Over the years, most comic book conventions have been bastardized to the point that even comic book fans have forgotten about the base these comic book conventions have in the comic book industry. While there are glimmers of hope on the comic book convention scene, such as comics-forward conventions like Detroit Fanfare Comic Con, Gem City Comic-Con, Baltimore Comic Con, Heroes Con, the Midwest Comic Book Association, and the conventions and shows which place comic book fans first – I see major changes in the future for comic book conventions which are inevitable unless WE speak up.
Dropping the Comic-Con
I would not be surprised if major comic book conventions begin dropping the tags of “Comic-Con” or “Comic Con” from their titles. I can see the conventions becoming so wrapped up in the media guests that they try to “rebrand” themselves as either media shows or as some other type of “all inclusive” show or convention. In true name, the conventions would become so bastardized that they would literally forget their parenting force.
Taking the Comics Out of Comic Book Conventions
Right now, the comic book industry is seeing better numbers than it has in over a generation. What will happen to the industry if it is essentially limited to only comics-forward conventions? How will sales sag? As these bastardized conventions spend more money, time, and effort focusing on media events and guests, why would they even be interested in signing comic book creators and vendors? Most cities do not have comics-forward conventions to begin with, so average fans would not have conventions and shows to go to that would be their own in their own areas.
What WE Need To Do
Notice, I am saying that WE need to do something. This fight is not something this website can do on its own. Every single comic book reader, creator, and collector should send some type of message to the bastardized comic book conventions about how the tide has changed and how our conventions have been stolen from us in the favor of trying to appeal to a larger audience. We should let convention promoters and planners know that they should not forget the market which put them on the map in the first place. We need to get together and fight for our conventions before they are won over by the Starbucks-sipping d-bags who care more about a current trend than one of the longest lasting forms of entertainment on the market today.
