myself missing my cherished comic stores in the United States. I’ve attended a handful of Comic Cons over the years, including San Diego Comic Con, WonderCon, Stan Lee’s Comikaze (now L.A. Comic Con) , Phoenix Fan Fusion and more. Most of these were attended annually and are missed dearly. So when I heard that Comic Con Argentina was happening while I was in Buenos Aires, I wanted in on a slice of the fun.
Being curious about the nerd communities in cities around the world, I began searching out comic book stores in Buenos Aires. From the beginning, it was clear that comic book fandom is strong with Argentina. From endless comic book shops to comic cafes and even comic book kioscos, Buenos Aires has something for every nerd.
I noticed an emphasis in the love for anime in Buenos Aires. There are a great deal of anime themed cafes in the city including Ao Kuma Café and Hero Anime Café. Perfect Blue was introduced to me by a Porteño, and various other anime cult classics are thoroughly loved here as well. In addition, I don’t think there is a day that goes by when I don’t see someone wearing a One Piece T-shirt. I knew I would be in good hands at Comic Con Argentina, and I was curious to see what was in store.
Entering the Convention
When it comes to expectations, I didn’t have any. Comic cons vary from city to city and from theme to theme. From what I could see of Buenos Aires already, anime played a heavy hand in the locally celebrated pop culture. Since I dabble in and enjoy many fandoms, I was ready to experience Comic Con Argentina. It was December 10th of 2022 and summer in the city was just beginning. This was the first comic con I took part in without a costume and I was relieved as the heat and humidity outdid any San Diego Comic Con I’ve attended. That said, I wasn’t surprised to see fewer costumed attendees compared to the conventions I know and love in the USA. Still, the cosplayers that pulled through, did so thoroughly. From pristine makeup to carefully crafted costumes, these cosplayers were on top of their game, despite the scorching heat.
Cosplayers
Similar to most comic cons, there were several guest cosplayers that had their own booths. Some sold hand crafted items, such as jewelry, and all were available for photo opts. I stopped and chatted with several and found everyone to be incredibly sweet and enthusiastic. Some cosplayers traveled from neighboring countries, such as Chile, and stayed for all days of the convention. The majority of cosplayers I met were dressed as anime characters, many of which I was unfamiliar.
The Hall
The cosplay alley was inside the main (and only) hall of the con. The convention hall was a smaller size, smaller than Long Beach Comic Con, for those who are familiar. As I predicted, the majority of the merchandise sold was anime themed, though there really was something for everyone. From extensive Harry Potter booths to photo opts with Storm Troopers, the con floor covered a variety of fandoms. The merchandise itself was fun. From clothing of various themes to detailed paintings, vendors were busy selling their wares. My favorite items sold were mate cups, a staple of Argentina. Of course, these weren’t just any mate cups, but rather novelty cups, making them all the more special.
The main stage of Comic Con Argentina was full. Starting with the THM Video Game Band, playing their adaptions of theme songs for video games like Super Mario and Legend of Zelda. A costume contest followed, as well as a mix of celebratory activities. Their guest celebrities this year were Jamie Campbell Bower and Vincent D’Onofrio. In the previous years, they’ve had visitors such as Gillian Anderson, Henry Cavill, Millie Bobby Brown, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Tom Felton (a fan favorite). The main stage entertainment and activities were few, but festive.
A Fun Experience
For me, one day was plenty of time to experience Comic Con Argentina. Slightly exhausting but satisfying. For anyone curious about attending a comic convention near them, I encourage you to just go for it. There’s something for everyone. You just might find yourself attending again and again.
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