Post by brutalis on Feb 7, 2017 9:34:00 GMT -5
Just bought my 2017 Full Event Membership for the 2017 Phoenix Comicon. $65 for 4 days of thrills and shopping and geeking and star viewing. Thought i would start this up for folks here to talk about an/or relive past/future conventions. My 1st fan convention was called Coppercon here in Phoenix back in 1979 when i was a wee 17 year old. Had to go alone, riding the city bus for a 3 hour travel time due to the bus route being so damn limited in those days. It was a local Science-Fiction and Fantasy convention focused primarily upon book writer's which brought into the Valley of the Sun the very first convention where you could meet "famous" authors/artists/etc and other up and comers. The big draw to many was the main vendor/dealer/merchant floor where you could buy posters, comic books, books, paintings and various other goodies cheaply.
This being the first ever convention here in Phoenix it received quite a bit of publicity and drew a very large crowd. I filled up a note book with all sorts of freebies, cheap giveaways and indie publishing. The actual Coppercon still continues today, mostly as a local smaller/intimate convention in the fall still with a focus on science-fiction and fantasy writers. I have attended a couple over the years.
Phoenix Comicon began back in 2002 as a one day event for comic book related programming. Over the years it has grown into a showcase for comic books, movies, pop culture, horror, anime and everything that you can imagine in-between. It is the local version of the San Diego Con and is every Memorial Day weekend for 4 days (Thursday night, Friday day/nite, Saturday day/nite, Sunday day) of adventure. It set an attendance record of 106,096 in 2016 and reportedly generates $5+ million in revenue. It is the premier convention now and has outgrown the Convention Center sight downtown and draws fans and non-fans alike. The convention has become bloated and focusing upon movies and stars the last 5-10 years with less emphasis on comic book creators.
I first attended Phoenix Comicon in 2012 with a friend who worked the convention since he was coloring for Marvel at the time and he wanted/needed a partner to assist him set up and work his space. I have since attended the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 conventions and will attend this year 2017. Not certain how many more i will attend as the show is quickly becoming an extravagant circus in every way. In just the last 5 years the 4 day cost has risen from $40 to $65 and attendance has ballooned where on Friday and Saturday there have been lock downs to the convention doors due to attendance being so large. If you leave the building you cannot get back in until attendance drops.
The convention is a great opportunity to meeting comic book creators great and small up close and personal as while everyone will stand in long line for fan favorites like George Perez who is only there on the floor drawing headshots and signatures there are many other talents who are considered to now be "lesser" known or not hot anymore that you can truly spend time with meeting and talking with. While you also will not likely be able to meet any of the television/movie stars in person for more than saying hello and purchasing an autograph you do get panel discussion where you can say you got to see them at.
My personal list sampling of having seen or met has become quite vast: Television/movie stars: Lou Ferrigno, Stan Lee, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Walter Koenig, the entire cast of Next Generation, the surviving cast of Babylon 5, the Red/blue/Black Power Rangers, Sam Jones, Lee Majors, Lindsay Wagner, Michael Rudder, Adam West, Julie Newmar, Burt Ward, Charisma Carpenter, Vic Mignona, Gene Haberlund, Tobb Habbercorn, Chris Doohan, Christopher Lloyd, Ron Perlman, Karl Urbanm Danielle Panabaker, Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Caity Lotz, Kane Hodder, Timothy Omundson, Dan Starkey, and Alex Kingston. Comic book creators: George Perez, Art Adams, Brian Pulido, Tom Sciolli, Wendy/Richard Pini, Brett Booth, Mike Grell, Len Wein, Chris Claremont, Mark Evanier, Mike Baron, Steve Rude, Francis Manupaul, Michael Golden, Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, Mike Zeck, Don Rosa, Dan Parent, Tim Vigil, Peter Steigerwald, Dan Jurgens, Terry Beatty, Marv Wolfman and John Beatty.
These are people i have grown up with or know of and never dreamed i could have an opportunity to ever see or meet or speak with in person living here in the middle of the desert. It is grand fun and a grand experience to attend a comic book convention and i am thankful for having such a convention in my town that has allowed me to indulge in my inner geek and know there are many more of us out there and for celebrating the pop culture phenomenon. One day for me my age and the price and crowd will make it not so much fun but for now it is fantastic to allow my inner child having 4 days to play uninhibited!!
What about everyone else? Let us share the con!
This being the first ever convention here in Phoenix it received quite a bit of publicity and drew a very large crowd. I filled up a note book with all sorts of freebies, cheap giveaways and indie publishing. The actual Coppercon still continues today, mostly as a local smaller/intimate convention in the fall still with a focus on science-fiction and fantasy writers. I have attended a couple over the years.
Phoenix Comicon began back in 2002 as a one day event for comic book related programming. Over the years it has grown into a showcase for comic books, movies, pop culture, horror, anime and everything that you can imagine in-between. It is the local version of the San Diego Con and is every Memorial Day weekend for 4 days (Thursday night, Friday day/nite, Saturday day/nite, Sunday day) of adventure. It set an attendance record of 106,096 in 2016 and reportedly generates $5+ million in revenue. It is the premier convention now and has outgrown the Convention Center sight downtown and draws fans and non-fans alike. The convention has become bloated and focusing upon movies and stars the last 5-10 years with less emphasis on comic book creators.
I first attended Phoenix Comicon in 2012 with a friend who worked the convention since he was coloring for Marvel at the time and he wanted/needed a partner to assist him set up and work his space. I have since attended the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 conventions and will attend this year 2017. Not certain how many more i will attend as the show is quickly becoming an extravagant circus in every way. In just the last 5 years the 4 day cost has risen from $40 to $65 and attendance has ballooned where on Friday and Saturday there have been lock downs to the convention doors due to attendance being so large. If you leave the building you cannot get back in until attendance drops.
The convention is a great opportunity to meeting comic book creators great and small up close and personal as while everyone will stand in long line for fan favorites like George Perez who is only there on the floor drawing headshots and signatures there are many other talents who are considered to now be "lesser" known or not hot anymore that you can truly spend time with meeting and talking with. While you also will not likely be able to meet any of the television/movie stars in person for more than saying hello and purchasing an autograph you do get panel discussion where you can say you got to see them at.
My personal list sampling of having seen or met has become quite vast: Television/movie stars: Lou Ferrigno, Stan Lee, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Walter Koenig, the entire cast of Next Generation, the surviving cast of Babylon 5, the Red/blue/Black Power Rangers, Sam Jones, Lee Majors, Lindsay Wagner, Michael Rudder, Adam West, Julie Newmar, Burt Ward, Charisma Carpenter, Vic Mignona, Gene Haberlund, Tobb Habbercorn, Chris Doohan, Christopher Lloyd, Ron Perlman, Karl Urbanm Danielle Panabaker, Stephen Amell, David Ramsey, Caity Lotz, Kane Hodder, Timothy Omundson, Dan Starkey, and Alex Kingston. Comic book creators: George Perez, Art Adams, Brian Pulido, Tom Sciolli, Wendy/Richard Pini, Brett Booth, Mike Grell, Len Wein, Chris Claremont, Mark Evanier, Mike Baron, Steve Rude, Francis Manupaul, Michael Golden, Jim Steranko, Neal Adams, Mike Zeck, Don Rosa, Dan Parent, Tim Vigil, Peter Steigerwald, Dan Jurgens, Terry Beatty, Marv Wolfman and John Beatty.
These are people i have grown up with or know of and never dreamed i could have an opportunity to ever see or meet or speak with in person living here in the middle of the desert. It is grand fun and a grand experience to attend a comic book convention and i am thankful for having such a convention in my town that has allowed me to indulge in my inner geek and know there are many more of us out there and for celebrating the pop culture phenomenon. One day for me my age and the price and crowd will make it not so much fun but for now it is fantastic to allow my inner child having 4 days to play uninhibited!!
What about everyone else? Let us share the con!
