Warriors, wizards, and other costumed fans filled the streets of Malaga in southern Spain on Thursday as the city hosted the first San Diego Comic-Con ever held outside the United States.
Modelled on the iconic California convention, the four-day event will feature major film presentations, leading figures from the worlds of comics and video games, and thousands of fans dressed as their favourite characters.
Highlights include appearances by Hollywood action legend Arnold Schwarzenegger and Welsh actor Luke Evans, known for his role in The Hobbit film trilogy.
Gwendoline Christie, who starred in the fantasy series Game of Thrones, is also expected to attend.
Organisers anticipate more than 100,000 fans will visit Malaga’s main congress centre during the convention — a number close to the 130,000 who attend the original San Diego event each year.
The most eagerly awaited film premieres are Tron: Ares, the third instalment of Disney’s Tron series, and Predator: Badlands, the seventh film in the Predator franchise.
“The essence is the same. We share the same DNA; in some ways, we are equal,” said Javier Barbera, executive director of Comic-Con Malaga, in an interview with local newspaper Sur. He added that organisers hope to make the Malaga edition an annual fixture.
Once known mainly for its beaches and historical landmarks, Malaga has transformed in recent years into a cultural and technological hub, attracting global companies such as Google, Oracle, and Huawei.
“Malaga is a city full of energy, creativity, and warmth — exactly the kind of place we had in mind for this historic expansion,” said David Glanzer, chief communications and strategy officer for San Diego Comic-Con, when the new event was announced in March.
Comic-Con began in San Diego in 1970 as a small gathering for comic enthusiasts. It has since evolved into one of the world’s largest celebrations of popular culture.