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| Comic-con: July's convention drew 125,000. Randy Dotinga |
At Comic-Con, geek is chic
America's largest comic convention reflects a broader cultural nexus of geek fandom and mainstream pop culture.
from the August 3, 2007 edition
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Drawn by the buzz that the convention has created for shows like "Heroes" and "Lost," TV networks and movie studios regularly send their biggest stars to speak on panels in front of audiences of thousands.
Reflecting the convention's enthusiastic embrace of pop culture, attendees could grab bumper stickers promoting Showtime's serial-killer drama "Dexter" or attend a panel on Fox's "24." This, despite the fact that neither show has much to do with comics or science fiction.
As for those who still remember buying 15-cent comic books, there's plenty for them, too. Dozens of panels focus on the history of comics, and even old favorites like Popeye and Archie get paid their dues.
Many of the fans of vintage comic books are, not surprisingly, on the older side. Younger attendees tend to prefer the flashier parts of the convention floor where they can find a variety of freebies.
But there are still plenty of comic books geared toward the young. The often female-friendly Japanese comics known as "manga" (in book form) and "anime" (animation) have been the rage for at least a decade. And there are now dozens of comics aimed at blacks, gays, and Christians.
Despite the growing diversity of comic audiences, there's always a bit of a stigma attached to attending such a convention. But Colleen McAllister, a pretty 20-something publicist from New York, says, "It doesn't matter whether you know the difference between DC and Marvel comic books."
Even so, her friends teased her about attending, and her mother seemed mystified. But she enjoyed the "sensory overload" and chance to meet "cool people." She's already planning to fly over next year. "It's worth it," she says.
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