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Jeddah: Sci-fi fans flock to first ever Comic Con expo

Colourful event in Jeddah comes as Saudi Arabia boosts its entertainment sector amid economic and social reform.

Visitors enter Saudi Comic Con (SCC) which is the first event of its kind to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. [AP]
Visitors enter Saudi Comic Con (SCC) which is the first event of its kind to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. [AP]
19 Feb 2017
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It is not every day that young Saudis wander down the street dressed as the Hulk or Doctor Doom.

But for three days over the weekend, some 20,000 Saudis decked out in costumes and face paint queued to get into the kingdom’s first-ever Comic Con, where robots, video games and giant anime figures filled a tent in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

The global comics expo was held under the auspices of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, which has hosted a series of festivals, comedy shows and concerts this year.

Saudi Arabia is trying to boost its entertainment sector as part of an economic and social reform drive aimed at creating jobs and weaning the country off its dependence on oil.

“The level of entertainment has risen so much from previous years. There used to be no public places like this for families, there was no gender mixing, there was no entertainment, there were no shows,” said Modah al-Bakheet, a Jeddah resident.

READ MORE: The rise of the comic book in the Middle East

Comic Con started in 1970 when a group of about 100 science fiction fans in San Diego got together to swap comic books.

It has since grown into a globally recognised set of fantasy celebrations, drawing over 130,000 fans to events in London, Moscow, Delhi, Sydney and Dubai.

Inside the crowded tent in Jeddah, participants mingled around pop art booths and took part in video game competitions together.

Obada Awad, whose Riyadh-based Time Entertainment organised the event, said: “It was better than expected. We prepared so many scenarios for every possible thing that could happen, but this was the best possible turnout.”

Visitors wear masks and dress up as their favourite comic book characters. [AP]
Visitors wear masks and dress up as their favourite comic book characters. [AP]
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Visitors watch the Turkish-made robot, Letrons, as it morphs from a car to a giant robot during the Saudi Comic Con. [AP]
Visitors watch the Turkish-made robot, Letrons, as it morphs from a car to a giant robot during the Saudi Comic Con. [AP]
A visitor walks past a banner showing Latifa, a Saudi superwoman character. [AP]
A visitor walks past a banner showing Latifa, a Saudi superwoman character. [AP]
About 20,000 people took part in the three-day event. [Reuters]
About 20,000 people took part in the three-day event. [Reuters]
A visitor takes pictures at the entrance of the female section. [AP]
A visitor takes pictures at the entrance of the female section. [AP]
The global comics expo was held under the auspices of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. [Reuters]
The global comics expo was held under the auspices of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. [Reuters]
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The Comic Con in Jeddah is one of several new events hosted in Saudi amid a rising entertainment scene. [Reuters]
The Comic Con in Jeddah is one of several new events hosted in Saudi amid a rising entertainment scene. [Reuters]
A man wears a Captain America costume, representing one of the characters who appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. [AP]
A man wears a Captain America costume, representing one of the characters who appears in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. [AP]
Participants mingled around pop art booths and took part in video game competitions together. [Reuters]
Participants mingled around pop art booths and took part in video game competitions together. [Reuters]
Comic Con has since grown into a globally recognised set of fantasy celebrations. [Reuters]
Comic Con has since grown into a globally recognised set of fantasy celebrations. [Reuters]

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