The Death of Comic-Con

[dnwilliams]

excerpt from occasional super-heroine

With a reported waiting list of 300 media/consumer products companies lined up for booth space here at San Diego Comic-Con International, the convention feels absolutely no restraint as regards raising booth rent. What does exist is a totally uneven playing field, where mom-n-pop comics retailers, publishers, and creators are now being asked to pay the same cost per square-foot as the international corporate giants. That being the case, it should come as no surprise that we comics exhibitors are rapidly being priced out of our own house. I heard from several comics retailers who have been here at the convention for decades that they are either cutting back for 2010, or completely pulling out of the show… If present trends continue, I predict with more than a small measure of sadness that comics will be a very minor part of this convention within five years.

...

Really, the bigger issue is this: media conglomerates have taken comic book culture and “Andy Warholized” it, presenting us with mass-market, mass-produced, highly vetted versions of that culture’s icons. But not only that, the conglomerates have appropriated the comic book/”fan” community’s mechanism of promotion & dissemination of information: the convention. So that’s the Icons and the Mechanism being appropriated.

if they don't find a way to fix this, the con will lose credibility. people already say nycc is more about the comics because sdcc is more like a film festival (without films).

[Sheridan Passell]

Am I really bothered? Hmmm. No. Movies all the way.

[dalmatianjaws]

This article is ... a mixed bag.

I totally sympathize. There's something sad about thinking this very corporate even used to be 100 guys in a hotel basement with boxes of comics. Literally.

On the other hand, it's this sort-of nerd/geek mecca and the large companies know that. They kind of support that and it's a place for weirdos to let their freak flag fly. And though it may not be for everyone, that's kind of cool. And as long as that spirit is there, the fans won't riot over Twilight panels or tv shows that have NOTHING to do with comics.

As for offering different rates to different folks, that's pretty shitty. That's like letting a retarded boy play quarterback in a professional football game. You're not helping anyone by lowering the standards. If the movies naturally rake in big money and the comics corner a niche market but aren't rolling in the dough, then they should buy floor space they can AFFORD, not beg for better real estate. This is the way the world works. The Con should offer different spots for different prices. That way the smaller companies can go and find an audience and the Con can make as  much money as it can off the big dogs. All is fair that way. If the indie comics wnat better floor space they should use that as motivation to increase the quality of their product and be creative in their marketing strategy.

That said: Fuck Showtime, which has Dexter and Weeds panels this year even though those shows have NOTHING to do with the comics. And I WORK on Weeds and loved the panel, I just thought it had no business being at comic con.   Oh well

[dnwilliams]

1) there would be no scott pilgrim movie if what is suggested here had already happened.

2) this is the equivalent of Cannes or Sundance becoming like E3 because Halo sells more than most movies, and microsoft can afford it.

3) and yet i still kind of agree with sheridan, there are plenty of conventions hollywood couldn't care less about because they're lower profile.

on a related note, comic-con seemed kinda lame this year, despite the fact i was nowhere near it. lack of excitement.

[dalmatianjaws]

Yeah, there were no big reveals this year, save for Atatar, and Twilight undermined all that excitement.

What do you mean Scott Pilgrim wouldn't exist?

[dnwilliams]

i mean scott pilgrim is published by oni press, an indie publisher that only puts out two ongoing books and sporadic graphic novels. without a foothold at cons, oni press wouldn't be able to get its book attention. if they don't get attention, they don't get into stores, if they don't get into stores...well, nobody will read them and they won't be critically acclaimed or gain cult following - therefore no hollywood interest, no movie.

indie creators literally have to pimp their stuff out as hard as they can. i left a comment on an indie creator's devart page saying i enjoyed two of his books, and he messaged me back asking if i'd heard of the other ones.

[Sheridan Passell]

How scary is that crowd -

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/events/2009%20Comic%20Con/ALO-078685.html

...and all armed with cameras.