Author: Devaka Perera

The most interesting story I’ve read this week on space travel and TRAPPIST-1 , has been in Sinhala. It talks about propulsion, habitable zones, the works. Right now it’s the front page feature on Aniwa.lk, Lanka Comic Con’s Sinhala Online Media Partner.

“At Aniwa,” said founder Anisha Yasarante,  “our mission is to provide the Sinhala digital community with a high quality alternative that focuses on 100% original content that is humourous and useful instead of low brow gossip and politics.” 

Aniwa has been covering Geek and Nerd-based articles for a while now, for Sinhala content readers. From Sinhala language scifi, to the Suicide Squad Not-Actually-Banning, to how to pick a tattoo (a story many should have read, but didn’t). Check out their page: there’s a whole world of Sri Lanka relevant content out there, that English readers are less likely to find. 

“We’re really excited to reach out to the geeks of Sri Lanka,” said Anisha,  “and come up with a lot of fun and interesting Sinhala content together with the Geek Club of SL in the coming weeks on comics, scifi, gaming, cosplay, and everything else that makes up the Lanka Comic Con movement.”

Is Comic Con Just for English Speakers? 

If you think this is a silly question, then you are a geek. But, it’s not silly, at all. Language splits this country like the Berlin Wall. It makes us aliens to each other, and keeps us from allies we don’t know we have – or worse, assume are enemies. It was one of the first questions Aniwa reporter Pathum Punchihewa, asked me. It is probably one of the most important questions we’ve ever been asked. 

Yuval Noah Harari talks about 3 inventions that enabled tribal humans to cooperating with infinite strangers. Government (pay tax, or get shot); Currency (which is why Steam can trust you); and Ideas.

Comic Con is a celebration of geek ideas. Any geek can go to Comic Con Russia, the Malaysian GCC, or Lanka Comic Con – and be treated the same way. Our Geek ideas unites us with people around the planet. It unites us, here at home.   

Come Be Yourself. 

In August, Geeks are taking over the largest exhibition space, in the country.
But, we need your help to do it. 

Spread the Word: Become a Like Helmet!

People say you can’t change the world by clicking “like.” That’s partly true. You need to share and click “like.” Then,you change the world. 

Become a “Like” Helmet, an official Lanka Comic Con, social media volunteer.

To be a Like Helmet, we need you to:

– Share the event
– Share our blog posts (like this one!). The maximum we’ll ever do is once per week. 

“Like” Helmets get the the following perks:  
– First access to our chief guests, David Lloyd and Kevin McNally
– Free admission (FREE!) 
– A nifty “Like Helmet” badge

You also get to say “Nuh UH!” to people who say you can’t change anything by clicking “like.” 

Because you will.

Help Connect: “I Know A Guy At…”

Know someone who might want a booth, or want to exhibit, at Comic Con? Let us know who, and we’ll get in contact with them.

Submit a contact’s name and their email and phone number, and we’ll say you recommended them to us. Helps them, helps us!

We need your help to make Comic Con a success. Please click on this link if you’d like to get involved!

So you might have seen this: 

This is incorrect.  Last year’s event was Lanka Comic Con. We have already had it again this year, back in August.

There is no “second edition of the same Comic Con”  happening at the BMICH. The event that is happening, is completely different.

Lanka Comic Con is in no way affiliated with it. 

I met Aishwarya Tennekoon in 2015, when we first did Lanka Comic Con. I’d set up some upcycled cardboard as city ruins for a game. I was pretty proud of it – but it was basically garbage, thrown together in a day. Aishwarya meanwhile, came in with a scale model of Barad-dur.

It was the first of many cases where I’d be stunned – both by the quality of his work, and by his great humility about the whole thing. For him, this is just something he does. He would do it whether or not there was anyone to see.

He has been busy since then. He’s been learning how to draw for comics. He’s travelled around Pettah, trying to find something to use for model grass. And he’s been building Lord of the Rings models – Hobbit holes, Nazguls, you know, the usual stuff.

Recently, he tried selling one on the Geek Collectors Page. People went nuts – I was quite annoyed, because I found out about it much too late. Encouraged by the reaction, he’s decided to make a bunch more, just to sell at the geek Xmas Market.

Here are some of the things you can expect. All of these are handmade. All of these are highly limited. And the fell beast with the rider? That’s the only one there is.

He is pricing these to be accessible. You can buy a Bag End for 4,000/= (complete with Mahogany or Teak bases). The mounted Nazgul is going to 6,000 rupees. And Sauron? He’s just 4,000/=. The Nazgul on Fellbeast, which is 29 inches wide, is going for 12,000/=.

You can meet Aishwarya, talk to him about his work, and maybe hire him for a commission at the Geek Xmas Market.

Be early.

Collectique, a one-stop shop for toys, collectibles and comic merchandise in Colombo, is giving prizes and vouchers at the Geek Xmas Market. Here’s what’s up for grabs:

Cosplay Prize

If someone wants to give you a prize, say thank you, smile, and put it in your pocket. You may have just been having some fun, but you know what? Sometimes, you get a prize for that.

Collectique will be holding a cosplay competition; the winner will get a 12″ Marvel Titan Hero Series Action Figure.*

They will also have a photo booth, which they encourage everyone to make use of.

But I Just Want to Shop…

Collectique is also holding a prize draw for people who shop at their table. For every 3,000/= spent, you get a raffle ticket. The drawing will be at 5:30pm. The prize? A Kotobukiya ArtFX+ statue.* Its’ going to be worth as much as 11,000/=.

I Love Shopping! “Add to Cart” is “Add to Heart!”

Their third offer is for every 5,000/= spent, they will give a voucher for 500/= – that’s 10 percent! – redeemable with them on the weekend of 12th and 13th of December.

You can contact Collectique, here. Ask for Oshan, he’s pretty cool. He may or may not be a cute teddy bear though. 

*Exact item to be determined on the day, at Collectique’s discretion.