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Tag: Jatin Varma

  • Shefali Johnson named CEO as Comic Con India enters bold new phase

    Shefali Johnson named CEO as Comic Con India enters bold new phase

    MUMBAI: Comic Con India, the country’s iconic pop culture celebration, is set for a dynamic new chapter as Shefali Johnson is appointed CEO, following a landmark year of expansion under Nodwin Gaming’s ownership.

    Johnson steps into the role as founder Jatin Varma, along with co-founder Karan Kalra and event director Sonal Varma, transition into advisory positions. The trio, who have nurtured the Comic Con legacy since its inception in 2011, will continue to provide creative direction and support the brand’s long-term vision.

    With Comic Con India now present in eight cities including recent additions Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Pune and having delivered its biggest season to date, the focus now shifts to scaling innovation, inclusivity, and immersive fan experiences.

    “Johnson brings the perfect blend of vision, experience, and drive to take our labour of love to greater scale,” said Jatin, reflecting on his journey. “We look forward to supporting her and the team in an advisory capacity as they shape the future of fandom in India across cities.”

    As a senior leader at Nodwin Gaming, Johnson has been instrumental in spearheading flagship IPs like Dreamhack India, BGMS, and the Cosplay Championships. Her appointment as CEO marks a strategic move to deepen fan engagement and expand Comic Con’s cultural footprint.

    “Stepping into this role is both a privilege and a responsibility,” said Johnson. “We plan to grow this platform into newer cities, introduce newer formats, and create experiences that are more inclusive, dynamic, and reflective of India’s evolving pop culture identity.”

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder & managing director Akshat Rathee said, “With Johnson at the helm, we’re looking forward to building on everything we’ve created so far expanding our reach, deepening fan engagement, and continuing to celebrate the communities that make Comic Con what it is.”

    Since its debut in 2011, Comic Con India has grown into the country’s definitive pop culture festival uniting fans of comics, cosplay, gaming, anime, and beyond. 

  • Comic Con India bids farewell to its founding superheroes in style

    Comic Con India bids farewell to its founding superheroes in style

    MUMBAI: A founder exits, but the fandom marches on

    The capes are coming off—but not before a final bow. In a major leadership shakeup, Comic Con India announced that founder Jatin Varma, along with co-founder Karan Kalra and event director Sonal Varma, are stepping away from their day-to-day roles at the helm of India’s beloved pop culture carnival.

    Announced on 10 April 2025, the move marks the end of an era that began in 2011 with a dream to bring cosplay, comics, and chaos to the masses. But fans, fret not—this isn’t a full-throttle exit. The OG team will continue in an advisory and strategic capacity, lending their nerdy wisdom as the brand evolves under new leadership.

    The changing of the guard comes on the heels of Nodwin Gaming’s acquisition of Comic Con India in January 2024, pegged at a neat Rs 55 crore.

    And what a power-up it’s been.

    Since then, the event has gone from geeky niche to national juggernaut—adding Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Pune to its roster alongside legacy cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad.

    What started as a scrappy fandom gathering in 2011 has morphed into India’s largest pop culture festival, drawing over 200,000 fans and clocking a jaw-dropping 330 million in digital reach. Jatin and his team didn’t just build a convention; they built a community. A multiverse of creators, cosplayers, fans, and fandoms stitched together with passion, panel discussions, and Deadpool sightings.

    “Their passion for storytelling, comics, gaming, and cosplay built a platform that connected creators and fans alike,” the company noted, in a tribute that hits right in the feels.

    As Nodwin prepares to roll out a new core team, expectations are sky-high. The mission? Keep the soul of Comic Con intact while dialling up the digital, the dazzle, and the drama for India’s next-gen pop culture brigade.

    An official update on the next phase of leadership is expected soon.

    So long, Jatin and crew. Thanks for the panels, the Pikachus, and the passion. The fandom salutes you.

  • Comic Con India returns for three days in Hyderabad

    Comic Con India returns for three days in Hyderabad

    Mumbai: Comic Con India is returning to Hyderabad for the first time over three days—15, 16, and 17 November 2024. The event promises an exciting experience for anime, gaming, and pop culture fans, offering a bigger and better celebration of all things geeky.

    Maruti Suzuki Arena presents Hyderabad Comic Con 2024, powered by Crunchyroll, where every attendee will receive number one issue of Radiant Black comic, along with Special Solo Levelling poster by Yen Press & a commemorative Comic Con India Bag.

    Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma said, “We are thrilled to bring the biggest pop-culture celebration, Comic Con India, back to Hyderabad, and this year, we’re taking it up by a notch by extending the festival to three days. The overwhelming passion from fans has fueled us to expand the event, bringing more thrilling experiences with a wider range of activities for everyone to enjoy this season. This will be our biggest event in Hyderabad to date, showcasing the very best in Indian comics, immersive fan activities, cosplay, gaming, geeky shopping, and so much more. I am beyond excited to welcome everyone to what is set to be an epic celebration.”

    Comic Con India will feature panels and exclusive sessions with Amar Chitra Katha, Raj Comics, Crunchyroll, and top creators. Fans can enjoy stand-up performances by comedians Harsh Gujral, Azeem Banatwalla, Ravi Gupta, and Sayed Bashaar, along with live shows by Daisuki Cosplay Band, Geek Fruit, and hip-hop artist Karan Kanchan. Attendees in Hyderabad will also experience Maruti Suzuki Arena, Crunchyroll, Penguin Random House India’s comic book store, and an exclusive Yamaha experience zone.

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder & MD Akshat Rathee said, “Bringing DreamHack and Hyderabad Comic Con together represents the ultimate fusion of gaming and pop culture—a ‘best of both worlds’.  True to Nodwin Gaming’s vision of crafting experiences that own a significant timeshare of mindshare among today’s youth, this powerful integration aims at immersing audiences in vibrant, dynamic entertainment touchpoints.  We are looking forward to an epic weekend packed with immersive activations, thrilling competitions, and nonstop fandom excitement- making this an unparalleled celebration for every gaming and pop culture enthusiast.”

    DreamHack, India’s largest gaming festival, is celebrating its fifth anniversary with an exciting new lineup. Known for LAN tournaments, cosplay, tech expos, meet-and-greets with top content creators, and BYOD zones, the festival’s partnership with Nodwin Gaming enhances its appeal. DreamHack x Hyderabad Comic Con 2024, a three-day event, will be the city’s largest youth entertainment attraction, featuring comics, gaming tournaments, esports competitions, and more.

    The event will showcase upcoming Indian publishing houses and artists like Indusverse, Yali Dreams Creations, Prasad Bhat, and others, along with international artist Josh Blaylock. Key partners include Maruti Suzuki, Crunchyroll, Yamaha, and Lenovo.

    Join us at Hyderabad Comic Con 2024, from 15-17 November at the HITEX Exhibition Centre, from 11 am to 8 pm. Get your passes at www.comiccon.in and BookMyShow.

  • Mumbai Comic Con 2024: The pop culture celebration is back on 20 and 21 April

    Mumbai Comic Con 2024: The pop culture celebration is back on 20 and 21 April

    Mumbai: Prepare to step into a world where fantasy meets reality with Comic Con India, the largest pop culture extravaganza in the subcontinent, which is set to make waves in Mumbai. Get ready for an extraordinary weekend filled with excitement and fun as the best weekend of the year makes its highly anticipated return to the city. Anime, gaming, and pop-culture lovers are set to expect an exhilarating experience like never before.

    Maruti Suzuki Arena presents Mumbai Comic Con 2024, powered by Crunchyroll, which will see every attendee receive an exclusive copy of Dragon Ball- Z Vol 1 comic book along with a Limited Edition DC Comics Batman Poster & a commemorative Comic Con India swag Bag. The event is all set to showcase comics in a big way with a slew of upcoming publishing houses/Indian artists like Indusverse, Yali Dreams Creations, Sufi Comics, Prasad Bhat, Lilorosh, Acid Toad, Garbage Bin, Corporat comics, Bullseye Press, Bakarmax, Art of SAVIO, and Abhijeet Kini and many more along with Eisner Award winning International artists Guy Delisel and Jason Loo will be gracing the event and will be available for fan meet and greet on both days!

    On the 20 and 21 of April  2024, the most-awaited event will have daily tournaments, Esports, and popular streamers and gaming experiences among many other exciting activities for all attendees.

    Comic Con India will offer panels and exclusive sessions featuring renowned names such as Demon Slayer voice artists Natsuki Hanae and Yuma Takahashi by Crunchyroll, Amar Chitra Katha, Raj Comics, Hallubol, Bakarmax, Corporat, and leading Indian & International creators. Along with a special stand-up performance by the popular Rohan Joshi & Sahil Shah and Harsh Gujral,  followed by some electrifying performances by DJ Kazu, MC Altaf, Shah Rule, Geek Fruit, everyone’s childhood favourite Artist Guy Rob, and many more, on the mainstage. While Mumbai attendees will get a chance to witness captivating experiences with Maruti Suzuki Arena, Crunchyroll, and Mumbai’s Biggest Comic Book Store by Penguin Random House India and Bandai Namco Zone. The event will urge pop culture geeks to go shopping with brands like Celio, Bonkers Corner, Red Wolf, Bewakoof.com, and many more.

    Key Event Partners include brands such as CELIO, HDFC, Comedy Central, OnePlus, PepsiCo & VH1.

    Speaking about the thrilling weekend celebration, Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma said, “Comic Con is back in Mumbai! We cannot wait to host some of the most passionate fans of the country again. This is our biggest show in the city yet, showcasing the best of Indian comics, fan experiences, cosplay, gaming, geeky shopping and so much more. We look forward to welcoming Mumbaikars.. back to witness this immersive and larger-than-life weekend with us”

    Book your passes for Mumbai Comic Con 2024, 20 and 21  April at Jio World Convention Center, BKC. Daily Timings: 11 AM to 8 PM. Passes are available on www.comiccon.in & Book My Show. Website link: www.comicconindia.com

  • NODWIN Gaming acquires Comic Con India

    NODWIN Gaming acquires Comic Con India

    Mumbai: NODWIN Gaming the esports and gaming industry in South Asia, has successfully acquired Comic Con India, a renowned company celebrated for organizing numerous pop cultural festivals across the country. This strategic acquisition not only broadens NODWIN Gaming’s portfolio but also signifies a significant expansion into the global entertainment landscape.

    NODWIN Gaming will acquire 100 per cent of Comic Con India’s shares at a valuation of Ra 55 crore through a cash and share swap from its founders, Jatin Varma and Karan Kalra. The managing team will also become shareholders by swapping 27.5 Crores of their Comicon India shares with NODWIN shares.

    Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma stated “For more than a decade, we have worked tirelessly to build a unique space in India for promoting and celebrating popular culture. And with that goal in mind, I am very excited to join hands with NODWIN Gaming in taking the next step and building upon this goal together”.

    Comic Con India, partner and director Karan Kalra added “I am thrilled that this strategic partnership will enable us to deliver amazing events and experiences to pop culture fans across India”.

    NODWIN Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee stated, “We are thrilled to welcome the managing team of Comic Con India as partners and shareholders in NODWIN Gaming. Our quest for drawing millions of fans across the world will get another level up with Comicon.”

    NODWIN Gaming plans to expand Comic Con India into its portfolio, to offer a platform for gaming enthusiasts, comic fans, and pop culture enthusiasts. The strategic move aims to redefine the entertainment industry, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries.

  • Crunchyroll joins forces with Comic Con India for an expanded anime experience!

    Crunchyroll joins forces with Comic Con India for an expanded anime experience!

    Mumbai: Crunchyroll, the ultimate anime destination for global fans, is excited to announce an extensive partnership with Comic Con India for their next five highly anticipated events across India. Crunchyroll will be the ‘Powered By’ partner of the iconic pop culture events by Comic Con for the next six months.

    As the ultimate anime destination in India, Crunchyroll boasts the most extensive and diverse library of anime titles. In parallel, Comic Con India celebrates the diverse realms of comics, anime, gaming, and pop culture through its exciting fan events. This partnership promises to create a synergy that will enhance the event experience for all attendees.

    Partnership with Crunchyroll will kick off from their Bengaluru Comic Con event starting on 17 November at KTPO Whitefield. The partnership will extend to upcoming events in Delhi (8  December at NSIC Grounds, Okhla), Hyderabad (27 January at Hitex), Chennai (17  February at Chennai Trade Centre), and finally conclude in Mumbai (20 April at Jio World Centre, BKC).

    “We are thrilled to announce a dynamic partnership with Crunchyroll, the premier destination for anime enthusiasts, for our upcoming five events as our ‘Powered by’ Partner,” said Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma. “We’ve witnessed a remarkable rise in cosplayers donning anime characters year after year at Comic Con, highlighting the growing love for anime in India. Having Crunchyroll on board is the perfect synergy, allowing us to further enrich fan experiences, create interactive engagements, and fostering connections among like-minded individuals. It’s a testament to our commitment to bringing fans closer to the heart of their favourite anime content and creating unforgettable moments at our events.”

    Crunchyroll senior vice president of marketing Markus Gerdemann said, “Partnering with Comic Con India, which is at the forefront of fandom and pop culture, will allow us to immerse Indian fans into the mesmerizing world of anime. We are looking forward to celebrating anime together and delivering even more experiences to connect fans with their favourite series.” 

  • India-only Archie comics coming to Comic Con this year

    India-only Archie comics coming to Comic Con this year

    NEW DELHI: Archie and the gang from Riverdale are officially coming to India this year in the Comic Con India Shows 2017 for Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

    Comic Con India, in collaboration with Archie Publications, has commissioned special #1 editions of popular Archie titles with the exclusive India-only covers. Each pass-holder to Comic Con India Shows this year will receive the exclusive edition comic with a customised city cover.

    Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma said, “One of the first comics I ever read was an Archie and millions of comic book fans in India have a similar story to share. Archie comics are considered as Indian as some of our local comics. Therefore, I am extremely excited to collaborate with Archie Publications to start of this unique collaboration!”

    From visiting the Charminar in Hyderabad, to shooting a Bollywood film at the Gateway of India in Mumbai or playing cricket at the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, to touring Delhi — the gang from Riverdale will be everywhere.

    Archie Comics Publisher/CEO Jon Goldwater said: “Archie and his friends are a beloved worldwide, but they’ve always been especially embraced in India. With that in mind, we’re honoured and excited to kick off this relationship with Comic Con India, which we hope to see continue for years to come.”

    Such a collaboration has never been done before and each visitor to the show this year will get the once in a lifetime opportunity to own their city’s exclusive collectible edition comic.

    The Comic Con shows for this year are — Hyderabad Comic Con 14-15 October; Mumbai Comic Con 11 -12 November; Bengaluru Comic Con 2 -3 December & Delhi Comic Con 15 – 17 December.

    Comic Con India is part of the Reedpop family of events, which is dedicated to producing world-class celebrations of popular culture around the world.

  • Comic Con founder Varma wins ‘Young Entrepreneur’ award

    NEW DELHI: Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma has won the ‘Young Entrepreneur’ of the year award at Entrepreneur Magazine Awards 2017.

    Earlier this month, Comic Con India bagged three awards at Wow Awards 2017 under Event Intellectual Properties. Comic Con India was honoured with Gold Trophies in Exhibition of the year & Best Lifestyle Property of the year, and Silver Trophy in Festival of the year – Art & Culture. With more than 1000 nominations from organizations of all sizes, these awards are one of Asia’s most prestigious awards for the Asian Experiential event industry.

    Varma said: “I am grateful to the support my partner, my team and my family has extended to me over the years to get here.”

    Comic Con India is dedicated to creating unique events and giving the fans, exhibitors and partners a platform to celebrate their undying love and passion for comics & pop culture. Comic Con India is dedicated to expanding India’s popular culture by creating high profile events that cater to fans of not only comics, but also, gaming, movies, television, merchandise, toys & more.

    Comic Con India is a part of the Reedpop family of events, which is dedicated to producing world-class celebrations of popular culture around the world with events like New York Comic Con, Oz Comic Con, Shanghai Comic Con, Paris Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration among many others.

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    Comic Con second edition in Hyderabad to feature seven comic launches

     

  • Comic Con India’s Free Comic Book Weekend to be held in June

    Comic Con India’s Free Comic Book Weekend to be held in June

    NEW DELHI: Enthusiasts and fans can download a host of Indian comic book titles for free straight on their desktop during the third edition of Free Comic Book Weekend in India.

     

    Presented by Comic Con India, the weekend will be held on 6 and 7 June. The comics will be available on phone or Tablet (iOs, Android & Windows Store) across the country.

     

    The main publishers participating in the third edition of Free Comic Book Weekend are Amar Chitra Katha, Campfire Graphic Novels, Pop Culture Publishing, Sufi Comics, Diamond Comics and Meta Desi amongst others.

     

    Free Comic Book Weekend was initiated in India by Comic Con India in 2013, with an aim to expand the scope and access of comics across India. Online digital content marketplace Readwhere.com has been partnering with Comic Con India since the very beginning to promote this initiative and allow comics enthusiasts download Indian comics for free. This year also, Readwhere.com will be providing the platform to serve free digital comics to fans across India.

     

    Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma said, “Over 15,000 comic book fans joined the event last year. Comic Con India has plans to make this event grow bigger and better. With an ambition to triple the number, we plan to have a wider outreach and more publishers joining hands.”

     

    Readwhere would be offering more than 1000 titles, from over 50 comic book publishers. Users will have the option of choosing any five for free. The rest will be available at a nominal price as a bundle. Purchases via the Comic Book Store will receive a cashback of maximum Rs 100 in the Readwhere wallet.

     

    Readwhere.com co-founder and director Manish Dhingra said, “Through Free Comic Book Weekend, 2015, we hope to reach audiences in all corners of India, to get addicted to comics and relive their childhood, or buy comics for their Kids. Digital presents the best medium to read and share comics.”

     

    The titles featured this year will be a mix of iconic and latest. This year’s spectrum of comic books includes Stan Lee’s Chakra Boy, Sab Ke Comics, Vrika- Dawn of the Wolf and Angry Maushi by Abhijeet Kini. Besides this the other publishers including Pran’s Features, Campfire Graphic Novels, Pop Culture Publishing and Amar Chitra Katha, who have always been around with their classics and the contemporary.

     

    Fans can download, purchase the comics via web (http://www.readwhere.com) or the Readwhere app on Android (http://rdwh.re/androidapp) and iOS (http://rdwh.re/iosapp). 

  • Hyderabad Comic Con moved from June to September, 2015

    Hyderabad Comic Con moved from June to September, 2015

    MUMBAI: Comic Con India has pushed the dates for Hyderabad Comic Con from June to September.

     

    Earlier this year, Comic Con India had announced that Hyderabad Comic Con will take place on 13-14 June, 2015. However, due to logistical reasons, it will now be held on 12-13 September, 2015 at Hitex Exhibition Center.

     

    Comic Con India founder Jatin Varma said, “Due to certain logistical issues around organising the show in June, we are officially shifting the show dates to September 12-13, 2015 at Hitex. We have quite a few surprises in store for our fans, we promise them an awesome show!”

     

    American comic book writer Ron Marz known for his writings for Silver Surfer and Green Lantern; American writer Nathan Edmondson best known for Image Comic’s espionage comic series Who Is Jake Ellis? and New York Times Best Selling and Eisner Award winning author and a Tony Award winning producer Vivek Tiwary were the special Comic Book guests at Hyderabad Comic Con 2014, which took place last year in October.