Publika celebrates geek fandoms at Comic Play 2017

FANS, hobbyists, and enthusiasts of anime, comics, and games of both western and eastern influences or digital and analogue persuasion are gathering at Publika Shopping Gallery in Kuala Lumpur for the Publika Comic Play 2017, which ends on Sunday.

Nine entities representing their respective particular interest communities have come together to share their passions, meet like-minded people, and just have a good time through a wide range of activities.
Visitors can play classic video games and join a video game tournament at the Retro Game Section organised by Retro Console Malaysia.
Fans of mobile games can join the Arena of Valor mini tournament organised by Garena Malaysia and MVP Mobile Arena.
If social tabletop gaming is more your thing, visit the Board Game & Gaming Lounge by All Aboard Community Gaming Centre, where you can experience a whole new world of board gaming with games from Malaysia and abroad.
Among the games on display is the highly-anticipated narrative-centric living card game, Legends of the Five Rings.
Set in a fantasy feudal Japan, the core set of the game revolves around the conflict between the politically-centric Crane clan and the war-centric Lion clan in their battle for supremacy.
You can also get your hands on a Warhammer miniature, learn how to paint it, and learn how to play a game with it, all for free.
While at it, check out the newly-released Warhammer Underworld: Shadespire, the latest game from Games Workshop.
The game uses cards, dice, boards, and miniatures to represent skirmishes of the factions who are trapped in Shadespire, a once city of wonder and magic and a mercantile metropolis that was turned into a cursed necropolis.
Games Workshop Asia business development manager T.J. Van Der Molen said that Shadespire aims to bridge the gap between card strategy games, wargames, and board games, and visitors can get demonstrations on how to play the game.
For anime fans, there is an artist alley where you can pick up handmade art and crafts made by local talents.
Visitors can also join the solo and group cosplay competitions, or enjoy music performances by Crestfall, Dreamin' and Bin Yun, all organised by Animangaki.
Comicore is also at the Comic Play Bazaar to showcase vintage merchandise and Malaysian artists, caricaturists, and cartoonists, all in support of the local manga publication scene.
Fans of the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi can also look forward to exclusive screenings of the original Star Wars trilogy and 2015's The Force Awakens, organised by the Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club. The club is also organising a panel to discuss aspects of the films.
There are also games, a photo booth, and a mall walkabout where visitors can meet and take pictures with their favourite Star Wars characters.
This weekend, get ready for a lightsaber performance and school, as well as a Star Wars origami workshop and props workshop.
Comics fans will enjoy the exhibitions of superhero comic book art, talks by experts, and sketches by local and foreign international comic book artists, organised by My Comics Community (MYCC).
The sketches include the works of such renowned comic artists as Alan Quah, Sheldon Goh, and Sam Hepburn.
For more, visit the Publika Comic Play 2017 Facebook page.