The longest-running comic convention in Nigeria—and arguably in Africa—returns this month. The 13th Lagos Comic Convention is scheduled to take place on the 13th of September 2025 at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos. Earlier in July, the convener expressed that it has consistently offered a community that served beyond comic book enthusiasts and has given a platform to other creative spaces. “The Village Effect”, as the edition is themed, is the relation between the microcosms of the creative industry and how the internet has pulled them together.

But to understand how this ‘village’ came to be, one must step into its history. Amidst the excitement of new programming and headline acts, there lies a treasure often overlooked and not talked about as much: the mascots. A written history of Lagos Comic Con feels incomplete without them. So, let us take a nostalgic journey through the convention’s story, told through the faces and forms of its mascots.

Mascots, for those unfamiliar, are symbolic figures, characters, animals, or objects used to represent and embody the identity of a brand, organisation, or event. They serve as a bridge between an entity and its audience, humanising the abstract, offering playfulness and familiarity, while reflecting culture, heritage, and humour. 

For Lagos Comic Con, mascots have become a defining visual language. Though the convention has not remained loyal to a single one, the tradition began over a decade ago and has since traced the event’s evolution. Local artists and enthusiasts who were keen to investigate the potential of having a specialized forum for their creations graced the maiden event. Everything was relatively small, but the vision was clear. The success of the maiden edition and growth in subsequent edition informed the first mascot.

The third edition in 2014 introduced the first mascot: a bold reimagining of Sango, the Yoruba god of thunder. Lightning eyes and a warrior’s stance captured the energy of the gathering, which was itself brimming with new creative fire. The following year, 2015, headline sponsor Indomie (by Dufil Foods) introduced a different flavour with its comic-strip heroes, the Indomitables—Tweeny, Swifty, Stretchy, Vision, and Big Boy (which this writer was a part of). To a younger audience, they were household names, and their presence at the convention cemented a cultural crossover.

In 2016, it became a collage of comic strips fitted into the shape of the African map. By 2017, the mascot had taken a sculptural turn: a metal fist adorned with beads, echoing Lagos’ many metallic monuments and their silent storytelling power. In 2018, human figures returned—two airborne characters with capes, traditional beads, and spiritual amulets, embodying both modern heroism and ancient symbology.

2019 fused tradition with technology in striking fashion. The mascot, the Afro-Futuristic Masquerade as it was christened, is a traditional masquerade laced with futuristic tech. It was a bold statement of African spirituality meeting modern science. A year later, 2020, with the pandemic reshaping the world, the convention adapted. First, the signature September date was shifted to November, and the event was organised largely online. Its mascots became Spoof! Animation’s characters from the Uniquely Me project, later brought to life in a 3D short film teased and premiered three years later.

The 10th edition in 2021 went epic with an African version of Transformers: a towering humanoid robot powered by spiritual technology. In 2022, the imagery swerved into psychedelic art, eschewing mascots for dreamlike things and places that symbolise Lagos itself. By 2023, artificial intelligence had entered the stage and influenced the art. The mascot, the curious robot, was an “Eyo” inspired humanoid robot, its mask and dance pose blending Lagos’ heritage with futuristic possibilities. Designed by Osazuwa Akugbe (Sazist), it posed an intriguing question: Is the world ready for the creative possibilities that AI has to offer?

In 2024, creative diversity took the spotlight. The comic book scene had opened up to many other areas like gaming and anime, each with a strongly growing community. These communities were given more access than ever before. The mascot, crafted by Monday Godswill, became a collective image of anime-styled characters in varied skin tones and styles, celebrating the widening reach of comics, gaming, and anime.

Now, in 2025, the 13th edition turns to ancestry. Its mascot is a meditating masquerade, an elder figure embodying wisdom and guidance for the village it represents. It is a fitting symbol for a convention that has grown into a cultural hub, where heritage and modernity meet. Designed by Victory Kiss and painted by Osinanya Damilola, this mascot builds on the legacy of the 2019 mascot.

Each mascot tells its own story—rooted in the era of its birth, reflecting shifts in culture, technology, and community. Taken together, they form an unofficial history of Lagos Comic Con, charting its journey from humble beginnings to a continent-wide cultural beacon.

Which mascot lingers most vividly in your memory? And which one best captures the Lagos Comic Con spirit for you? Join the conversation, get your tickets, and share your nostalgia at Lagos Comic Con, Saturday 13 September 2025.