Comic-Con began as the Golden State Comic Book Convention, all the way back in 1970. Today, Comic-Con is held all over the United States as well as around the world. We have SDCC, NYCC, MCM London, Motor City Comic Con, and Africa Comic-Con, just to give you an idea of the scope of the events. So, how did Comic Congo from a small event in 70s San Diego to the international comic book convention we know it as today? We’ll be looking at the incredible rise of Comic-Con, so stay tuned.

A History of Comic-Con

Comic book conventions have changed drastically since the 1970s. When the first-ever SDCC opened, there were only 145 people attending — however, they managed to raise funds for the next iteration which saw 300 people in attendance. In comparison, the SDCC has not had less than 103,000 attendees since 2003, which has since been maxed out to no more than 130,000 but only due to venue constraints.

But it’s not just SDCC. New Comic Cons are showing up annually, and they’re growing too. Motor City Comic Con has an attendance of around 50,000, and New York Comic Con has topped out at a whopping 250,000 attendees in 2018, and we’re sure that’ll rise even more in 2019.

Why Are They So Successful?

Comic Cons are big businesses, with SDCC alone bringing in more than $488.4 million USD to the San Diego area between 2013 and 2015. It only makes sense that cities and other organizations would want to capture some of the Comic-Con tourism and bring it to their own region.

Still, what makes Comic-Con so successful? Is it the sense of camaraderie between attendees (although with 250,000 people, is that still a thing?), the chance to interact with your favorite comic book characters, the merchandise, or just the chance to show your love for the genre? Honestly, every person has their own reasons for going, but what’s certain is that Comic-Con isn’t going anywhere. The incredible rise of Comic-Con is here to stay.

Comic-Con: More than a Comic Book Convention

Comic-Con is more than just a comic book convention: It’s a massive business and the chance for comic book fans to engage in a space that is built just for them. So, why the incredible rise of Comic-Con after its humble start in San Diego? The organizers are smart and know that they’ll always have an audience.

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