San Diego Comic-Con International

Coordinates: 32°42′22.60″N 117°09′42.63″W / 32.706278°N 117.1618417°W / 32.706278; -117.1618417

Comic-Con International: San Diego
Status	Active
Genre	Multi-genre
Venue	San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park, San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina, Various locations around downtown San Diego
Location	San Diego, California
Country	United States
First held	1970
Organizer	Comic-Con International
Filing status	Non-profit
Attendance	Around 130,000 in 2010[1]
Official website	http://www.comic-con.org

San Diego Comic-Con International, also known as Comic-Con International: San Diego (as given on its website), and commonly known as Comic-Con or the San Diego Comic-Con, was founded as the Golden State Comic Book Convention and later the San Diego Comic Book Convention in 1970 by Shel Dorf^[2] and a group of San Diegans.^[3] It is traditionally a four-day event (Thursday through Sunday — though a three-hour preview night on Wednesday is open to professionals, exhibitors, and some guests pre-registered for all four days) held during the summer in San Diego, California, United States, at the San Diego Convention Center. Comic-Con is both the name of the annual event and the common name of the organization.

Comic-Con International also produces two other conventions, WonderCon and the Alternative Press Expo (APE), both held in San Francisco, California. Since 1974, Comic-Con has bestowed its annual Inkpot Award to guests and persons of interest in the industries of popular arts as well as to members of Comic-Con's Board of Directors and convention committee. It is also the home of the Will Eisner Awards.

Originally showcasing comic books, science fiction/fantasy and film/television (as was evident by the three circled figures appearing in Comic-Con's original logo), and related popular arts, the convention has expanded over the years to include a larger range of pop culture elements, such as horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels. The convention is the largest in the Americas, and fourth largest in the world after the Comiket in Japan, the Angoulême International Comics Festival in France,^[4][5][6] and the Lucca Comics and Games in Italy, filling to capacity the San Diego Convention Center with over 130,000 attendees in 2010.

History and organization

The convention was founded by Detroit, Michigan-born comics fan Shel Dorf, who in the mid-1960s had mounted the Detroit Triple-Fan Fairs, one of the first commercial comics-fan conventions. When he moved to San Diego, California in 1970,^[7] he organized a one-day convention (Golden State Comic-Minicon) on March 21, 1970 "as a kind of 'dry run' for the larger convention he hoped to stage." Dorf went on to be associated with the convention as president or manager, variously, for many years until becoming estranged from the organization.^[8]

Following the initial gathering, Dorf's first three-day San Diego comics convention, the Golden State Comic-Con,^[7] drew 300 people^[9] and was held at the U. S. Grant Hotel^[7] from August 1–3, 1970.^[10] Other locations in the convention's early years included the El Cortez Hotel, the University of California, San Diego, and Golden Hall, before being moved to the San Diego Convention Center in 1991.^[11] Richard Alf,chairman in 1971, has noted an early factor in the Con's growth was an effort "to expand the Comic-Con [organizing] committee base by networking with other fandoms such as the Society for Creative Anachronism and the Mythopoeic Society, among others. (We found a lot of talent and strength through diversity)."^[12] By the late 1970s the show had grown to such an extent that Bob Schreck recalled visiting with his then-boss Gary Berman of Creation Conventions and reflecting, "While [Berman] kept repeating (attempting to convince himself) 'This show's not any bigger than ours!' I was quietly walking the floor stunned and in awe of just how much bigger it really was. I was blown away."^[13]

The convention is organized by a panel of 13 board members, 16 to 20 full-time and part-time workers, and 80 volunteers who assist via committees. Comic Con International is a non-profit organization, and proceeds of the event go to funding it, as well as the Alternative Press Expo (APE) and WonderCon.^[11] In September 2010, the convention announced that it would stay in San Diego through 2015.^[14][15]

According to the San Diego Convention and Visitor's Bureau the convention has an annual regional economic impact of $162.8 million.^[16][17]

Events

Sign inside the San Diego Comic-Con

Along with panels, seminars, and workshops with comic book professionals, there are previews of upcoming feature films, portfolio review sessions with top comic book and video game companies, and such evening events as awards ceremonies and the Masquerade, a costume contest, as well as the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival, which showcases shorts and feature length movies that do not have distribution or distribution deals.

Traditional events include an eclectic film program, screening rooms devoted to Japanese animation, gaming, programs such as cartoonist Scott Shaw!'s "Oddball Comics" slide show and animation expert Jerry Beck's program featuring TV's "worst cartoons ever", as well as over 350 hours of other programming on all aspects of comic books and pop culture.

Like most comic-book conventions, Comic-Con features a large floorspace for exhibitors. These include media companies such as movie studios and TV networks, as well as comic-book dealers and collectibles merchants. Like most comics conventions, Comic-Con includes an autograph area, as well as the Artists' Alley where comics artists can sign autographs and sell or do free sketches. Despite the name, artists' alleys can include writers and even models.

Academics and comic industry professionals annually hold the Comics Arts Conference at Comic-Con, presenting scholarly studies on comics as a medium.

Exclusive collectibles

In the 21st century, the convention has drawn toy and collectibles designers who sell "Comic Con Exclusive" products. Such companies have included Hasbro, Mattel, and Sideshow Collectibles.^[18] Most such exclusives are licensed properties of movie, comic book, and animation characters.

In the media

Comic-Con International has served as the setting for Mark Hamill's Comic Book: The Movie, and for an episode of the HBO television series Entourage, the latter of which, while set at the event, was not filmed there. Comic-Con also served as an excuse for the fictional characters Seth Cohen and Ryan Atwood's trip to Tijuana, Mexico in the first season of TV series The O.C. The convention also featured prominently as a setting for the Numb3rs episode "Graphic". In Season 4 of Beauty and the Geek, an episode was featured where the contestants traveled to Comic-Con 07 and were given a challenge to create their own superheroes. In an episode of Punk'd, Hilary Swank gets Punk'd after an "attack from talking robot." In Season 5, episode six of the Showtime show Weeds, attendees from Comic Con 2009 are seen in Silas and Doug's medicinal marijuana club.

It was been reported that a mock up of the external area near Hall D of the Convention Center depicting Comic-Con would be shown in the movie Paul which stars Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.^[19] Issue #72 of The Invincible Iron Man (1974) was set at the July–August 1974 Comic-Con at the El Cortez Hotel, and featured cameos by a few of the special guests.

Comic-Con is frequently mentioned in the CBS television show The Big Bang Theory as an event the characters enjoy attending.^{[episode needed]} On the Futurama episode "Lrrreconcilable Ndndifferences", the main characters attend the 3010 convention (with it being referred to as "Comic-Con Intergalactic" and the iconic eye logo now sporting multiple eyes), where Fry looks for approval for his own comic while Bender attends a panel from Matt Groening (creator of Futurama as well as The Simpsons) on his new show "Futurella" (a twist on the title of the show and a parody of its cancellation by Fox).

In "It's My Party and I'll Bang If I Want To", an episode of the 2011 season of The Real World: San Diego, the cast attends Comic-Con made up as zombies in order to pass out promotional flyers for the House of Blues, where they worked as part of their season work assignment.^[20][21]

Quotations

Mark Evanier on the first Comic-Con venue:

“

I never stayed in the old U.S. Grant [hotel] but it was the scene of the first San Diego Con, which I attended way back in 1970, back when we thought it was mobbed to have 500 comic fans in the same place at the same time. The hotel was undergoing a massive renovation then as well, but was merely upgrading from Extremely Shabby to merely Somewhat Shabby. The place I still miss is the El Cortez Hotel, where the con was held for several years in the seventies. I'd say the place was a dump but that would be demeaning to dumps. Still, it was a fun dump, run by a management that didn't seem to care all that much what we did to it.[22]

”

Evanier on an early spillover venue:

“

In the seventies, when we all started going to San Diego Comic Book Conventions, back when they called them that, the Hotel San Diego was a frequent venue for con events. Some years, before it outgrew any available hotel ballroom, the Inkpot Awards presentation was held there. There were many memorable parties and gatherings, such as in 1982 when a group of Jack Kirby's friends staged a memorable surprise birthday party for him in one of its halls. Perhaps some year, you were either so hard up for money or so desperate for an available room (or both) that you even booked into its sadly deteriorating accommodations. It was one of the cheaper places to sleep and con-goers took advantage of that up until June 2001 when the building was declared structurally unsafe and was closed down".[23]

”

Issues and criticism

Crowding

Capacity attendance at Comic-Con in 2006 and 2007 has caused crowding issues. Concerns have been raised that the event is possibly too massive for the San Diego Convention Center, Comic-Con's home through at least 2015.^[24] In 2006, Comic-Con for the first time, had to close registration for a few hours on Saturday to accommodate crowds. In response, for 2007, Comic-Con introduced a new three-day membership that did not include Saturday. Nevertheless, the 2007 show went on to sell out Saturday, as well as Friday and Sunday for the first time. Additionally, both the four-day and three-day memberships sold out for the first time. For 2008, the three-day memberships were abandoned and the convention decided to sell memberships only in advance, with no on-site registration.^[25]

Comic Con crowds in 2001 as seen from a helicopter - Panorama

In 2008, all memberships were sold out before the convention for the first time ever. This sellout has given rise to the new phenomenon of Comic-Con memberships being scalped for exorbitant prices on websites such as eBay.^[26]

In April 2008, David Glanzer, Comic-Con's director of marketing and public relations, commented on the organization's desire to remain in San Diego:

We've been approached by other cities, [but] I don't think anybody wants to leave San Diego. I certainly don't. It's a perfect fit for us. It's expensive, whether it be paying for the street signs that tell you what streets are closed, or for any police or the hall or any of the myriad things, it's expensive. But it's a great city. There's been some talk of expansion of the center, which we would certainly welcome. Hopefully if everything lines up, we will be here for many more years.^[11]

Heidi McDonald reported on her blog The Beat as of October 7, 2009 Preview Night for the 2010 show has already sold out. Glazner explained the early sell-out:

For 2010 the decision was made to offer an option (of whether they wanted to attend Preview Night) to those who pre-registered for four-day badges. We limited the number of badges for Preview Night to the number of those who attended in 2008.^[27]

Mark Evanier on his blog News from ME noted as of November 9, 2009 all 4-day passes for the 2010 show had already been sold out.^[28]

On February 23, 2010, The Orange County Register reported that the larger Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim would be making a bid to become the new home of Comic-Con starting in 2013.^[29] On September 30, 2010 Comic Con announced that they have extended their stay up to 2015.

The North County Times reported on July 26, 2010 that 4-day passes with access to Preview night for the 2011 Convention sold out two hours before the 2010 convention closed.^[30]

Locations and dates

Dates	Location	Attendance	Official Comic-Con guests	Notes
March 21, 1970	U.S. Grant Hotel	145	Forrest J Ackerman, Mike Royer[31]	Minicon staged to raise funding for August convention
August 1–3, 1970[10]	U.S. Grant Hotel[10]	300	Forrest J Ackerman, Ray Bradbury, Jack Kirby, Bob Stevens, A. E. van Vogt[31]:61	Known as Golden State Comic Con
August 6–8, 1971	Muir College, University of California, San Diego Campus, La Jolla, California	800	Kirk Alyn, Leigh Brackett, Ray Bradbury, Edmund Hamilton, Jack Kirby[31]:62
August 18–21, 1972	El Cortez Hotel	900+	Bob Clampett, Harry Harrison, Jack Kirby, Katherine Kurtz, Mel Lazarus, Roy Thomas, Milt Gray[31]:65	Known as San Diego's West Coast Comic Convention
August 16–19, 1973	Sheraton Hotel, Harbor Island, California	1,000+	Neal Adams, D.C. Fontana, June Foray, Mike Friedrich, Carmine Infantino[31]:66	Officially called San Diego Comic-Con; first five-day Comic-Con; first celebrity brunch
July 31–August 5, 1974	El Cortez Hotel	2,500	Majel Barrett, Milton Caniff, Frank Capra, Chuck Jones, Walter Koenig, Russ Manning, Russell Myers, Charles M. Schulz, Larry "Seymour" Vincent[31]:67	First Masquerade, emceed by June Foray
July 30–August 3, 1975	El Cortez Hotel	2,500+	Robert Bloch, Will Eisner, Mark Evanier, Gil Kane, Jack Katz, Stan Lee, Dick Moores, Chuck Norris, Don Rico, Jerry Siegel, Jim Starlin, Jim Steranko, Theodore Sturgeon:68	Gabriel Wisdom (dressed as Thor) emcees Maquerade, with Charlene Brinkman (later known as Brinke Stevens), as dancer
November 7–9, 1975	El Cortez Hotel	1,100	Jock Mahoney, George Pal	Three-day follow-up to summer Con. Comic-Con incorporates as nonprofit.
July 21–25, 1976	El Cortez Hotel	3,000+	Sergio Aragonés, Mel Blanc, Milton Caniff, Rick Griffin, Dale Messick, Joe Shuster, Noel Sickles, Don Thompson, Maggie Thompson[31]:69	Vaughn Bodé, scheduled to appear, dies just before Con.
July 20–24, 1977	El Cortez Hotel	4,000+	Carl Barks, C. C. Beck, Walter Gibson, Robert A. Heinlein, Michael Kaluta, Jack Kirby, B. Kliban, Joe Kubert, Harvey Kurtzman, Stan Lynde, Alex Niño, Trina Robbins, Bill Scott[31]:70
July 26–30, 1978	El Cortez Hotel	5,000	John Buscema, Howard Chaykin, Shary Flenniken, Alan Dean Foster, Gardner Fox, Steve Gerber, Burne Hogarth, Greg Jein, Bob Kane, Gray Morrow, Clarence "Ducky" Nash, Grim Natwick, Wendy Pini, Frank Thorne, Boris Vallejo[31]:71
August 1–5, 1979	Convention and Performing Arts Center and U.S. Grant Hotel	6,000	Kelly Freas, Mike Jittlov, Harvey Kurtzman, Victor Moscoso, Nestor Redondo, Marshall Rogers, John Romita Sr., Mort Walker, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman[31]:72	US$12,000 in receipts stolen from the home of Con's Treasurer
July 30–August 3, 1980	Convention and Performing Arts Center and U.S. Grant Hotel	5,000	John Byrne, Chris Claremont, Mike Grell, Paul Gulacy, Larry Niven, Joe Orlando, Richard Pini, Wendy Pini, Jerry Pournelle, Osamu Tezuka, Adam West, Wally Wood[31]:78
July 23–26, 1981	El Cortez Hotel	5,000	Jerry Bails, Dave Berg, L. B. Cole, Jim Fitzpatrick, Dick Giordano, Bil Keane, Julius Schwartz, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave Sim[31]:79	Gary Owens emcees Masquerade
July 8–11, 1982	Convention and Performing Arts Center and Hotel San Diego	5,000	Carl Barks, Terry Beatty, Brian Bolland, Max Allan Collins, Will Eisner, Mike Grell, Chuck Jones, Hank Ketcham, Walter Koenig, Frank Miller, Arn Saba, Leonard Starr, Ken Steacy, Robert Williams[31]:80
August 4–7, 1983	Convention and Performing Arts Center and Hotel San Diego	5,000	Douglas Adams, Bob Clampett, Floyd Gottfredson, Harvey Kurtzman, Norman Maurer, Grim Natwick, George Pérez, Trina Robbins[31]:81	First year the Con tried a theme for the souvenir programs. Arn Saba MC'd the Masquerade.
June 28–July 1, 1984	Convention and Performing Arts Center and Hotel San Diego	5,500	Greg Bear, Howard Chaykin, Stan Drake, Burne Hogarth, Greg Jein, Ollie Johnston, Bob Layton, Brant Parker, Marshall Rogers, Mike Royer, Robert Shayne, Dave Stevens, Curt Swan, Frank Thomas, Al Williamson[31]:82	The Con was held earlier than usual due to the Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Sergio Aragonés hosted the Masquerade.
August 1–4, 1985	Convention and Performing Arts Center and Hotel San Diego	6,000	Ben Bova, Jack Cummings, Jack Davis, Gil Kane, Harvey Kurtzman, Alan Moore (in his only U.S. convention appearance), Dan O'Bannon, Jerry Ordway, Alex Schomburg, Julius Schwartz, Jerry Siegel, Louise Simonson, Walt Simonson[31]:83	The Con moved a step further towards professionalism, and adopted Rick Geary's toucan design as the official logo, and hired a general manager, Fae Desmond
July 31–August 3, 1986	Convention and Performing Arts Center and Hotel San Diego	6,500	Poul Anderson, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Greg Evans, Stan Lee, Dale Messick, Frank Miller, Moebius, Mart Nodell, Harvey Pekar, Jim Valentino, Doug Wildey[31]:84
August 6–9, 1987	Convention and Performing Arts Center and Holiday Inn	5,000	Harlan Ellison, Miguel Ferrer, Ward Kimball, B. Kliban, Françoise Mouly, Bill Mumy, Mike Peters, Robert Silverberg, Art Spiegelman, Bernie Wrightson[31]:85	Debut, Convention Events Guide. Country Joe of Country Joe & The Fish performs.
August 4–7, 1988	Convention and Performing Arts Center and Omni Hotel	8,000	Art Adams, Robert Asprin, Jules Feiffer, Ray Feist, David Gerrold, Matt Groening, George R.R. Martin, Matt Wagner[31]:86	"Supergroup" Seduction Of The Innocent debuted — featuring Bill Mumy, Steve Leialoha, Miguel Ferrer, Chris Christensen, and Max Allan Collins. The Japanese animation department debuted.
August 3–6, 1989	Convention and Performing Arts Center and Omni Hotel	11,000	Paul Chadwick, Howard Cruse, Ron Goulart, Mark Hamill, Gilbert Hernandez and Jaime Hernandez, Selby Kelly, Syd Mead, Fred Rhoads, Jerry Robinson, Gahan Wilson[31]:87
August 2–5, 1990	Convention and Performing Arts Center and Holiday Inn	13,000	Peter David, Will Eisner, Kelly Freas, Michael Kaluta, Mel Lazarus, Carl Macek, Grant Morrison, John Romita Jr., Van Williams[31]:94	Final year at Convention and Performing Arts Center
July 4–7, 1991	San Diego Convention Center and Pan Pacific Hotel	15,000+	Clive Barker, Dan DeCarlo, Harlan Ellison, Neil Gaiman, Keith Giffen, Joe Haldeman, Lynn Johnston, Joe Kubert, Jim Lee, Don Maitz, Sheldon Moldoff, Rick Sternbach, Janny Wurts[31]:95
August 13–16, 1992	San Diego Convention Center and Double Tree Hotel	22,000	Francis Ford Coppola, Creig Flessel, Bill Griffith, Todd McFarlane, Diane Noomin, Rowena, William Shatner, Gilbert Shelton, Lewis Shiner, Mr. T Gary Trousdale, Vernor Vinge, Kirk Wise[31]:96	Con hosts Jack Kirby's 75th birthday party. Phil Foglio begins long run as Masquerade emcee.
August 19–22, 1993	San Diego Convention Center and Doubletree Hotel	28,000	Murphy Anderson, Jim Aparo, Peter Bagge, Dan Clowes, Nancy Collins, Paul Dini, Garth Ennis, Ferd Johnson, Rick Kirkman, Don Martin, Olivia, Dave Sim, Vin Sullivan, Michael Whelan, Robert Williams, Roger Zelazny[31]:97
August 4–7, 1994	San Diego Convention Center and Hyatt Regency	31,000	Mike Allred, David Brin, Dave Dorman, Al Feldstein, Rick Geary, Stan Goldberg, Roberta Gregory, Matt Groening, Chad Grothkopf, Lurene Haines, Dan Jurgens, Frank Miller, Leonard Nimoy, James O'Barr, Lucius Shepard, J. Michael Straczynski, Rumiko Takahashi, Jean-Claude Van Damme[31]:98
July 27–30, 1995	San Diego Convention Center	34,000	Mike Baron, Simon Bisley, Charles Burns, Alan Davis, Ramona Fradon, Neil Gaiman, James Gurney, Greg Hildebrandt, Tim Hildebrandt, Ryoichi Ikegami, Gil Kane, Stan Lee, Irv Novick, Harvey Pekar, Stan Sakai, Joe Sinnott, Tom Sito, Jeff Smith, Andrew Vachss[31]:99	Comic-Con officially changed its name to Comic-Con International, and introduced its new "eye" logo designed by Richard Bruning
July 4–7, 1996	San Diego Convention Center	36,000	Donna Barr, David Brin, Paul Chadwick, Steve Dillon, Mort Drucker, Ben Edlund, Garth Ennis, Dave Gibbons, Joe Giella, Dave McKean, Jim Mooney, Kurt Schaffenberger, François Schuiten[31]:100	The second time that Comic Con falls on July 4th, this time due to the Republican National Convention.
July 17–20, 1997	San Diego Convention Center	40,000	Brent Anderson, Dick Ayers, Steve Bissette, Terry Brooks, Kurt Busiek, Evan Dorkin, Sarah Dyer, Steven Hughes, Peter Kuper, David Lapham, Carol Lay, Joseph Michael Linsner, Ralph McQuarrie, Linda Medley, Michael Moorcock, George Pérez, Brian Pulido, Alex Ross, R.A. Salvatore, Kevin Smith, George Tuska, Jhonen Vasquez, Paul Verhoeven, Mark Waid, Al Williamson[31]:101
August 13–17, 1998	San Diego Convention Center	42,000	John Broome, Eddie Campbell, Nick Cardy, Mark Crilley, Colleen Doran, Lorenzo Mattotti, Terry Moore, Paul S. Newman, James Robinson, Joe Simon, Paul Smith, Vin Sullivan, Naoko Takeuchi, Chris Ware, Robert Williams[31]:102
August 13–16, 1999	San Diego Convention Center	42,000	Tom Batiuk, Chuck Cuidera, Samuel R. Delany, Paul Dini, Arnold Drake, Neil Gaiman, Sam Glanzman, Larry Gonick, Irwin Hasen, Patrick McDonnell, Mike Mignola, Mark Mothersbaugh, Jerry Robinson, Art Spiegelman, Jim Steranko, Jill Thompson, Bruce Timm, Barry Windsor-Smith[31]:103	Professional Expo before Comic Con
July 20–23, 2000	San Diego Convention Center	48,500	Kyle Baker, Will Elder, Ric Estrada, Al Feldstein, Phoebe Gloecker, Jack Kamen, Ben Katchor, Harry Knowles, Harry Lampert, Jeff Loeb, Scott McCloud, Tim Sale, Marie Severin, Kevin Smith, Bryan Talbot, Angelo Torres, Lewis Trondheim, Al Williamson, Gahan Wilson, Janny Wurts[31]:108
July 19–22, 2001	San Diego Convention Center	53,000	Brian Michael Bendis, John Buscema, Michael Chabon, Frank Cho, Julie Doucet, Brian Froud, Wendy Froud, Gene Ha, Joe R. Lansdale, Russell Myers, P. Craig Russell, Kim Stanley Robinson, Spider Robinson, Alvin Schwartz, Dan Spiegle, Jhonen Vasquez, Judd Winick, Bernie Wrightson[31]:109
August 1–4, 2002	San Diego Convention Center	63,000	Dick Ayers, Mike Carey, Howard Chaykin, Peter David, Roman Dirge, Devon Grayson, Frank Jacobs, Chip Kidd, Bub Lubbers, Jason Lutes, Craig McCracken, Todd McFarlane, Tony Millionaire, Kevin Nowlan, Bob Oksner, Lew Sayre Schwartz, Eric Shanower, Hal Sherman, Herb Trimpe, George Woodbridge, William Woolfolk:110
July 17–20, 2003	San Diego Convention Center	70,000	Brian Azzarello, Charles Berberian, Sal Buscema, Phillippe Dupuy, Neil Gaiman, Jackson "Butch" Guice, Nalo Hopkinson, Steve Jackson, Geoff Johns, Larry Lieber, Carla Speed McNeil, Kevin O'Neill, Howard Post, R.A. Salvatore:111
July 22–25, 2004	San Diego Convention Center	95,000	Jack Adler, Roger Dean, Dave Gibbons, Tom Gill, Harry Harrison, Sid Jacobson, Geoff Johns, Batton Lash, Chuck McCann, Aaron McGruder, Brad Meltzer, Mike Mignola, Rebecca Moesta, Bill Plympton, Eduardo Risso, Jean Schulz, Frank Springer, Tim Thomerson, Craig Thompson, John Totleben:112	Comic-Con expands into Hall H of the San Diego Convention Center and now occupies the entire exhibit space.
July 14–17, 2005	San Diego Convention Center	103,000	Lalo Alcatraz, Lee Ames, Sy Barry, Bob Bolling, Bruce Campbell, Nick Cardy, Greg Evans, Bob Fujitani, Pia Guerra, Ray Harryhausen, Phil Jimenez, Robert Jordan, David Lapham, Richard Morgan, Gary Panter, Eric Powell, Lou Scheimer, J.J. Sedelmeier, Dexter Taylor, Brian K. Vaughan, James Warren:113
July 20–23, 2006[32]	San Diego Convention Center	123,000	Forrest J. Ackerman, Yoshitaka Amano, Sergio Aragonés, Peter S. Beagle, Brian Bolland, Ray Bradbury, Mark Buckingham, Kurt Busiek, Art Clokey, Daniel Clowes, Amanda Conner, Roger Corman, Luis Dominguez, Brian Fies, Phil Foglio, Basil Gogos, Carmine Infantino, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Robert Kirkman, James Kochalka, Walter Koenig, Kazuo Koike, Tommy Kovac, Roger Langridge, George R.R. Martin, Billy Martinez, Jonathan Matthews, Linda Medley, Brad Meltzer, Jean-Claude Mézières, Sheldon Moldof, Jim Mooney, Jimmy Palmiotti, Christopher Paolini, George Pérez, Howard Porter, Jerry Robinson, John Romita, Andy Runton, Shag, Gail Simone, J. Michael Straczynski, Yoshihiro Tatsumi, John Wagner, Brian Walker, Greg Weisman, Scott Williams, and more.[33]	While the San Diego Convention Center has never reached maximum occupancy; potential attendees were denied entry on Saturday for a period of a few hours.
July 26–29, 2007	San Diego Convention Center	125,000[34]	Sergio Aragonés, Alison Bechdel, Allen Bellman, Ray Bradbury, Dan Brereton, Daryl Cagle, Cecil Castellucci, Darwyn Cooke, Guy Delisle, Paul Dini, Roman Dirge, Cory Doctorow, Ann Eisner, Warren Ellis, Mark Evanier, Renee French, Gary Friedrich, Christos N. Gage, Neil Gaiman, Rick Geary, George Gladir, Laurell K. Hamilton, Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, Adam Hughes, Joe Jusko, Miriam Katin, Mel Keefer, Scott Kurtz, Joseph Michael Linsner, Joe Matt, David Morrell, Karen Palinko, Lily Renee Phillips, Mike Ploog, Paul Pope, George A. Romero, Rowena, Dave Stevens, J. Michael Straczynski, Ben Templesmith, Roy Thomas, Morrie Turner, Mark Verheiden, Matt Wagner, J. H. Williams III, Kent Williams, F. Paul Wilson, Brian Wood, and more.[35]	All multi-day and single-day passes for Friday, Saturday and Sunday were sold out, for the first time ever on Friday and Sunday.
July 24–27, 2008	San Diego Convention Center	126,000[36]	Forrest J. Ackerman, Sergio Aragonés, Kyle Baker, Ralph Bakshi, Mike W. Barr, Lynda Barry, Frank Beddor, Ray Bradbury, Steve Breen, Max Brooks, Ed Brubaker, Matt Busch, Jim Butcher, Eddie Campbell, Howard Chaykin, Kim Deitch, Mark Evanier, Al Feldstein, Keith Giffen, Neil Googe, Victor Gorelick, Mike Grell, Paul Gulacy, Joe Hill, Bryan Hitch, John Howe, Al Jaffee, Geoff Johns, J.G. Jones, Todd Klein, Dean Koontz, Tite Kubo, Verne Langdon, Jim Lee, Rutu Modan, Noel Neill, Floyd Norman, Jim Ottaviani, Mike Peters, Wendy Pini, Steve Purcell, Robert J. Sawyer, James Shoop, Jim Starlin, Joe Staton, J. Michael Straczynski, Adrian Tomine, Ethan Van Sciver, James Warren, Jeff Watts, Signe Wilkinson, Bill Willingham, Connie Willis, Jim Woodring, Bernie Wrightson, Dean Yeagle, Neil Patrick Harris, and more.[37]	All multi-day and single-day passes sold out weeks ahead of the event for the first time ever.
July 23–26, 2009	San Diego Convention Center	126,000.[36]	Michael "Doc" Allred, Kevin J. Anderson, Sergio Aragonés, Ray Bradbury, Brom, Gene Colan, Nicola Cuti, Kevin Eastman, Steve Epting, Mark Evanier, June Foray, Ramona Fradon, Hunter Freberg, Stan Freberg, Gary Gianni, Jimmy Gownley, Russ Heath, Brian Herbert, James Jean, Geoff Johns, Eric Jones, Kazu Kibuishi, Denis Kitchen, John Kricfalusi, Hope Larson, Jim Lee, Francis Manapul, Dwayne McDuffie, Doug Moench, Sheldon "Shelly" Moldoff, Fabio Moon, Patrick Oliphant, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Stephan Pastis, David Petersen, Darick Robertson, Jerry Robinson, Mike Royer, Stan Sakai, Lew Sayre Schwartz, Seth, Bill Sienkiewicz, Gail Simone, Leonard Starr, J. Michael Straczynski, Richard Thompson, Lewis Trondheim, Ramón Valdiosera Berman, Jerry Vanderstelt, Charles Vess, Landry Walker, Bill Willingham, Gene Yang, Leinil Yu, and more.[38]	All 4-day and single day passes once again sold out months ahead of time, however passes previously returned and refunded were sold in the final weeks before the event through Comic-Con's official eBay channel. Passes could not be transferred or re-sold due to attendees in past years who resold their tickets for more than their purchase price on eBay and Craigslist after tickets were sold out.
July 22–25, 2010[39]	San Diego Convention Center	130,000+[1]	Neal Adams, Jason "Spyda" Adams, Joel Adams, Josh Adams, Sergio Aragonés, Peter Bagge, Gabrielle Bell, Brian Michael Bendis, Ray Bradbury, Émile Bravo, Berkeley Breathed, Kurt Busiek, Chris Claremont, Howard Cruse, Vanessa Davis, Felicia Day, Samuel R. Delany, Dave Dorman, Mark Evanier, Jon Favreau, Matt Fraction, Hunter Freberg, Stan Freberg, Nicholas Gurewitch, Moto Hagio, Charlaine Harris, Dusty Higgins, Tanya Huff, Kathryn Immonen, Stuart Immonen, Van Jensen, Phil Jimenez, Jenette Kahn, Keith Knight, Jim Lee, Stan Lee, Paul Levitz, Milo Manara, Larry Marder, Carla Speed McNeil, China Miéville, Dennis O'Neil, Robert M. Overstreet, Tom Palmer, Sean Phillips, Ivan Reis, Douglas E. Richards, Rick Riordan, Jerry Robinson, Steve Rude, Jeannie Schulz, J. Michael Straczynski, Drew Struzan, James Sturm, Jillian Tamaki, Doug TenNapel, C. Tyler, Ann VanderMeer, Jeff VanderMeer, Gerard Way, Al Wiesner, Michael Zulli, and more.[40]	By October 7, 2009, preview night passes had already sold out, with all passes being sold out by March 2010.[41] Also retained the policy that passes could not be re-sold or re-distributed, though they continue to be sold on various online outlets.
July 21–24, 2011	San Diego Convention Center			Preview Night Wed, July 20. 4-Day Preview Night Passes were sold out during the 2010 convention. 4-Day Passes without Preview and daily passes were sold out in record time on Feb 6, less than 8 hours after going on sale.

Comic-Con Magazine

Comic-Con Magazine, formerly known as Update, is the official magazine of San Diego Comic-Con International, WonderCon, and Alternative Press Expo, published free by San Diego Comic-Con International in the United States. The origins of the Comic-Con Magazine come from a short one-shot issue of The Spirit, based on Comic-Con, and sold exclusively in 1976 at the San Diego Comic-Con International. The Comic-Con Magazine debuted as Update in July, 2005 and mainly focused on the winners of the Eisner Awards.^[42] The last Update issue was on July, 2008 and went on hiatus.^[43] Update came back as Comic-Con Magazine, which not only covered San Diego Comic-Con International, but also WonderCon and the Alternative Press Expo, more commonly known as APE. The new Comic-Con Magazine features interviews with Comic-Con attendees and complete coverage of the Comic-Con events.^[44][45] The fourth issue of Comic-Con Magazine will be a hybrid with Comic-Con's Souvenir Book with cover art by Alex Ross, in full color and exclusive to Comic-Con attendees.^[44][46]

See also

• Fandom
• Science fiction convention
• Comic Art Convention

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Weisberg, Lori (November 22, 2010). "Comic-Con registration crashes for second time". San Diego Union-Tribune (San Diego, California). http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/nov/22/comic-con-registration-crashes-for-second-time/. Retrieved November 24, 2010. 
2. ^ Shel Dorf Tribute
3. ^ Ken Krueger Tribute
4. ^ "Un monumental musée Hergé et une super production Tintin" (in French). LEXPRESS.fr. 29 January 2009. http://www.lexpress.fr/culture/livre/bd/un-monumental-musee-herge-et-une-super-production-tintin_736991.html. Retrieved 4 October 2009. 
5. ^ "35th Angouleme Int'l Comics Festival rings down curtain". chinaview.cn. 28 January 2009. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/28/content_7510322.htm. Retrieved 4 October 2009. 
6. ^ Peter Rowe (16 July 2009). "Invasion of the comic fanatics". San Diego Union Tribune. http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060716/news_1n16comicon.html. Retrieved 4 October 2009. "And is the Con good enough to survive, in the face of younger rivals? In Angouleme, France, the 34-year-old Festival International de la Bande Dessinée has drawn up to 400,000 comic-book fans." 
7. ^ ^{a b c} "Founder of Comic-Con Dies at 76", City News Service via Fox5SanDiego.com, November 4, 2009
8. ^ Evanier, Mark. POV Online (column of November 3, 2009): "Shel Dorf, R.I.P."
9. ^ Comic-Con Souvenir Book #40 p.61 (2009)
10. ^ ^{a b c} Rowe, Peter. "Obituary: Sheldon Dorf; Comic-Con co-founder". 'The San Diego Union-Tribune. Sign On San Diego. November 4, 2009
11. ^ ^{a b c} Malloy, Elizabeth (2008-04-18). "Charting Comic-Con's Hulk-like growth". The Daily Transcript. http://www.sddt.com/Hospitality/article.cfm?SourceCode=20080418tbe. Retrieved 2008-04-19. 
12. ^ "Comic Con Memories The 70s". Comic-Con Souvenir Book #40 p.75 (2009)
13. ^ "Comic Con Memories The 80s". Comic-Con Souvenir Book #40 p.90 (2009)
14. ^ "Comic-Con To Stay in SD At Least Through 2015". 10news.com. September 30, 2010
15. ^ Kilpatrick, Conor. "Comic-Con International to stay in San Diego through 2015". iFanboy.com. Retrieved September 2010
16. ^ "Comic-Con kicks off with freaks, fans, famous people". Baltimore Sun. 21 July 2011. http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/kswb-comic-con-day-one-2011,0,7587461.story. Retrieved 27 July 2011. 
17. ^ Tom Blair (15 July 2011). "Comic-Con is truly one in the millions". San Diego Union Tribune. http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jul/15/comic-con-is-truly-one-in-the-millions/. Retrieved 27 July 2011. 
18. ^ "TNI's 2007 San Diego Comic Con Exclusives Checklist", Toy News International 2007
19. ^ Allen, Mike (20 August 2009). "Comic-Con Scene Bound for Big Screen". San Diego Business Journal (San Diego Business Journal Associates). http://www.sdbj.com/industry_article.asp?aID=900662402.7733371.1819779.4418718.87261702.978&aID2=139974. Retrieved 21 August 2009. ^{[dead link]}
20. ^ Summary page for The Real World: San Diego (2011 season) Episode 7 ("It's My Party and I'll Bang If I Want To"). MTV.com. November 9, 2011
21. ^ "It's My Party and I'll Bang If I Want To". The Real World: San Diego. MTV. No. 7, season 26.
22. ^ Evanier, Mark. "News from Me" (column of April 7, 2006)
23. ^ Evanier, Mark. "News from Me" (column of April 8, 2006)
24. ^ Forbes (July 30, 2007): "What began as a comic-book event has grown to include toys, video games, anime and movies. The event practically no longer fits in the San Diego Convention Center, its home through 2012".
25. ^ Comic-COn 2008 registration
26. ^ McLean, Tom (2008-06-25). "Buyers beware scalped Comic-Con tickets". Variety.com. http://weblogs.variety.com/bags_and_boards/2008/06/comic-con-ticke.html. Retrieved 2008-07-20. 
27. ^ More on the SDCC Preview Night sellout — correction
28. ^ You Were Warned!
29. ^ Eric, Carpenter (2010-02-23). "Could Comic-Con move to Anaheim?". The Orange County Register. http://www.ocregister.com/news/convention-235900-comic-anaheim.html. 
30. ^ Eric Wolff. "REGION: Comic-Con sells out 2011 Preview Night before Con ends". North County Times. http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_0dd24a8a-a75d-53ae-a16e-3c0c244d5e0c.html. 
31. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af} Comic Con Souvenir Book #40. San Diego Comic-Com International. 2009. p. 60. 
32. ^ Comic-Con Chronicles 2006 (internet video). IFC News. 2006. http://www.webcastr.com/videos/movies/ifc-news-comic-con-chronicles-2006.html. 
33. ^ "Comic-Con 2006 Special Guest List". http://www.comic-con.org/cci2006/cci_guests.shtml. Retrieved October 11, 2009. 
34. ^ "Comic-Con: Where 'nerd has become normal'" USA Today (July 29, 2007), by Scott Bowles
35. ^ "Comic-Con 2007 Special Guest List". http://www.comic-con.org/cci2007/cci_guests.shtml. Retrieved October 11, 2009. 
36. ^ ^{a b} Comic-Con seeks bids from hotels
37. ^ "Comic-Con 2008 Special Guest List". August 16, 2008. http://www.comic-con.org/cci2008/cci_guests.shtml. Retrieved October 11, 2009. 
38. ^ "Comic-Con 2009 Special Guest List". September 14, 2009. http://www.comic-con.org/cci2009/cci_guests.shtml. Retrieved October 11, 2009. 
39. ^ SDCC '10: A Note About This Week's Massive Coverage
40. ^ "Comic-Con 2010 Special Guest List". http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_guests.shtml. Retrieved December 18, 2009. 
41. ^ Matt Goldberg (7 October 2009). "The 4-Day + Preview Night Passes for the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con Are Already Sold Out". Collinder.com. http://www.collider.com/2009/10/07/the-4-day-preview-night-passes-for-the-2010-san-diego-comic-con-are-already-sold-out/. Retrieved 23 October 2009.  and
    Kevin Melrose (6 October 2009). "The comics Internet in two minutes". Comicbookresources.com. http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2009/10/comics-a-m-the-comics-internet-in-two-minutes-32/. Retrieved 23 October 2009. 
42. ^ Rogers, John (July 2005). "Inside: Celebrating a Legend" (PDF). Update (San Diego, California: San Diego Comic-Con International) 1 (1): Cover. OCLC 50503872. http://www.comic-con.org/common/assets/upd2005_1.pdf. 
43. ^ Rogers, John (July 2008). "Exclusive World Premiere at WonderCon!: Justice League: The New Frontier" (PDF). Update (San Diego, California: San Diego Comic-Con International) 3 (1): Cover. OCLC 50503872. http://www.comic-con.org/common/assets/upd2007_3.pdf. 
44. ^ ^{a b} "FREE magazine gives you valuable information" (SHTML). San Diego Comic-Con International. http://www.comic-con.org/common/cc_magazine.shtml. Retrieved 2009-02-03. "[...] the new official publication of the San Diego Comic-Con International, WonderCon, and APE, the Alternative Press Expo [...] Comic-Con Magazine will still contain the elements that made the Update the official preview of all the Comic-Con events [...] We will continue showcasing exclusive interviews with special guests from all three of our shows [...]" 
45. ^ Miller, Neil (2008-03-02). "Officially Cool: Comic-Con Magazine Premiere Issue" (PHP). Film School Rejects. http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/news/officially-cool-comic-con-magazine-premiere-issue.php. Retrieved 2009-02-03. "[...] produced by the folks who run the San Diego Comic-Con, it's little sister show WonderCon and APE, the Alternative Press Expo. This new publication, Comic-Con Magazine, is the evolved version of Update [...] there is a pretty in-depth preview of this year's San Diego Comic-Con [...] a Comic-Con A to Z Guide and Interviews with actual Comic-Con attendees." 
46. ^ "2009 Comic‑Con Souvenir Book!" (SHTML). San Diego Comic-Con International. http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_progbk.shtml. Retrieved 2009-02-03. "[...] Alex Ross' cover for our 2008 Souvenir Book [...] The big news this year is that the Souvenir Book is switching to FULL COLOR [...]" 

References

• San Diego Comic Convention Souvenir Book 1994 (offline)
• The "Secret Origin" of San Diego's Comic-Con International

External links

• Official website
• San Diego Comic Con Unofficial Blog
• San Diego Comic Con Outdoor Advertising, Yellow Bike Cab, February 11, 2011
• Comic-Con 2010: Best Pics - slideshow by Life magazine
• Comic-Con 2010 - slideshow by The First Post
• Comic-Con's Dorf watches sadly from the sidelines as T-shirts trump talent, San Diego Union Tribune July 16, 2006
• Keeping the intangibles Maggie Thompson's memories of Comic-Con, Comics Buyer's Guide, Jan. 2009
• Comic-Convention Memories
• Crashing the Con A Documentary on San Diego Comic-Con International 2008
• Sanderson, Peter. "Comics in Context #5: San Diego 2003: Day One", IGN.com, August 8, 2003. (Comic-Con history). WebCitation archive.