The Comic-Con Museum has hired a new curator to lead the attraction’s development, filling the role with a longtime leader of Comic-Con International: Gary Sassaman.

Sassaman has been with Comic-Con for the past two decades, directing the programming of the event, and later, heading up the event’s media. Now, he’s serving as curatorial director of the museum, which is set to open in mid-2021.

The role is a new one for the museum. Previously, the organization was led by executive director Adam Smith, who exited the job in October for a museum gig in Wichita, Kansas. The organization characterized Smith’s leaving as the end of “phase one” museum planning. Now, the museum is entering “phase two.”

Comic-Con International declined to make Sassaman available for an interview but provided details about his role through a spokesman.


“Adam’s role was to recruit talent to get the museum off the ground and to establish a master plan to make the museum a reality,” said David Glanzer, chief communications and strategy officer for Comic-Con International. “While we are currently focused on fundraising and implementing that plan, Gary will be able to focus on establishing exhibitions, programs, special events, family activities, educational experiences and so much more.”

Comic-Con was given control of the former San Diego Hall of Champions, a sports-themed exhibition hall, in March 2017 by the San Diego City Council. The 68,000-square-foot museum was to be used for San Diego’s most popular event, but also to highlight comic book art and history.

Smith organized Batman’s introduction into a Character Hall of Fame in July, just days before the official kickoff of Comic-Con 2019. The ticket-only event attracted famous comic artists and writers and was a major fundraiser for the museum.

Glanzer said the museum has no other finalized programming plans, but continued fundraising is a top priority for the team.


Sassaman, who’s spent the greater part of the last decade leading Comic-Con’s print and digital media, said storytelling is still a huge part of his role. He shared his thoughts in an email newsletter about the museum.

“I’m a storyteller, pure and simple. The Comic-Con Museum will reveal brand new worlds — or provide visits with fondly remembered old ones — on a daily basis, through exhibitions, programs, special events, fun family activities, and so much more, including a rich, ongoing educational experience for all attendees. We’ll be the focal point of a robust community of comics and pop culture fans in San Diego and from around the world, just as Comic-Con has been for the past 50 years.”

