San Diego Comic-Con 2024: all the news and trailers out of this summers biggest genre entertainment event

Since the first conventions during the mid-1960s, hundreds of local and regional comic book conventions have been organized around the world either as one-time or annual events. At these conventions, fans of comic books come together with the professional writers, artists, editors, and publishers of the business to discuss its many aspects. Increasingly, comic conventions have expanded in scope to encompass the gamut of popular culture phenomena relating to comics, from movies, television, and animation to gaming and collectibles. Nearly every weekend of the year now has at least one convention somewhere, and some conventions are held on holiday weekends where four or more days can be devoted to events. A comic book convention or comic con is a fan convention emphasizing 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.

Celebrating the Popular Arts!

This year’s event is filled with can’t-miss panels, celebrities and all the cosplay you could ever fantasize about, this event is one of the best things to do in fall. The first official day of Comic-Con International starts on Thursday with “Thor” star Chris Hemsworth and several popular TV shows. A few conventions and festivals have a closing ceremony to formally mark the end of the convention.

Thursday at Comic-Con

Actors, filmmakers, comic book authors and illustrators and fans are making their way to the San Diego Convention Center and the several official (and unofficial) event locations for a weekend brimming with programming. Comic Con’s current CEO, having worked with the convention since its second year in 2012. Growing up as a fan of comics since he was a young child, Chris DeMoulin amassed a large collection of comic books before he had to sell them as a young adult to pay for his college education.8 Mr. DeMoulin’s genuine passion for the comic book community led him to build L.A. Other events sure to gather interest are actor Dave Bautista discussing his new graphic novel, comic book legend Todd McFarlane giving a “Spawn” movie update and two Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles panels.

Where you can experience the best in pop culture, be inspired, get star struck, treat yourself, and create all of those memories with the people you care about the most. On preview night, some attendees COMIC CON opted for more low-key looks, saving their elaborate costumes for the official dates of the convention. Jenna Nguyen, a special effects makeup artist, said her planning process for costumes and makeup takes about a full year. Another highlight of the weekend for many is the inventive (and often lifelike) costumes attendees wear. The main exhibition floor is a good place to scout out the best looks, but visitors can expect to see decked-out fans throughout the city all weekend.

Events

An important distinction can be made between commercial events (often called “shows”) – those managed by dedicated companies who specialize in convention organization, or by local for-profit businesses – and volunteer-run conventions. Comic book conventions spread to Canada and Switzerland in 1985; also debuting that year was the United Kingdom Comic Art Convention (UKCAC), first held September 21–22, 1985, at the University of London Union. Stars as Steve Bissette, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave Sim, Marv Wolfman, Brian Bolland, John Bolton, Eddie Campbell, Alan Davis, Hunt Emerson, Brett Ewins, Dave Gibbons, Ian Gibson, Denis Gifford, Alan Grant, Garry Leach, David Lloyd, Mike McMahon, Alan Moore, Steve Moore, Paul Neary, Kevin O’Neill, Ron Smith, Dez Skinn, Bryan Talbot, and John Wagner. 1965 also saw the genesis of what became the annual Italian comic book convention Lucca Comics & Games.

Organized by Larry Herndon (of the fanzine Star Studded Comics), the official guest was Dave Kaler;35 about 70 attendees participated. Later Southwesterncons rotated between Houston (“Houstoncon”)36 and Dallas (“D-Con”), adding Oklahoma City (“Multicon”) to the mix in 1970.37 The Southwesterncon partnership lasted roughly until 1971, with Houstoncon, D-Con, and Multicon continuing separately until 1982. Many attendees scramble on preview night and in the convention’s first day to try to snag the merchandise that is exclusive to the event. Retailers big and small boast rare collectibles, and they sell out quickly.

That first APE tied into a series of like-minded gatherings around the country, coming off the “Spirits of Independence Tour” of Dave Sim, creator of Cerebus, and is one of only two conventions that survived and flourished beyond the first show. By Charles Pulliam-Moore, a reporter focusing on film, TV, and pop culture. Before The Verge, he wrote about comic books, labor, race, and more at io9 and Gizmodo for almost five years. England has hosted comic book conventions since 1968 (the British Comic Art Convention), but until the early 2000s had trouble sustaining any one recurring show.

We’re well-known for our conventions, like Comic-Con and WonderCon, but we’re also home to Comic-Con Museum, The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival  and other initiatives and events that educate and celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture. With attendance topping 130,000 in recent years—in a convention center facility that has maxed out in space—the event has grown to include satellite locations, including local hotels and outdoor parks. Programming events, games, anime, the Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival, and the Eisner Awards all take place outside of the Convention Center, creating a campus-type feel for the convention in downtown San Diego.

In 1961 or 1962, Jerry Bails was vital for the formation of the Academy of Comic-Book Fans and Collectors (ACBFC), the first official organization of comic book enthusiasts and historians. The ACBFC brought fans of the medium together, administered the first industry awards, and assisted with the establishment of the first comic book conventions. Comic-Con is the premier event for all things comics and related popular art, including movies, television, gaming, interactive multimedia, and so much more!