From bushfires to a global pandemic, it’s safe to say that 2020 has been a year of uncertainty. But through the twists and turns, it has allowed us to really shift our attention towards issues that matter, which is why we have partnered with Half Cut to present Kapow! Virtual Comic Con.

A one-day event consisting of numerous conferences, Kapow! Virtual Comic Con will showcase a range of people who have embedded themselves in the pop culture industry, including comic illustrator and beloved Australian icon, Dean Rankine (The Simpsons, Rick and Morty), and rising Hollywood figure, Sam Hargrave (director of Extraction and Stunt Coordinator for Avengers: Endgame).

Though providing the perfect excuse to geek out, the event itself aims to help raise awareness for the current climate crisis by joining forces with Half Cut, a fundraising group who have devoted the last two years to saving the Daintree Rainforest. In 2020, the group aim to help purchase 8.835 Ha of land and return it to the traditional owners, the Kuku Yalanji bama (people), to manage long term.

Nathanael Hopkins-Smith, lead producer of Kapow! said,

“With events off the table for the foreseeable future I wanted to combine my love for the environment with my passion for comics and pop culture by hosting a virtual comic con. “Artists love supporting great causes because their art provides a perfect visual medium to convey a message. At the beginning of the year, artists joined forces during the bushfires to create ‘Australia Burns’, a graphic anthology that raised funds for numerous charities. Years earlier there was ‘Tango With Orangos’, a publication that aimed to help save two orangutan species from extinction.

“This time we focus that emphasis on the Daintree Rainforest in Australia. Partnering with Half Cut allows viewers to donate to an amazing cause and enjoy seminars from some of Australia’s latest and greatest in the pop culture industry”.

Kapow! Virtual Comic Con will be taking place on August 30th across the Kapow Facebook page. To support Kapow! during the #HalfCut challenge, you can donate at https://halfcut.org/kapow Beyond the virtual event, there are a number of ways to get involved and help out, such as participating in the #HalfCut challenge or by donating to the cause.

For more information, please visit: https://halfcut.org/