The wonderful world of ICON
It’s eight in the morning and several strange hominid species including war gamers, comic collectors and sci-fi fanatics start to congregate outside the Jabula Recreation Centre in Sandringham where the spectacle that is Icon has taken place for many years.
The odd human stands in the queue tentatively glancing about at the growing strangeness that surrounds them. Witches, elves and armoured knights high-five each other as they locate their pals from whichever local geek club they happen to belong to. Others sit in random places in the parking lot pouring over their tournament rules and preparing themselves mentally for world domination. A strange looking chap with a bushy beard opens the door and begins to holler out the rules and requirements for entry into the hall among expletives of the generally censored type. Human mothers cover the ears of their not-so-innocent children. The queue begins to move and Icon is officially opened.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about then you’ve never visited the annual fantasy and sci-fi event that is Icon! Every year in July geeks and gamers, fanboys and fairies, wizards and warriors, all gather for a weekend of fantastical fun and gothic goings-on. On entering the main hall you pay your R20 or so and get some cheap, but cool, trinket – like this year’s Superman badge (button if you’re American). A few metres on and you can purchase a branded coffee mug which you can fill with cheap coffee, free of charge, all weekend long to keep up the energy requirements. Across the passage is the Anime theatre where sexy Japanese cartoons play all day featuring huge-eyed girls with perfect bodies and tartan mini skirts… or alternatively sword bearing ninjas and fountains of arterial blood from severed limbs; either way worth a 20 minute detour or two.
On entering the main hall your senses are attacked by the sounds and sights of crowds of fantasy enthusiasts, some in elaborate fancy dress (including the odd tartan miniskirt wearing manga girl), all goggling over the various items being sold by comic and gaming stalls all around the hall. Whether you’re looking for a rubber sword to bash your siblings with, or a unit of plastic soldiers for your collection, or the latest Batman (who is no longer Bruce Wayne because he died and was replaced by Nightwing who is really Dick Grayson who used to be Robin…) comic – you will find it at Icon.
In the side halls and gardens you walk past various gaming tournaments being held for various game systems – Warhammer, 40K, Magic the Gathering, Hordes, Settlers, Role Playing and more. You can’t help but stare at some of the spectacularly painted miniatures and marvel at how focussed everyone is on what they’re doing. Handfuls of dice are being rolled, decks of cards are being dealt and screams of disappointment compete with cries of victory all around you. Outside on the lawn the LARP (Live Action Role Playing) and SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) folk are busy beating the flying phlegm out of each other with swords and similar weapons of reasonable destruction, and as they do, eager crowds gather to witness the spectacle and call out the odd word of encouragement or roar with laughter as the loser clutches his bloody nose.
Of course by now you’re feeling a little peckish so you head to the kitchen to see what’s on the menu and, same procedure as last year James, it is salad rolls (kind of) and pink hot dogs, a favourite of nerds everywhere… well that’s their story and they’re sticking to it. Of course the lady who sells the instant noodles near the entrance makes a killing each year.
So if you haven’t taken a trip to Icon before, do yourself a favour and get there next year July. Whether it’s to buy a gift for your nephew or a graphic novel to prepare for an upcoming DC or Marvel flick, or maybe just to remind yourself how normal you are – you’ll want to be adding this event to your bucket list!
