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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2014 18 News THE sixth edition of Malta Comic Con is currently underway at St James Cavalier, Valletta, and will remain open until 7pm today. The weekend dedicated to comic books and other related media – such as films and video games, as well as cosplay – is organised by Wicked Comics, and has been gain- ing traction over the past few years, with luminaries like David Lloyd (V for Vendetta) and Dave Gib- bons (Watchmen) having graced the Con, along with high-profile contemporary creators like Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead) and Michael Dialynas (The Woods, Amala's Blade). So why does the Malta Comic Con – by its nature much smaller than its international counterparts – ap- peal to popular international crea- tors? Judging by the writers and art- ists who spoke to us during our visit to St James Cavalier yesterday, the consensus appears to be that Malta Comic Con is a more comfortable and intimate affair than most. "It's relaxing!" Greek artist Michael Dialynas said when asked how the Malta Comic Con differs from other events of its ilk around the globe. "I was in New York last month, and that was chaos. So leaving a giant chaotic convention and coming straight here feels like a little vaca- tion, really. You can chill out, meet some people, chat to fellow crea- tors, have a drink… and, you know, sell some books," Dialynas, who first visited the Malta Comic Con last year, said. "So it's a nice, relaxing end-of- year Con – that's why I'm here for a second time!" "What I like about this Con is that even though it's becoming more and more popular each year, it's never too crowded, or too much like a process-line… it's always en- joyable and laid back," podcaster Chris Thompson, who has visited each edition of the Malta Comic Con barring the first one, said. "In some places 'laid back' means 'disorganised', but that's not the case here – it's actually run very smoothly. So it's very relaxed and informal, but still professional," Thompson, who presents the Pop Culture Hound and Orbital Comics podcasts, added. The Con also serves as a jumping- off point for up-and-coming local creators, some of whom – like Wil- liam Calleja of the Sanctuary's Edge roleplaying game and Daniela 'iella' Attard – credit the Malta Comic Con for giving their work a neces- Freaks and geeks, The Malta Comic Con injects a dash of (primary) colour during a grey November weekend. TEODOR RELJIC gratefully heads to St James Cavalier to investigate this annual celebration of comic book culture Watch now: The misfits come out to play | Malta Comic Con 2014 PHOTO BY RAY ATTARD