Global InformationComic book convention information
A comic book convention (one-day event) or comic con is a fan convention with a primary focus on comic books and comic book culture, in which comic book fans gather to meet creators, experts, and each other. Commonly, comic conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels, or college campuses. They feature a wide variety of activities and panels, with a larger number of attendees participating in cosplay than most other types of fan conventions. Comic book conventions are also used as a vehicle for industry, in which publishers, distributors, and retailers represent their comic-related releases. Comic book conventions may be considered derivatives of science-fiction conventions, which began in the late 1930s.
Comic-cons were traditionally organized by fans on a not-for-profit basis,[1] though nowadays most events catering to fans are run by commercial interests for profit. Many conventions have award presentations relating to comics (such as the Eisner Awards, which have been presented at San Diego Comic-Con International since 1988; or the Harvey Awards, which have been presented at a variety of venues also since 1988).
At commercial events, comic book creators often give out autographs to the fans, sometimes in exchange for a flat appearance fee, and sometimes may draw illustrations for a per-item fee. Commercial conventions are usually quite expensive and are hosted in hotels. This represents a change in comic book conventions, which traditionally were more oriented toward comic books as a mode of literature, and maintained a less caste-like differentiation between professional and fan.
The first official comic book convention was held in 1964 in New York City and was called New York Comicon.[2][3] Early conventions were small affairs, usually organized by local enthusiasts (such as Jerry Bails, later known as the "Father of Comic Fandom", and Dave Kaler of the Academy of Comic-Book Fans and Collectors), and featuring a handful of industry guests. The first recurring conventions were the Detroit Triple Fan Fair, which ran from 1965 to 1978, and Academy Con, which ran from 1965 to 1967. Many recurring conventions begin as single-day events in small venues, which as they grow more popular expand to two days, or even three or more every year. Many comic-cons which had their start in church basements or union halls now fill convention centers in major cities.[4]
Nowadays, comic conventions are big business, with recurring shows in every major American city. Comic book conventions in name only, the biggest shows include a large range of pop culture and entertainment elements across virtually all genres, including horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels.
San Diego Comic-Con International, a multigenre entertainment and comic convention held annually in San Diego since 1970, is the standard bearer for U.S. comic-cons. According to Forbes, the convention is the "largest convention of its kind in the world";[5] and is also the largest convention held in San Diego.[6] According to the San Diego Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the convention has an annual regional economic impact of $162.8 million,[7][8] with a $180 million economic impact in 2011.[9] However, in 2017, SDCC lost its record of the largest annual multigenre convention to São Paulo's Comic Con Experience (first held in 2014).[10]
Internationally, the world's largest comic book convention, in terms of attendees, is Japan's Comiket (first held in 1975), which boasts an annual attendance of over half a million people.[11] Italy's Lucca Comics & Games (first held in 1965) and France's Angoulême International Comics Festival (first staged in 1974) are the world's second and third largest comic festivals, respectively.
- ^ Siegel, Howard P. "Made in America," BEM #16 (Dec. 1977): "These early conventions were run by purists for panelologists, and not meant to be commercially overbearing or expensive to go to."
- ^ Ballman, "The 1964 New York Comicon: The True Story Behind the World's First Comic Book Convention (The 1960s: The Silver Age of Comic Conventions) (Volume 1)"
- ^ History Channel, "Superheroes Decoded: Comic-Con | History"
- ^ Babka, Allison. "Wizard World Inc.: A roving comic con looks to corner the geek market," The Riverfront Times (April 3, 2014).
- ^ David M. Ewalt (July 25, 2011). "The Coolest Costumes of Comic-Con". Forbes. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ^ Peter Rowe (July 16, 2009). "Invasion of the comic fanatics". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved October 4, 2009.
While the Con's impact is global, it's San Diego's single largest convention, drawing more than 100,000 people who will rent hotel rooms, order meals and buy bagfuls of whatnots, all to the tune of $32 million.
- ^ "Comic-Con kicks off with freaks, fans, famous people". The Baltimore Sun. July 21, 2011. Archived from the original on December 24, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ Tom Blair (July 15, 2011). "Comic-Con is truly one in the millions". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ Peter Rowe (April 22, 2013). "Beer is big, bubbly business in SD, new study confirms". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2013.
That same year, the direct economic impact of Comic-Con – a five-day pop culture celebration that is the county's largest convention – was pegged at $180 million.
[permanent dead link] - ^ Rosario, Mariana; Rosset, Tatiane (December 1, 2017). "Comic Con Experience se firma como maior evento do tipo no mundo". VEJA SÃO PAULO (in Portuguese).
- ^ McCarthy 2006, p. 14.