Doujinshi event Comitia is held four times a year, with its largest edition scheduled for Golden Week at Comiket home venue Tokyo Big Sight. It's not strictly manga, with other creative efforts being presented, but, unlike Comiket, there's no cosplay, no company/anime promotion, and no parody works. It's all originals. Among the pro's attending this week's 116h event was Gunslinger Girl author Yu Aida. And, maybe not completely true to the spirit of the event, he posted a GG parody of the experience.

The works for the event

Again, not really in the spirit of Comitia, he's been posting KanColle tributes recently....

And, of course

Serial Experiments Lain artist Yoshitoshi ABe also brought new illustration collections, postcards, posts, and "Planet Lahn pilot: 00," a 12 page full-color experimental manga.

and some perspectivr on the event from Jim Zub, author of Japanese-set Wayward, out in America from Image.

Tokyo Big Sight: massive convention center hosting Comitia 116 today.

Huge crowd filed out from the station.#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/LxsZqtAOhd — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

Getting set up for the festival.#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/80fKjjoNAK — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

Setting up for the festival.#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/AMBq9ZreYW — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

Line ups for show exclusives.#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/TnXk0EMPKd — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

Tokyo Big Sight is massive.#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/wTyl6uhoEv — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

300 yen for one.

Two copies for 500 yen.#gaiJim at @COMITIAofficial Table J58! pic.twitter.com/GC4ztn5F5b — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

Comitia 116 starts in 15 minutes...#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/Zom8bAlclm — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

My banner stands out relatively well.#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/EKcQf2YoB3 — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

Everyone claps and 50's-style pop music starts playing as Comitia 116 begins!#gaiJim — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

Whether the show is a sales success or not, I'm so happy to be here.#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/m7ORV0z9XA — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

A lot of variety at Comitia. All original creations.#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/sRYXSv6jc7 — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

A lot of variety at Comitia. All original creations.#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/sRYXSv6jc7 — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

Sampling area where people can browse sample books without embarrassing interactions with creators.#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/VrPgFphsUP — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

People bringing us Wayward fan art!

I am freaking out!#gaiJim pic.twitter.com/G8j2EqqHvH — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

Some really great stuff at Comitia.

Lots of variety.#gaJim pic.twitter.com/F11Us6rcoN — Jim Zub in Japan (@JimZub) May 5, 2016

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.