What is a Comic Con

“ComicCon” is not only the biggest Comin Conventions, but it’s here to stay, AND it has become pretty big business. But what is comic con you may ask, and why has it become so popular?

Comic con started out in life being just what the name implies; a convention where comic fanatics got together to share their appreciation of this wonderful, fun art form. Art-form I hear you say? – Yes, make no mistake about it, comics are a great contemporary form of art, and one that brings pleasure to millions of kids, and tons of adult fans too.

The first “official” comic con was the brainchild of comic book nutcase Shelton Dorf, when he organized a convention in the cellar of the Grand Hotel in San Diego in the year 1970. It was plain right from the very start that this was something that was going be humongous, and so it has turned out to be.

But comic con has come a long way from is humble comic book only beginnings. Helped by the birth of comic books into cinema, and probably heralded by the first Start Wars movie, the comic cons of today incorporate film posters, autographed paraphernalia, and various items of comic cinema merchandising. Some new products are on sale, but the biggest attractions are the modern antiquity of comic on.

Hardly surprising that comics and related products would become so collectible when you stop to think about it. After all, every child in the modern western world is exposed to comics, and for most they were a regular part of their young lives. What better reason could there be for wanting to collect them?

Comic cons today attract all sorts of people from all walks of life. From comic nerds, to sci-fi freaks, it’s an ideal opportunity to indulge yourself. And who knows? Depending on the convention you are attending, you may get to see some stars of the screen too.

The one strange thing about the world of comic cons is that each and every comic con is an organization in its own right. There are no affiliations; each one has its own individual identity, and this affords the chance to anyone to set up their very own comic con right there in their own town.

All great comic cons had a relatively low key start-up, so you never know. You may find that in a few years time (if you want to experience the thrill and fun time after time), you might be challenging market leaders comic con.org for top billing!

I think you’d be absolutely amazed at just how many comic con junkies you might find in your area if you were to use social websites to advertise your launch. People love to get involved in anything thing new, especially when it’s a little but screwy! And you’re sure to get plenty of help and support to get it off the ground.

All you need is somewhere like the local school or church hall that you can rent out for the day. You can charge a small entrance fee to cover your costs and you’ve got the perfect venue for your gig.

You can advertise for paying guests and for exhibitors too. It’s the perfect little project that would be benefit from setting up your own little website to promote it, and if you plan far enough ahead, you could be sure to get a good turn-out. If in the unlikely event it look like flopping (hardly likely), you can always pull out before you have to lay any money out. It could be a really fantastic, fun project! Why not have a go?

But if you don’t have the entrepreneurial spirit within you, you can always play it safe and go to a pre-arranged, professional, established comic con. If it’s the biggest and the best that you want, check out the comic con.org website. You’ll find a host of up and coming conventions listed and you can plan which one takes our fancy.

You even get a choice (providing you get in early enough), as to whether you are just going along a guest, or maybe to take a more active part as an exhibitor, or swap stall holder. The great thing about these conventions is the atmosphere. Everyone is there to enjoy themselves to the full – speaking of which – what will you dress up as?

Visitors to most conventions these days tend to get fully involved in the madness by dressing up as one of their favorite characters, such as a member of the Star Trek crew, or one of the characters from “Twilight”, or one of the cast of Star Wars. It just heightens the sense of total enjoyment and yes – madness!