Comic Barcelona welcomes 110,000 attendees to 42nd edition 

More than 110,000 people attended the 42nd edition of Comic Barcelona, which ended on Sunday. 

The figure is similar to the last few years but still below the numbers seen in 2019, before the pandemic. 

The comic book fair brought together more than 200 exhibitors and a mix of attendees from "lifetime fans" to "young people or families with boys and girls who are at the age where they are starting to read." 

According to the organization, sales increased compared to last year's fair, with the great diversity in the comics on offer reaching "a wide range of audiences." 

'More families than ever' 

"We have had many families, more than ever, and many young people as well," Meritxell Puig, the director general of Ficomic told the Catalan News Agency (ACN). 

The fair, which ran for three days at Fira Montjuïc, had a special focus on the work of Francisco Ibáñez, the creator of the much-loved comic book characters Mort & Phil, who died in July 2023. 

"People of all generations visited the Ibañez exhibition, Puig said, adding: "We are very satisfied with this edition." 

The fairs award for best cosplay went to two cousins who dressed up as Mort & Phil. "For us it is our childhood and we had to pay him [Ibáñez] this tribute," the winners told ACN. 

The 'Mad Max' saga also featured prominently, with two exhibitions dedicated to it. 

'Utopia' was a new area this year dedicated to fantasy and science fiction, joining established zones such as 'Comic Vision' and 'Comic Fantasy'. 

Next year's Comic Barcelona will be held in April.