“We had to come,” Pedro and Maria tell me as they wait patiently on the crowded bus heading to Comic-Con at the distant Palace of Congresses in Malaga, about half an hour from the city center. Crowded with Wolverine, Leias, Narutos, and Wednesday Addams , we squeeze in among the locals of Malaga who usually take that bus at this time but with much less carnival on board. The vehicle has reached its capacity, forcing the driver to stand and shout down the row of (very obvious) attendees that they have to stay behind until another bus comes, which will take them straight to the Palace of Congresses.
The looks of disappointment are inevitable, but they better get used to it; Comic-Con is 5% aspiration, 5% expiration , and the remaining 90% is dedicated to queuing. Queues to access the event halls, lines to enter the Congress Palace itself, to get food or even water, and inside the exhibitors’ zone, to buy from stores. And not everyone is happy with the management of these lines, which we have often pointed out is an art in itself, reminiscent of theme parks.
In any case, good humor prevails among most attendees, even those crowned by extravagant headdresses, rubber prostheses, and impossible wigs . Many wear very economical costumes hastily bought on Aliexpress. This is, above all, the Comic-Con Fiesta: a parade of attendees , showcasing fancy and homemade costumes that create a colorful and unique atmosphere for the event.
“I come from Galicia with my partner. It was he who introduced me to this world, although it was something that was already ingrained in me; I’ve loved dressing up since I was little,” shares Patricia, perfectly attired as Wonder Woman. “This is a significant event, often in the United States and now here for the first time, so I had to come,” she echoes Pedro and Maria’s sentiments. Rubén also made the trip for free, yet with a more extreme approach, completely transformed into Vegeta from Dragon Ball : “I’ve always been interested in cosplay; this is my first time.” Interestingly, he attended solo: “When the tickets were released, I didn’t want to accompany any friends, so I came alone.”
The event offers a very particular blend, which allows for the interpretation of oriental melodies from ‘The Last Ninja’ by Narcisound . This clash of generations and interests is what truly breathes life into an experience like this.
Merchandising Madness
Then there’s the merchandising . The section dedicated to merchandise features everything from stuffed animals to katanas priced at 45 euros, stickers of ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters’ , and of course, the unavoidable Funkos. These collectible dolls sparked one of the first controversies of this edition: exclusive collector’s items were quickly scooped up by eager buyers after long waits in line.
This merchandise area is the most bustling part of the convention, mixing as it does the darkest hobbies of visitors with the most unusual collectibles . However, it wasn’t solely about bizarre purchases; attendees were also eager to hop on the Tron Ares motorcycle , take pictures in front of a colossal Lego Bowser , and search through video game drawers at the occasional second-hand store.
Yet, not everything was whimsical. Complaints regarding the queues have become a constant from visitors of the Palace of Congresses. Azahara, who spent hours waiting to access the Funkos store, noted, “I usually attend the Barcelona Manga Hall, and while it’s crowded, the organization is far superior. You are queuing, but the lines are manageable and fluid.” Pedro and Maria echoed her frustration: “The issue with the queues is worse than normal.” It seems the 30,000 visitors a day are overwhelming for the event, which has led to further complaints about prices and food shortages, generating even longer lines.
On the bus back, with the sun setting and signaling the end of a fun day filled with hobbies and sponsorships, the fatigue is evident on the disheveled (and unmasked) faces of Spider-Man and Deadpool. They have undoubtedly endured more queues than any human being should in a single day. As the bus rattled, they exchanged stories of their adventures, proving once again that while Comic-Con may be chaotic and crowded, it has the unique ability to create unforgettable memories.