Crazy for comics: Home to Central Asia’s biggest Comic Con, Kazakhstan nurtures home-grown talent
In this episode of Modern Nomads, we dive into Kazakhstan’s emerging comics scene—following a local artist who now works with Marvel, and diving into the biggest Comic Con in Central Asia.
In partnership with MDQ
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00:00From ancient warriors to modern superheroes, Kazakhstan's comic scene is finding its voice.
00:11Inspired by global icons, local artists are reimagining history, culture and identity in bold new ways.
00:19Welcome to Kazakhstan! Welcome to Modern Nomads!
00:23We begin this episode in Almaty, Kazakhstan's cultural capital and a creative hub for the country's emerging comics scene.
00:33Here we meet Madibek Musabekov, an artist who fuses iconic Kazakh imagery, like the legendary Golden Man, into the world of comics.
00:42His work even brings Kazakh-inspired characters into the Marvel Universe.
00:47I met one agent, he showed my work by the Marvel editor, they liked it and made a proposal.
00:57I work with Marvel since February 2022, it's the third year.
01:00Madibek does it all, from writing and illustration to publishing and promotion.
01:05He has already published two titles, Yermek Batyr, the tale of a Kazakh hero who saves lives,
01:11and the Golden Warrior, which blends historical figures with mythology.
01:16Now he's preparing a sequel to the Golden Warrior and working on the Jedi Knights,
01:21a story set in the Star Wars universe.
01:26As interesting the comics industry grows in Kazakhstan,
01:29cozy bookshops are filling with everything from international bestsellers to titles by local creators.
01:36There is a big demand for our culture, folklore, mythology.
01:41And this is all highlighted on the list of contemporary comics.
01:46From the intimate bookshops of Almaty to large-scale festivals in the capital Astana,
01:51Kazakhstan comics industry is gaining momentum.
01:54The five-day Comic-Con Astana brings together fans and creators from across the country and beyond,
02:00a sign of just how far the industry has come.
02:03When surrounded by superheroes, cyborgs and elves, I just can't help but become a part of this reality too.
02:09This year, the convention offers plenty to explore, from pop geek performances to hands-on masterclasses.
02:18One of the main highlights is the cosplay contest, with a total prize fund of nearly 25,000 euros.
02:25Comic-Con Astana brings in major names from the global geek scene.
02:34Among them is Andy Serkis, the legendary motion capture actor behind Gollum in The Lords of the Rings.
02:41Today, he's here in Astana, meeting and greeting his fans.
02:47And now, from one epic saga to another.
02:50Hey guys, I'm a big fan. Can we please take a photo together?
02:53Great, thank you!
02:58Comic-Con is more than just costumes and fandom.
03:01It's a celebration of pop culture in all its forms.
03:04Comics, anime, films, TV series, gaming and cosplay.
03:09One of the highlights is the artist's alley, where creators present and sell their work.
03:14The alley of authors, where artists, illustrators, comicists, and products are presented.
03:20There are more than 100 artists.
03:2290% are from Kazakhstan, and about 10% are invited to our guests, who are here, who are here, who are here, who are here, who are here.
03:31Our main goal is to support Kazakhstan's artists, so that this culture was developed in our territory, so that our young artists were developed and entered the world.
03:39While exploring the grounds of Comic-Con Astana, we came across renowned Kazakh comics author Alibek Koshigeldiyev, who's presenting his latest books at the event.
03:50Starting from last year, I made comics in two languages, in Russian and in Kazakh.
03:56I decided that no matter what I will do, I will make my buyer in a Kazakh language, and he will find it.
04:02Well, in general, I didn't think so.
04:04What began as a comic convention in the US nearly 60 years ago has grown into a global pop culture phenomenon, with comics still at its core.
04:13In Astana, Comic-Con returns for its fourth year, and this year's event shows remarkable growth in the number of unique visitors.
04:22This year, we expect 70, about 70,000 unique visitors.
04:27Of them, about 10,000 foreign visitors.
04:30The majority of our visitors are our residents, the countries of the US, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan.
04:37Of course, there are also representatives from Europe.
04:42Kazakhstan's comics industry is on the rise, blending global influences with stories rooted in local culture.
04:49Through its artists and festivals, the country is carving out its place on the global comics map.
