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Hoping for a limited edition Iron Man figure, cosplay and comic fans sleep on streets for early bird tickets to Hong Kong’s Ani-Com

Those with early bird ticket will get priority entry to annual extravaganza of cosplay, comics and video games at Exhibition Centre when it opens on Friday

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More than 300 people queue outside MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok, hoping to get early bird tickets for the Animation, Comics, and Games Expo. Photo: Nora Tam
Zoe Law

A tent, a yoga mat and two portable power banks to charge a phone – that is the essential kit for enthusiasts queuing for up to two days for tickets to Hong Kong’s annual extravaganza of cosplay, comics and video games.

“I am planning to spend around HK$3,000 to HK$4,000 (US$510). I want the limited edition Iron Man figure,” said Ben Ho, a student, who had been in the line outside MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok since 6am on Saturday.

Ho and his friends were among those at the front of a queue that by Monday morning numbered more than 300. All were hoping for one of the 500 early tickets to the Animation, Comics, and Games Expo, known as Ani-Com, that opens on Friday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai.

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A fan goes through the registering process at the MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok to get his hands on an early bird ticket to Hong Kong’s Ani-Com. Photo: Nora Tam
A fan goes through the registering process at the MacPherson Stadium in Mong Kok to get his hands on an early bird ticket to Hong Kong’s Ani-Com. Photo: Nora Tam
To tackle a scalping problem, Ani-Com organisers had rolled out a new queuing system. Those hoping to get an early ticket must provide their full name, the first four digits of their HKID or passport number and their mobile phone number, as well as enter a facial recognition process.
There’s no guarantee scalpers won’t be there
Ian Woo

Edward Chan, 21, another enthusiast hoping to take the limited edition Iron Man figure home, said he was satisfied with the new arrangement.

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