1KM Line Formed Outside of Comic Fiesta at KL Convention Centre Over the Weekend

Earlier this year, the ‘Let’s Anime Cosplay Event’ made headlines for all the wrong reasons when two cosplayers were arrested by the police for possessing fake weapons. Now, one of Southeast Asia’s largest conventions of its kind also drew attention in a negative way this past weekend –– due to its insanely long queues.

The Comic Fiesta took play on 17 and 18 December at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Malaysia’s largest anime, comics, and game convention returned after two long years and fans were eager to come together to check out comic book artists, illustrators, and more such as headliner anime artiste Suzuki Konomi and cosplayers like Hikarin.

However, some fans were not able to enjoy the various activities at the sold-out event which sold at RM80 each for the two-day festivities. Some fans complained that due to the lack of management and crowd control, they were “being grilled out in an insanely long queue” and “had to quit”. Hikarin also acknowledged the difficulties that fans had faced with an Instagram post.

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A post shared by ひかりん @CF2022 C-A01 (@__hikarin)

Reddit user SheenTStars came up with a map to illustrate how bad the queue was and why they had to give up after 30 minutes as the lines snaked for over 1km, from Isetan Suria KLCC all the way to the booth entrance at the KL Convention Centre. Another Reddit user shared that the reason for the holdup was that the organisers had to ‘check the bags for weapons or NSFW cosplay’.

Twitter user @YU1XAKII shared images of their struggle to get into the hall, sharing that they “had to queue for 3 hours just to get into the convention centre, it was hot, and it even rained”. They also elaborated that there was “0/10 management” by the organisers as they “saw a few volunteers just chatting at the side while the crowd struggled and pushed their way into a narrow entrance.”

Had to queue for 3 hours just to get into the the convention centre, it was hot and it even rained, and saw a few volunteers just chatting at the side while the crowd struggled and pushed their way into a narrow entrance. 0/10 management by @comicfiesta #comicfiesta2022 pic.twitter.com/iPoGITDAmB
— yui ? ARLECCHINO ART! (@YU1XAKII) December 17, 2022

Another Twitter user shared pictures sent by their friend and that it took them more than four hours to get in.

Update 4: not sure if this is the only escalator in operation (can someone confirm?)If it took my friend more than 4 hours to head in, when his q dkt the event, idk how long it's going to take for the others, esp the ones kat KLCC. Lagi hujan ?#comicfiesta2022 #comicfiesta pic.twitter.com/fSSrExu8xj
— Prithivi Raj | Vesper (@ClassicPrithivi) December 17, 2022

Apparently four hours wasn’t even that bad, because some people had started queuing at 3 a.m.

[Comic Fiesta Day 1 Thread]Woke up at 5am to queue, already got people queueing since 3am pic.twitter.com/A4fn2IgjYv
— Kemkem (@Krjenie) December 16, 2022

One fan said that they were so tired after all the hassle to get in –– they just left after checking out the first hall.

It felt that we are buying the ticket just to line up for 3 hours. It is just q after q. I ended up not buying anything and went straight outside after the first hall. No more energy to explore other hall.
— Kyou (@AlexaIndeRs) December 17, 2022

A volunteer divulged that apparently, no instructions were given on how to manage the queue.

Yeah I'm one of voluteer today and I also talk to people in the line but I can't help since I don't know how help because we only been given instruction how to work in the Inside. Plus as far as I know there is not voluteer department that working outside with the queue
— Fiqry (@Fiqry124) December 17, 2022

However, some fans said that the queues were worth it as the event was amazing.

comic fiesta was fireeee ?? and yea 2 hours queue was worth it pic.twitter.com/nUd3Yj8SLa
— harisss (@makimagoesbrr) December 18, 2022

Such dedication! We can’t imagine waiting around for so long. Let’s hope that the Comic Fiesta will be better organised next year! Image credit: @comicfiesta, @ konomin_official, @YU1XAKII