The inaugural edition of Maruti Suzuki Arena Kolkata Comic Con, powered by Crunchyroll, took place in Kolkata.

Comic Con India arrived in Kolkata for the first time, bringing with it a full-scale celebration of comics, anime, manga, gaming, and next-level cosplay—all under one roof.

With over 30,000 attendees and 3000+ cosplayers bringing their A-game, the event was a visual extravaganza.

From classic comic book characters such as Wonderwoman, Harley Quinn, Joker, and Batman, as well as a variety of Spiderman variations, to anime favorites Toji and Choso from Jujutsu KaisenDemon Slayer’s Nezuko, and some quirky twists on Deadpool as Bongpool and a Bengali Groom Spiderman, fans flocked in large numbers to cosplay as their favorite characters.

Kolkata Comic Con also attracted some of the biggest names in the comic book industry to the city of joy. Fans were ecstatic to meet legendary Archie Comics writer Bill Golliher and New York Times best-selling author John Layman, who shared their experiences, creative processes, and exclusive insights during special panels and meet-and-greets.

Celebrated Bengali artists like Harsho Mohan Chattoraj and Aniruddho Chakraborthy from Chariot Comics along with India’s finest comic creators, including Abhijeet Kini Studios, Bullseye Press, Indusverse, Bakarmaxx, Art of SAVIO, Corporat, Akshara Ashok, Saumin Patel, Prasad Bhat, Sufi Comics, LILOROSH, Rajesh Nagulakonda, Yali Dream Creations, Urban Tales, and many more also graced the event.

Biswa Kalyan Rath, The Internet Said So (Varun Thakur, Kautuk Srivastav, and Aadar Malik), Rohan Joshi, Sapan Verma, Azeem Banatwalla, The Geek Fruit Band, and Desible, also kept the audience engaged.

Harsho Mohan Chattoraj, a graphic novelist and illustrator based in Kolkata, stated, “I’ve been associated with Comic Con India since its inception, and now Kolkata has its own Comic Con, which has been an incredible experience. We’ve wanted to have it here for the past 13 years, and seeing such a large turnout is truly special. It’s incredible to see people’s passion for comic books, cosplay, and storytelling come to life. I was overjoyed to launch Ancient Temples of India with Amar Chitra Katha and Algebra Book 2 with Alpha Comics on day one, celebrating our rich narratives, as well as two of my releases on day two. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see how it develops!”

Comedian Biswa Kalyan Rath said, “Kolkata Comic Con was an amazing experience! The crowd was energized, and it was amazing to see people come together over common interests. They were extremely responsive—even with a standing audience, which is unusual! There was such a diverse range of ages and backgrounds, and the vibes were fantastic. This was my first Comic Con, and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. And Kolkata? I always enjoy it; it’s an emotion in itself!”

The convention raised fan engagement to new heights with immersive experiences provided by Maruti Suzuki Arena, Crunchyroll, DC Studios’ Superman, and WB’s Final Destination Bloodlines.

The NODWIN Gaming Arena offered attendees exciting new showcases and experiences from brands such as PlayStation, Lenovo, Intel, EliteHubs, Corsair, Logitech, KlipVR, and an exclusive Chandrayan VR experience.

With Kolkata Comic Con 2025 wrapping up its debut edition on a high note, fans across India are now eagerly anticipating the next stop, Pune Comic Con, which will take place on March 8th and 9th, 2025.

For more details, visit: www.comicconindia.com

Priyanka Dutta