Conventions

A couple of things floating around out there that quantify the rise in comic book convention profits. Rob Salkowitz quantifies some very interesting research by Eventbrite and guesses that comic book theme events could be as much as a $3 billion business, a number that dwarfs the $600-700 million usually given for the comic book industry itself. Attendance is up about 20% every year, while some profits are up by triple digits. While all pop culture events are up, comic book events are up the most, even more than video game and other industries:

This week it's TCAF -- the Toronto Comics Art Festival, which has rapidly become one of the greatest, most enjoyable, most informative comics events...

by David Fairbanks I have attended the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo every year since its inception in 2010, when it killed Windy City Comic...

"What?  Is he nuts?  NYCC is bursting at the seams!  130,000 attendees.  Massive crowds!  Sold out weeks in advance!  Crazy media coverage!" Yes, but there's...

According to reports from ReedPOP's Lance Fensterman, this year's edition of C2E2 drew 63,000 people, up from the 53,000 reported last year. It's a...

Author and historian Danny Fingeroth sent along his panel programming for this weekend's Wizard World Minneapolis, and whatever the ongoing controversy, it is fair to say that WizWorld programming has improved quite a bit. While looking through the programs, we noticed that one participant is indie comics stalwart Zak Sally</a> of La Mano Press, Sammy the Mouse and more. Let's just say that if there is one person we never expected to see at a Wizard World show it's Zak Sally. Maybe he will hang out with "social media sensations" Nash and Hayes Grier and Nathan Fillion, and then the circle will be complete.

Disclaimer: This post might make you cry and consider having children. As the rest of the world was living vicariously through all their fortunate...

Here's a brief local TV news spot showcasing the unfortunate timing of the new Wizard World Minneapolis—May 3-5—and the long running Spring Con thrown by the MCBN (Midwest Comic Book Association) —held May 17-18. I first reported on this last year, and Wizard's John Macaluso insisted that they hadn't known about the local show, and weren't trying to conflict with anybody—even though at one point Wizard had offered to purchase the MCBA show. According to Nick Postigliano, one of SpringCon's organizers, the controversy has actually helped his show, as social media activity is way up and a lot of local cartoonists are supporting the show.

As is the tradition at many conventions, the show organizers sit down in front of a crowd, and listen to comments from attendees.  Reed...

by Johanna Draper Carlson

Promising a look into the technological future, "Digital Comics: The Next Page" featured a variety of perspectives on making digital comics. Hosted by Josh Elder, account director at iVerse Media (and writer of Scribblenauts Unmasked for DC), the panel featured * Jim Chadwick, editor of DC Comics' DC Squared and digital-first titles, including the popular Injustice * Jen Brazas, webcomic cartoonist since 2004 * Christina Blanch and Mark Waid, both of Thrillbent, described as a "digital comic platform experimenting with all forms of digital comic distribution in the 21st century". iVerse CEO Michael Murphey, originally listed as participating, did not appear.

A news byte from C2E2: Dark Horse Presents, the long running anthology, will be back in a slimmer format but with some added content...

DC's final C2E2 panel focused on Superman featuring the talent line up of Greg Pak, Aaron Kuder, with Scott Snyder and Charles Soule coming in a little late. Much of Superman's 2014 was discussed along with Scott's heart felt goodbye to Superman Unchained. First up was Action Comics with Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder. The scene in issue 30 was shown where Doomsday kills polar bears. Pak went on to talk about how much fun he's having writing Action and that issue 30 was a prelude to the "Doomed" storyline. He promised in the upcoming storyline we'd see "enormous comic book fights like you've never seen before."