Bring On Hall H!
With SDCC 2018 Edition only a few days away, the hype has reached a fever pitch. After all, this is the event that brings together the most die-hard of fans, awesome cosplayers, as well as the cast of upcoming blockbusters. Whether you attend every year or are just a casual observer, these little nuggets of information are bound to make you appreciate the event all the more.
#5: It Started in a Basement
San Diego Comic-Con is known for being one of the biggest — if not the biggest — assembly of geeks, so itâs hard to believe that it was once held in a basement. In 1970, comic book artist Shel Dorf, comic book store owner Richard Alf, and publisher Ken Krueger created SDCC, or rather, âSan Diegoâs Golden State Comic-Conâ . The three day event was held in the U.S. Grant Hotelâs basement where 300 people showed up . A small, humble number thatâs been steadily increasing over the years. The convention hit 1,000 attendees In 1974, 10,000 in 1989, 50,000 in 2001, and an astonishing 100,000 in 2005. Now? It fills to capacity in less than two hours.
#4: Fans Saved Comic-Con After a Break-In
Fans are the lifeblood of any event, and no convention knows that better than Comic-Con. This goes deeper than cosplayers dominating the streets of San Diego , this is about fans coming together to help the convention out of a financial crisis. In 1979, the Comic-Con treasurerâs home was broken into and $12,000 worth of receipts were stolen. This might not seem like much considering how big the convention is now, but back in the early years, that amount was make-or-break for the Con. Organizers had to appeal to fans to help pay off the debt, and like a mighty group of Crystal Gems, they saved the day . The Comic-Con class of â79 didnât just dress like heroes, they were heroes.
#3: Itâs About More Than Just Comics
Despite the name âComic-Conâ, the founders always wanted the event to cover all aspects of pop culture, creating an inclusive playground for all fans to enjoy . This meant going beyond comics and including television and films. SDCCâs first Hollywood panel was, big surprise, Star Wars focused Charles Lippencott, the film’s marketing director, showed off slides from the film to a handful of attendees. Yeah… it took a while for such panels to gain momentum, but gain momentum they did. Thanks to the success of Bryan Singerâs, âX-Men,â film panels became a must-have at the convention, hence âSpider-Manâand âStar Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clonesâ being featured in 2001. Yes, there was a time where âEpisode IIâ was a selling point.
#2: The First Comic-Con Costume Contest Was in 1974
You canât spell SDCC without C-O-S-P-L-A-Y… that might need a spell check. Costume play is the thing to do at Comic-Con â and conventions in general, because really, whether youâre fighting crime or walking the halls for fun, who doesnât want to be Batman? Cosplay is such an essential part of the convention experience, that itâs hard to believe that it wasnât until the fifth year of the convention that they inaugurated Masquerade, the annual costume and make-up contest. That was in 1974. We can only imagine the pain of finding picture references for your character without the internet.
#1: Comics and Costumes are Big Business
Not only did festival passes sell out in advance, but so do all the nearby parking spots! SDCC is just that important to fans. Itâs also hugely important to the city. For one, it creates jobs; the Con requires all 500 of the San Diego Convention Centreâs regular staff, plus extra security officers, shuttle drivers and more. Estimates have it bringing in somewhere between $135 million and $193 million to the area, a few million of which goes to the city itself in the form of tax revenue. For a four day event, thatâs pretty spectacular. In recent years the mayors of nearby Los Angeles and Anaheim have both reportedly jockeyed to get Comic-Con to leave San Diego, but thanks to some heroic negotiations, itâll stay in the town that gave birth to it until at least 2018.
Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 San Diego Comic-Con 2018 Predictions.Â