San Diego Comic-Con
San Diego Comic-Con (also referred to as Comic-Con or SDCC) is a comic book convention and multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California, since 1970. It is held at the San Diego Convention Center. Originally showcasing primarily comic books and science fiction/fantasy related media, Comic-Con has grown to include a large range of pop culture and entertainment elements across virtually all genres.
San Diego Comic-Con
Active
Multigenre
San Diego Convention Center (main)
Downtown San Diego (various)
San Diego, California, U.S.
United States
March 21, 1970 (as Golden State Comic Book Convention)
July 20, 2023
July 25, 2024
>135,000 (2022) [1]
San Diego Comic Convention dba Comic-Con International
According to Forbes, Comic-Con is the "largest convention of its kind in the world."[2] Since 2010, Comic-Con has filled the San Diego Convention Center to capacity with over 130,000 attendees.[3] Comic-Con is home to the Eisner Awards, which recognizes creative achievement in American comic books, often referred to as the comic industry's equivalent to the Academy Awards.[4]
San Diego Comic Convention, doing business as Comic-Con International, is the corporate name of the public-benefit nonprofit corporation behind Comic-Con. The corporation also organizes WonderCon, an annual convention held in Anaheim, California, and SAM: Storytelling Across Media, a symposium held at the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park.
Comic-Con Magazine[edit]
Comic-Con Magazine, formerly known as Update, is the official magazine of Comic-Con, WonderCon, and SAM: Storytelling Across Media, published free by San Diego Comic-Con International in the United States. The seed of Comic-Con Magazine was a short one-shot issue of The Spirit, based on Comic-Con and sold exclusively in 1976 at Comic-Con. The Comic-Con Magazine debuted as Update in July 2005 and mainly focused on the winners of the Eisner Awards.[127] The last Update issue appeared in July 2008;[128] then it went on hiatus. When it came back, it was as Comic-Con Magazine, which not only covered San Diego Comic-Con, but also WonderCon and the Alternative Press Expo, more commonly known as APE (which the con owned through 2014). The new Comic-Con Magazine features interviews with Comic-Con attendees and complete coverage of the Comic-Con events.[129][130] The fourth issue of Comic-Con Magazine was a hybrid with Comic-Con's Souvenir Book with cover art by Alex Ross, in full color and exclusive to Comic-Con attendees.[129][131]
Accidents and incidents[edit]
In 2013, a young woman attempted to jump off the balcony of a local high-rise, but nearby stuntmen prevented it.[162]
In 2014, multiple pedestrians marching in an off-site ZombieWalk were struck by a car forcing its way through an intersection.[163] A 64-year-old woman sustained serious injuries to her arm; two others had minor injuries.[164][165]
The same year, a teenage cosplayer was initially thought to have been sexually assaulted early Sunday morning, and a suspect was arrested on Sunday at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina.[166] Police later stated that the teenage girl was injured in a fall; the arrested individual was released without any charges.[167]
Trademark[edit]
In 2014, San Diego Comic-Con sent a cease and desist order to the organizers of Salt Lake Comic Con, asserting that "Comic-Con" and "Comic-Con International" were registered trademarks of the convention, and that use of the term "comic con" in any form was trademark infringement as it implies an unauthorized association with San Diego Comic-Con.[168] A U.S. court ruled in favor of San Diego Comic-Con and awarded $20,000 in damages (albeit not considering the infringement to be willful). Phoenix Comiccon changed its name to Phoenix Comic Fest as a proactive move to avoid possible legal issues in the wake of this ruling. They then filed a motion in an Arizona Federal Court to strike down San Diego Comic Convention's trademark[169] In 2017, the Salt Lake Comic Con changed its name to FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention (or just FanX).[170] On January 16, 2018, Salt Lake Comic Con filed a motion for a new trial.[171][172]
