SA's ICON Comic and Games Convention returns

It is South Africa’s longest-running pop culture event – the destination for gaming and pop culture professionals and anyone looking to celebrate their fantasy world while being immersed in a compelling storyline.

Conventions such as ICON CGC facilitate a rapidly growing audience being able to join and learn from those who created entertainment masterpieces. Entertainment that is based on story-telling.

ICON CGC raises its ‘game’ substantially, showcasing international guests, local thought leaders, over 40 speaker panels, player showdowns, a comedy event, and innovative activations, including multinational tech giants such as Canon Gigabyte and MakerBot, amongst others. Media partners, student Brands and Nickelodeon, will ensure that the moments of the 25^th Edition live on beyond the boundaries of the convention.

The Convention will help define the ‘how to’ of the increasingly mainstream gaming industry. Fantasists, mythologists, tech heads, role players, and more come into an immersive world such as ICON CGC to be inspired, learn, experiment, observe, and compete in a celebration of fantasy worlds and story-telling.

Les Allen, ICON CGC's director, says, “What we’ve learnt from a quarter-century of convening ICON is that ‘geeks’ are no longer on the fringe. Mainstream media exposure has made their expertise, enthusiasm, and points of obsession with hobbies and intellectual pursuits accessible. Gaming and storytelling release a part of everyone’s being, we just facilitate access to it in a myriad of ways.”

International Cosplay Guest of Honour for ICON CGC is Linda Le, also known as 'Vampy Bit Me', who is rated as one of the ten most popular cosplayers in the world. Gaming industry insider, James Stutter, a published author and the co-creator of the fantasy Pathfinder’ Roleplaying Game and creative director of the new space version, Starfinder, also joins the Convention. Both will participate in the convention for all three days.

Those looking forward to the movie, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets can win double passes to the film’s first screening in South Africa on Friday, 21 July by attending either of two Valerian panels at ICON CGC. The panel titled 'Create an Alien' will see Stutter designing an alien species from the ground up, based on the world from the Valerian cosmos. Partnering with Stutter is Sean Izaakse, current artist on Marvel's Avengers comic book – he'll be drawing the monster as James designs it.

Local thought leaders included in the line-up of panellists include tech analyst and commentator Arthur Goldstuck and Nikki Bush – columnist and specialist in the field of ‘child play and development’ matters.

Visitors to the convention have an opportunity to visit the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) drive and donate to help save lives. Upon donating, participants stand the chance of winning a 3D printed replica of themselves as a superhero – sponsored by MakerBot.

As with previous years, Saturday, 17 June sees six of South Africa's comedians take to the stage at the ICON CGC Comedy Evening.  Limited seats and tickets are only available to weekend ticket holders, or those attending ICON CGC on Saturday.

For more information, or to buy tickets visit www.iconcgc.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.