Kochi Comic Con, presented by Maruti Suzuki Arena and powered by Crunchyroll, concluded its inaugural edition at AICC Angamaly, Ernakulam, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of over 20,000 attendees across two days. This marks the first-ever Comic Con to be hosted in Kerala, reflecting the state’s strong reading culture, growing anime communities, and vibrant fandoms.

From February 28, fans of all ages—families, students, creators, and long-standing fandom groups—immersed themselves in artist alleys, panel discussions, gaming arenas, and live stage performances. Attendees enjoyed interactions with internationally acclaimed comic creator Dan Parent, who conducted sessions on storytelling, character creation, and global comic traditions, resonating with audiences familiar with both Malayalam comics and international pop culture.

The Creators’ Corner was a highlight, with established publishers such as Amar Chitra Katha, Balarama Comics, and Alpha Book Publishers, alongside independent creators like Abhijeet Kini, connecting directly with fans through signings and interactive discussions.

“Kerala has always had a strong artistic culture, visible in Kathakali, Theyyam, Koodiyattam, and mural traditions,” said Shefali Johnson, CEO, Comic Con India. “Cosplayers approached their craft seriously, audiences engaged thoughtfully during panels, and the overall warmth made this debut incredibly special for us.”

Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD, NODWIN Gaming, added:
“People in Kerala show up wholeheartedly for what they believe in. That same energy carried into Kochi Comic Con. In our very first year here, fans cheered for local favourites like MHR and Joker, attended every session, and explored every zone with real enthusiasm.”

Cosplay Highlights:
Cosplayers brought an impressive range of characters to life, from global favorites such as Denji (Chainsaw Man), Luffy (One Piece), Tanjiro (Demon Slayer), Dr. Strange, Moon Knight, Izuku Midoriya, and Bakugo Katsuki (My Hero Academia), to regional icons including Mayavi, Luttappi, and Minnal Murali. The Kochi Qualifier of the Indian Championship of Cosplay concluded with Indrakshi Haldar, cosplaying as Neverend, True Destiny King from Duel Masters, winning the title and ₹50,000 cash prize.

Gaming and Interactive Experiences:
The NODWIN Gaming Arena featured live gameplay, competitive challenges, VR experiences such as Chandrayan and Best Saber, racing simulators by Logitech, and a Just Dance booth, keeping attendees engaged throughout both days. Maruti Suzuki Arena and Crunchyroll experience zones attracted anime enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike, with exclusive perks for Crunchyroll Power Pass holders, including the immersive Suzume Door installation.

Main Stage Entertainment:
Musical performances from MHR & Joker energized the crowd with interactive singalongs, while Sreenath Bhasi & Crew drew a strong local response. Comedy sets from Gautham Govindan, Nirmal Pillai, Pilot Gomma, and Rohan Joshi, alongside pop-culture acts like Geek Fruit and Purple Line, rounded out the weekend’s entertainment offerings.

Kochi Comic Con’s inaugural edition successfully brought together comic readers, anime fans, gamers, cosplayers, and families, demonstrating that Kerala’s fandom culture balances nostalgia with a global outlook. With strong attendance and enthusiastic engagement, Kochi has firmly established itself on India’s pop-culture calendar, setting the stage for even larger celebrations in the coming years.

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Hub88, the leading iGaming aggregator, has partnered with LuckyDraw, an innovative prize draw gamification platform, to enhance player loyalty and maximize lifetime value for operators. The collaboration enables Hub88’s extensive operator network to seamlessly integrate LuckyDraw’s technology, offering highly customisable and interactive prize draws, including raffles, scratch cards, and instant win games.

Launched in early 2026, LuckyDraw’s platform is designed for full native integration, allowing operators to maintain a fully branded experience. By hosting interactive raffles and instant-win experiences, operators can increase engagement, drive retention, and optimize monetization while offering players new, exciting ways to interact with their brands.

Ollie Castleman, Managing Director of Hub88, said:
“Over the past year, we’ve heavily invested in jackpots, bonusing, and loyalty solutions across our platform. LuckyDraw’s fully branded raffles, instant wins, and scratch games are a valuable addition, helping operators engage their players in new and compelling ways, all while strengthening brand loyalty and increasing lifetime value.”

Yaniv Spielberg, CEO and co-founder of LuckyDraw, added:
“With our experience as online gaming operators, we understand how to enhance the player experience to generate higher engagement and loyalty. Our prize draw platform is flexible and easy to implement, meeting the growing demand for interactive raffles and instant win games. Partnering with Hub88 allows us to bring these experiences to wider audiences while helping operators deliver unique, performance-driven engagement strategies.”

This partnership strengthens Hub88’s offering, aligning with its commitment to provide innovative, high-quality solutions that deliver measurable results and improved returns for operators across regulated markets.

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Gaming Corps, the publicly-listed Swedish game development company, has announced a new content partnership with Smart Gaming B.V., bringing its full suite of games to Betnation.nl, one of the Netherlands’ leading online casino and sportsbook brands.

The agreement will see Gaming Corps’ diverse portfolio go live on Betnation, offering players a wide variety of content, including Crash, Mine, Table, and Slot games. Highlights include fan-favourites such as 3 Pigs of Olympus and the Piggy Smash series, featuring the proprietary Smash4Cash mechanic, alongside the epic new adventure Anubis vs Horus: Twin Titans.

Since launching in October 2022, Betnation has quickly established itself as a top-rated Dutch online casino, providing nearly 3,000 games across Slots, Live Casino, Virtual Sports, and Sportsbook. The brand is recognized for its commitment to professionalism, fairness, and responsible gaming, creating a trusted and player-focused community.

Graham Greensmith, Chief Commercial Officer at Gaming Corps, said:
“We are thrilled to partner with Betnation, a young brand that has already established itself as a trusted name in the Dutch market. Their focus on professionalism and player care aligns perfectly with our own values, and we’re excited to bring our expanding portfolio of premium content to their players.”

Wouter Niemeijer, Country Manager at Betnation, added:
“At Betnation, we pride ourselves on offering a world-class gaming experience that’s as genuine as it is entertaining. Partnering with Gaming Corps allows us to enhance that experience even further, adding innovative and engaging titles that we know our community will enjoy. We look forward to a long and successful collaboration.”

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