Wollongong City Library astonished the fans on Saturday, 14 May 2022, as the team behind the event delivered another Comic Gong to a once again hungry crowd.
Fans of the now long running annual event rejoiced as Comic Gong returning after a brief two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 lockdowns with a successful relaunch. Like many other events, the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns led to the cancelation of the 2020 show and the 2021 show progressing under a very limited capacity. However, this year’s show was spread over five locations throughout central Wollongong – Wollongong Library, Wollongong Town Hall, the Art Gallery, the Arts Precinct, and the Crown Street Mall.
This year welcomed some new venders along with some of the long running venders and artists that have been with the convention since its conception. Beside the venders and artists other fan favourite features return such as the Batmobile and more importantly the cosplay competition, where everyone can dress up and express their love for the characters that shape pop culture. Along with other activities such as pinball, Lego robots, face painting and stunt performers performing the moves and stunts we have come to love from our superheroes in the comics and on the screen.
Comic Gong is an annual pop culture festival that celebrates a love of comics, graphic novels, gaming, and cosplay. Comic Gong is a free and inclusive and all-ages event. Free event geared towards families. The event debuted back in 2013 at Corrimal District Library and Community Centre. In 2014 it moved and expanded to Wollongong’s city Library, gallery, and Town Hall. This move was to accommodate its success and need for extra space. This Illawarra based event is like Super Nova or Oz Comic-Con and it is estimated that this celebration of pop-culture attracts over 10,000 people each year, according to the Wollongong city council’s website.