The event, described as the biggest festival of its kind in the region, will feature exhibitions, creator meet-and-greets, panel discussions, and gaming zones, offering a wide array of attractions for fans of both comics and video games.
Katarzyna Tośta, co-organizer of the festival, told reporters that this year’s event is expected to draw around 20,000 attendees.
She said that the festival will offer a unique experience for fans, with a vast market zone featuring both new releases and rare editions of comics. Visitors will also have the chance to get autographs from authors and illustrators.
Tośta added that the event will feature workshops, contests and cosplay shows. One of the highlights of this year's festival will be a comic book awards ceremony.
"At the event, we will honor the best comic published in album form," Tośta said.
Other awards will include the Humoris Causa, given by the festival organizers for outstanding contributions to Polish comics, she added.
This award was created by Papcio Chmiel, Poland's most loved comic book author, who designed the medal in the shape of a "Great Tytus," the hero of his Tytus, Romek, and A'Tomek series, Tośta told Poland’s PAP news agency.
"We also have a new translation award for the best translator," she announced.
The festival will take place across two major venues in Łódź. The Atlas Arena will host all comic-related events, while the nearby Sport Arena will focus on video games and board games.
Fans of retro gaming, indie games and free-to-play zones will find plenty to explore at Sport Arena, where they can also meet developers and creators.
Tośta said that the festival caters to both comic book enthusiasts and gamers, with overlapping interests between the two communities.
"At the festival, we'll have discussions with both game writers and comic writers, exploring how these two mediums complement each other," she added.
This year, the festival will open a special exhibition dedicated to Tadeusz Baranowski, one of Poland's most renowned comic artists.
Entitled Tadeusz Baranowski: Evoking Laughter, Confusion and Fear, the exhibition will be displayed at the Center for Comics and Interactive Narratives.
Smaller exhibitions will also be held, including a showcase of work by Katarzyna Niemczyk, who has illustrated for major comic publishers such as Marvel, and a tribute to Adrian Madej, a late Polish artist.
The festival will host several international guests, including Greg Rucka, the acclaimed writer behind Gotham Central and Wonder Woman.
Other notable attendees include Filipe Andrade, known for his work on Cyberpunk 2077, Tony Sandoval, and Romuald Giuliuvo, whose debut comic The Last Day of Howard Phillips Lovecraft features illustrations by Polish artist Jakub Rebelka.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP