sign in sign up
<<
Home , Acme Novelty Library, Adrian Tomine, Al Feldstein, Archie Comics, Bill Griffith, Bill Morrison (comics)

A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF COMIC-CON

The

THE NEW AGE OF COMIC-CON Comic-Con1990s moved into the brand-new Convention Center in 1991, beginning a three- decade period of growth in its new home. Everything old—including nostalgia— seemed new again.

COMIC-CON 50 www.comic-con.org 1 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: One last look at the Comic-Con Exhibit Hall at CPAC.

BOTTOM LEFT: 1990 George Pérez’s 1990 COMIC-CON 21 Souvenir Book con- COMIC-CON 21 tribution salutes the 50th anniversary of . NOTABLE AUGUST 2–5 BOTTOM RIGHT: seems GUESTS shocked at the Convention and appearance of Performing Arts Spider-Man. Spider- Man is always at Center, Downtown Comic-Con!

THIS PAGE, TOP: Attendance: ’s 13,000 amazing Souvenir , fiction writer, Book cover evokes Incredible , the “big letter” greetings from novels This was Comic-Con’s last year postcards of yore, this time filled with at CPAC, with a new home at a plethora of com- the just-built San Diego Con- ics and ventiion Center on the horizon. characters. To make room for a growing Screenwriter, producer, BOTTOM RIGHT: convention, a food services and The official Comic- lounge area was set up on the Con T-shirt featured plaza area outside the CPAC Captain America’s buildings. The blood drive 50th anniversary expanded to two days with art by (Thursday and Friday), with Maguire and Terry Comic book writer, the BloodMobile parked Austin. , outside the center’s lobby BELOW: Hopey by on First Avenue. A welcom- Jaime Hernadez. ing night party was held at the Kingston Hotel (now the JOHN ROMITA JR. Bristol), saluting the 50th an- , niversary of ’s The Amazing Spider-Man, X-Men Spirit. The after-banquet par- ty featuring Seduction of the Innocent was prematurely shortened because of noise complaints from the hotel. In programming, fans got Comic book writer-artist, to hear all about a new TV show, , created by long-time Comic-Con at- tendee and exhibitor . VAN WILLIAMS Actor, The Green TV series

COMIC-CON 50 Captain America TM & © 2019 MARVEL Souvenir Book cover art © 2019 Bill Morrison; characters © respective copyright holders • Captain America TM & © 2019 MARVEL • Love and Rockets art © 2019 Jaime Hernadez COMIC-CON 50 2 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 3 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: The gang visited Comic-Con for the second time (they also appeared in COMIC-CON1991 22 1989 and would COMIC-CON1991 22 appear again in 2003), and Ve- ronica tells it like it JULY 4–7 is, Archie. NOTABLE MIDDLE: A Mt. GUESTS Rushmore of great San Diego comic creators, Convention circa 1991: (left to right) Center Miller, , Bill Sien- Author, movie director, kiewicz, Bernie , Attendance: Wrightson, and 15,000+ . BOTTOM LEFT: A DAN DeCARLO beautiful Souvenir Book submission Comic book artist, In February 1991 the Con commit- from Barb Rausch, Archie tee experimented with putting saluting the 50th on a smaller winter comics and SF anniversary of convention, Con/Fusion, with spe- . cial guests artist (Nex- BOTTOM RIGHT: NEIL GAIMAN us) and SF author Tim . That A different kind of Comic book writer, author, turned out to be the last Comic- “swimsuit edition” THIS PAGE, ABOVE: Artist ’s dystopian Souvenir Book cover, patterned Con event held at CPAC. The big as these Marvel after classic ACE paperbacks (note the logo in the upper left Sandman, American Gods news was Comic-Con’s move to (male) characters corner). the San Diego Convention Cen- welcome attend- ter, using Halls A and B and some ees to the 1991 BELOW: TWO official T-shirts for 1991! ’ The tied into programming space upstairs. The event. the Disney movie, and Lee’s X-Men was hot, Hot, HOT for Marvel. July 4 weekend made the move Comic book writer-artist, even more special: An Indepen- Legion of Super-Heroes dence Day party was held on the back patio, with a great view of local fireworks. Fans also got to see an advance screening of Dave Stevens’ The Rocketeer movie, a Syndicated , performance of the play American Splendor (based on ’s comic and starring The Simpsons’ Dan Castellaneta as Pekar), and JIM LEE the first Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards presentation under the Comic book artist, auspices of Comic-Con, with Jack- , ie Estrada as the awards adminis- X-Men trator, a role she continues in to this day. And Martin Jaquish took over as the Masquerade Coordina- tor, starting a continuing run in Science fiction & that position for 28 years. Illustrator

COMIC-CON 50 Archie TM & © 2019 Archie Publications, Inc. •Wonder Woman TM & © DC Comics Souvenir Book cover art © 2019 • Rocketeer TM & © Dave Stevens Estate • X-Men TM & © 2019 MARVEL COMIC-CON 50 4 2019 Souvenir Book Marvel characters TM & © 2019 MARVEL www.comic-con.org 5 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP LEFT: ’s next-to-last appearance at Comic-Con was marked by the COMIC-CON1992 23 happy occasion of COMIC-CON1992 23 his 75th birthday and tons of special tributes to The King AUGUST 13–16 in the Souvenir NOTABLE Book. GUESTS TOP RIGHT: Dark San Diego Horse Comics and Convention Comic-Con teamed up for this first of Center four issues of San Diego Comic-Con Film writer, director, Comics, given free , Dracula Attendance: to attendees. The 22,000 second issue in1993 showcased the first CREIG FLESSEL appearance of ’s . Comic book artist, This was the year that standing All-, in line hit full force. Both Image MIDDLE: Kirby and had burst onto the tributes by (left to right) Bill Stout, scene, and fans waited patient- , and ly for hours to get autographs Will Eisner. from Jim Lee, Todd McFarlane, et al. Fantagraph- BOTTOM: William writer-artist, Zippy ics threw a party for the 10th Shatner and direc- anniversary of the Hernandez tor Francis Ford Brothers’ Love and Rockets. Dark Coppola made Horse published its first issue Comic-Con appear- TODD McFARLANE ances. of San Diego Comic-Con Comics, Comic book writer-artist, which would be published an- THIS PAGE, TOP: , Amazing Spider-Man nually through 1995. A highlight ’s cover for many was the 75th birthday featured a kid and party for Jack Kirby, with a rous- his dogs, both in ing speech by . Ban- capes, and the ROWENA ners graced Harbor Drive for magic of make-be- Fantasy book cover the first time, and everyone in lieve combined with the fun of comics. artist-illustrator San Diego saw Comic-Con bus ads. The Comics Art Conference BOTTOM: Lobo was debuted and presented an aca- big in 1992, and he demic look at the medium; it’s proved it with this still going strong today at both official Comic-Con Actor, author, Comic-Con and WonderCon, T-shirt! Star Trek: The Original Series and has programs every day of each convention. began his long run as MC of the Masquerade, which was held at Symphony Hall. Underground comix writer-artist, Bros.

COMIC-CON 50 Kirby tribute art © respective artists • Characters TM & © 2019 MARVEL • SDCC Comics characters © 2019 respective copyright holders Souvenir Book cover art © 2019 Ken Steacy • Lobo TM & © DC Comics COMIC-CON 50 6 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 7 OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: made an appearance at the Dark Horse COMIC-CON1993 24 Comics booth COMIC-CON1993 24 to promote their new comics line, Legend. NOTABLE AUGUST 19–22 Grrr . . . ’s Franken- GUESTS Usagi GOOD. San Diego Convention One of Marvel and DC’s greatest Center artists, Gene Comic book artist, Colan. , The Spectre Attendance: Betty rocks out at 28,000 the Archie Com- ics booth. An official Comic- Comic book artist, , Comic-Con expanded its Exhibit Con membership The Brave and the Bold Hall to fill out the entire ground card. Don’t leave floor of the San Diego Conven- home without it. tion Center (Halls A through C), The main instituting an autograph sign- entrance to the ing area and plenty of room for Exhibit Hall. Comic book writer-artist, portfolio reviews. DC wowed , World everyone with its megabooth DC Comics’ Lobo (dubbed “Wayne’s World” af- invaded Comic- ter DC’s director of sales Bob Con in the one- Wayne). Independent publish- shot Lobo Con- vention Special by ing was the new thing, with Cartoonist, creator (Cerebus) on Keith Giffen, , and Kevin hand, along with Scott McCloud MAD magazine O’Neill (it didn’t (Zot!), (Tales of end well). the Beanworld), and (). The Eisner Awards were THIS PAGE TOP: held on Thursday evening, draw- Frank Miller and OLIVIA ing a large crowd that saw Frank ’s Fantasy illustrator Miller and Neil Gaiman garner Souvenir Book the ’s share of the plaques. cover. The Will Eisner Spirit of Com- BOTTOM: We ics Retailer Award was added doubled down VINCENT SULLIVAN at the urging of Eisner himself, with Miller and Comic book editor, saluting the best comic shops his new creation, in the world and their connec- , for the of- Comics tion between creators, publish- ficial Comic-Con ers and readers. The first year’s T-shirt. recipients were Moondog’s in , IL, in To- ronto , , and Science fiction author, in Berkeley, CA. Chronicles of Amber series

COMIC-CON 50 Usagi © 2019 Stan Sakai • Lobo TM & © DC Comics Souvenir Book cover art, Sin City © 2019 Frank Miller COMIC-CON 50 8 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 9 OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The Tou- can marks the 25th Comic-Con. 1994 These banners lined 1994 COMIC-CON 25 Harbor Drive and COMIC-CON 25 other areas of San Diego, like Seaport Village, for many NOTABLE AUGUST 4–7 years during Comic- Con. GUESTS You knew Comic- San Diego Con was coming Convention when you started to see these ads on Center San Diego buses. Comic book writer-artist,

Jean-Claude van Madman Attendance: Damme came to Comic-Con to talk 31,000 about Timecop, the Comic book writer, movie production. artist, editor, EC Comics, Comic-Con celebrated its 25th Sergio Aragonés MAD magazine event and exhibitors took a cue and Groo’s doggo, from DC and set up much more Rufferto, also elaborate booths. The Tekno Co- celebrated the Con’s mix booth featured a rising fist 25th anniversary. gripping the company’s logo The DC Comics Comic book writer-artist, and guest appearances by Mick- booth changed the ey Spillane, Leonard Nimoy, and way big publishers Majel Barrett Roddenberry. Val- presented them- iant had a two-story booth. Jim selves at Comic- Con. Shooter’s new company, Defiant, CHAD GROTHKOPF had a medieval tower, while Full Leonard Nimoy Comic book artist, at Comic-Con for Moon had a jungle-style movie Golden Age comics set. At the other end of the spec- Tekno Comics. trum, the first Small Press Area legend Ru- was created in the Exhibit Hall miko Takahashi. for publishers with small press J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI runs and a limited number of THIS PAGE TOP: TV writer-producer, The Simpsons titles. There were special screen- graced the Souvenir ings of Natural Killers and Book cover with a , and on Saturday a giant Comic-Con gala Monte Carlo night was held cake. Art by Bill Mor- under the sails on the top level rison, Steve Vance, of the San Diego Convention and Matt Groening. Manga writer-artist, Center. Manga superstar Rumiko Urusei Yatsura, Ranma 1/2 Takahashi (Urusei Yatsura) made THIS PAGE BOT- TOM: The official a rare U. S. convention appear- T-shirt promoted ance, and a “new” artist named DC Comics’ summer took home multiple miniseries, Zero JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME Eisner Awards for his art on Mar- Hour. Action movie star, vels. Timecop

COMIC-CON 50 Batman TM & © DC Comics • Spider-Man TM & © 2019 MARVEL The Simpsons TM & © Twentieth Century Film Corp. • DC characters TM & © DC Comics COMIC-CON 50 10 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 11 OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Forever in the DC COMIC-CON1995 26 Comics booth. COMIC-CON1995 26 Giant robots never really loomed over the San Diego Convention Center, NOTABLE JULY 27–30 but this ad that appeared in Dark GUESTS Horse Comics sure San Diego made the possibility CHARLES BURNS Convention of it happening look cool. Comic book writer-artist, Center Marvel artist made a rare Attendance: West Coast conven- 34,000 tion appearance. Comic book artist, Artist Ramona Fra- don was an Inkpot , The name of the event was of- Award recipient. ficially changed to Comic-Con International: San Diego, and Marvel characters Spider-Man and the TIM & the new “eye” logo, designed by Thing made new HILDEBRANDT Richard Bruning and Josh Beat- friends at Comic- man, was introduced (much Con. Fantasy illustrators, to the Toucan’s dismay). trilogy Eisner Awards ceremony was Neil Gaiman and moved to Friday night—where Jeff Smith were Eis- it’s remained ever since—and ner Award winners. combined with the Inkpots, THIS PAGE TOP: Manga artist, so the banquet was no more. The Toucan went Neil Gaiman was the keynote Crying Freeman, gently off into Mai the Psychic Girl speaker at the newly combined retirement with the ceremony. The Independent premier of the new Publishers Pavilion, instituted Comic-Con Interna- on the Exhibit Hall floor in 1994, tional logo, but . . . featured such self-publishers as Comic book artist, Jeff Smith, , Batton BOTTOM: He did make a cameo Batman Lash, , , appearance on , , Marc the official T-shirt, Hempel, and . featuring Death and made a surprise Sandman with art JOE SINNOTT appearance as a guest of Glen by . Comic book artist, , Danzig’s new Verotik line. Magic: , The Gathering was big among gamers, and Lloyd Kaufman brought lots of Troma films. JEFF SMITH Cartoonist, creator, Bone, RASL

COMIC-CON 50 Sandman and Death TM & © DC Comics COMIC-CON 50 12 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 13 OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: and cosplay (before the COMIC-CON1996 27 word was invented). COMIC-CON1996 27

Popular comic book artists Michael JULY 4–7 Wm. Kaluta and Bill NOTABLE Sienkiewicz. GUESTS The Dark Horse San Diego Comics booth with Convention a special appear- ance by actor Mark Center MORT DRUCKER Hamill. Dark Horse Cartoonist, was publishing his comic book series, MAD magazine Attendance: . 36,000 Writer and artist Alex Ross DAVE GIBBONS signed at the DC Comic book artist, For the second time, Comic-Con Comics booth for , fell on the Fourth of July week- their new series end. This time it was because of Kingdom Come. the Republican National Con- THIS PAGE TOP: DAVE McKEAN vention, held later that summer Dave McKean’s in San Diego. Themes included quirky Souvenir Comic book artist, a salute to 1986 (the publication Book cover was Sandman, Arkham Asylum year of Watchmen, Dark Knight, missing something: and ), the 30th anniversa- Somehow the Cyan ries of Star Trek and the Silver plate got dropped Surfer, and Saturday morning from the final printing! Luckily it cartoons. By this point there still made a great- Comic book artist, were seven main programming looking cover. Supergirl, Amazing Spider-Man rooms on the Mezzanine and Upper Level, plus three rooms BOTTOM: It was big devoted to workshops and news when some of seminars. Programming high- the lights included a special tribute founders went back Comic book artist, to co-creator Jerry to work at Marvel. Here’s Rob Liefeld’s Superman’s Girlfriend Siegel (who had recently died), version of Captain “Meet the Batwomen” with ac- America on the tresses Yvonne Craig () official Comic-Con and (), T-shirt for 1996. FRANÇOIS SCHUITEN and a panel on “Social Change in Belgian comic artist, Comics” with , Tom Les Cités Obscures Hart, Joe Chiappetta, and oth- ers. In addition to the regular Art Show, ’s Words & Pictures Museum set up a spe- cial exhibit of comic art. Comic book artist, , EC Comics, Marvel Comics

COMIC-CON 50 Souvenir Book cover art © 2019 Dave McKean • Captain America TM & © 2019 MARVEL COMIC-CON 50 14 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 15 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP ROW LEFT: Comic book art- ists and longtime friends Ramona Fradon (left) and COMIC-CON1997 28 Marie Severin. COMIC-CON1997 28

RIGHT: A huge Spawn inflatable in JULY 17–20 the Sails Pavilion for NOTABLE the 1997 movie. GUESTS MIDDLE: A look San Diego from above at the Convention Comic-Con Exhibit Hall. Center Comic book artist, inker, BOTTOM LEFT: Patrick McDonnell’s Sgt. , Fantastic Four Attendance: Mutts salutes the 40,000 20th anniversary of . RALPH McQUARRIE BOTTOM RIGHTT: Movie designer, , A whimsical addition to the Ex- This large figure of Star Wars films hibit Hall was the Trilogy Tour Bone played look- tree, featuring the characters out at the top of the tree in the Trilogy and works of and Tour booth. self-publishers Jeff Smith Bone( ), LINDA MEDLEY Linda Medley (), THIS PAGE, TOP: Comic book writer-artist, and Charles Vess (Book of Ballads Twenty years of Castle Waiting and Sagas), who had banded Star Wars was the together to do a summer con- theme, and this vention tour. A number of ce- triptych of three lebrities came to Comic-Con to of the big original characters by Dave promote upcoming films, from Dorman was the Fantasy author, Paul Verhoeven (Starship Troop- Souvenir Book cover. Elric of Melniboné stories ers) and David Hasselhoff Nick( Fury) to Michael Jai White and THIS PAGE, BOT- John Leguizamo (Spawn), plus TOM: You got two martial arts favorite Sammo big images—front ALEX ROSS Hung. The 20th anniversary of and back!—with Comic book artist, Star Wars was a big theme, with this year’s Alfred E. Neuman meets the Marvels, Kingdom Come lots of programs and a gala par- DC Comics Trinity ty under the sails on Saturday official Comic-Con night, and a paint- T-shirt! ed Souvenir Book cover. Fans boarded buses to pack the audi- Film writer, director, ence for the Masquerade, held , in Golden Hall at the old CPAC, where increasingly sophisticat- ed costumes and presentations garnered prizes from sponsors, a preview of the modern-day Comics artist, Comic-Con Masquerade. ,

COMIC-CON 50 Mutts © 2019 Patrick McDonnell Star Wars TM & © 2019 Ltd. •MAD and DC characters TM & © DC Comics COMIC-CON 50 16 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 17 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: DC Comics Silver Age greats (left to right) Murphy Anderson, , and John COMIC-CON1998 29 Broome. COMIC-CON1998 29 SECOND ROW: A trio of 1998 Masquerade contestants. NOTABLE AUGUST 13–16 THIRD ROW: with Fanta- GUESTS graphics editor/pub- San Diego lisher Convention and a piece of Ware’s Comic-Con 1998 Center badge art. Comic book writer, BOTTOM: A bird’s- Flash, Attendance: eye view of the constantly-growing 42,000 Exhibit Hall. THIS PAGE, TOP: Alex Ross’s Superman Comic book artist, A panel and signing by Joss cover celebrated the Aquaman, Whedon and most of the Buffy Man of ’s 60th the Vampire Slayer cast attract- birthday. ed mobs of fans. Similarly, fans MIDDLE: 1998 also of Sailor Moon creator Naoko marked the 40th an- Takeuchi were out in full force— niversary of the Silver Italian comic writer-artist, and in cosplay. Themes included Age Green Lantern Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde the 20th anniversary of , with this official Superman’s 60th birthday, and T-shirt.

Comics for Girls and Boys. Di- BELOW: Cast mem- rector talked bers from Buffy the TERRY MOORE about his new film, Vampires, Vampire Slayer caused Comic book writer-artist, and fan-favorite star Patrick Mac- quite a stir when Nee discussed The (the they made a panel Strangers in Paradise popular British TV series). appearance at Comic- The International Pavilion in the Con; left to right: Charisma Carpenter, Exhibit Hall focused on Italian Alyson Hannigan, comics, helping to emphasize and Nicholas Bren- Comic book artist, inker, Comic-Con’s worldwide scope. don. It was a portent EC Comics, Sgt. Fury The Eisner Awards moved up a of things to come in notch in sophistication, with a the Hall H era. multimedia slide show and live video, while the Masquerade had a record turnout for its first pre- Manga artist, creator, sentation when it moved “home” Sailor Moon to the Convention Center. One of the first successful Marvel mov- ies, Blade, held a party Saturday night after the Masquerade. CHRIS WARE Charles Brownstein was hired as Comic-Con’s first full-time direc- Comic book writer-artist, tor of programming.

COMIC-CON 50 Superman and Green Lantern TM & © DC Comics COMIC-CON 50 18 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 19 OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: This huge inflatable pro- moted the cartoon adventures of Frank COMIC-CON1999 30 Miller and Geof Dar- COMIC-CON1999 25 row’s Big Guy and Rusty the Robot. Writer-artist Kyle NOTABLE AUGUST 13–18 Baker at his table. Wendy Pini finishes GUESTS an Elfquest painting San Diego for the Art Auction.

Convention Center () at his SAMUEL R. DELANY table. Science fiction author, Attendance: Indy comics car- The Einstein Intersection toonists (left) Daniel 45,000 Clowes (Eightball) and (). Comic writer-artist, The 1999 badges 1999 marked Comic-Con’s 30th Cartoon History of the Universe event. Programming themes in- featured Neil Gaiman’s The Sand- cluded the 50th anniversary of man, with Death on ’s , the 60th an- the receipt portion. niversary of Batman, the 10th anniversary of Neil Gaiman’s THIS PAGE TOP: Steranko’s noirish Golden Age comic book artist, Sandman, “The cover for the Souve- cartoonist, Comes of Age,” “Comics Verité” nir Book. (nonfiction comics), and “The Animation Renaissance.” Hol- RIGHT: Adam lywood continued with its in- Hughes’ Wonder MIKE MIGNOLA Woman graced the creased interest in reaching the official T-shirt and Comic book writer-artist, show’s attendees. Presentations also advertising, creator, Hellboy included a look at The Blair Witch including the buses. Project with actress Heather BOTTOM: An Donahue, behind the scenes of excerpt from Scott Farscape, and a program on the Shaw’s “30 Thing I making of Iron Giant, with direc- like About Comic- Comic book writer-artist, tor Brad Bird and a relatively un- Con!” from , Scary Godmother known actor named Vin Diesel Souvenir Book. (the voice of the Iron Giant), just a few short months after he first became fast and furious. Mark Evanier kept expanding the Artist, animator, director, number of panels he hosted, in- Batman: The Animated Series cluding several Golden and Sil- ver Age panels, guest spotlights, and the annual Jack Kirby trib- ute, a feat he magically performs BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH to this day, 20 years later. Comic book writer-artist, , : Weapon X

COMIC-CON 50 Big Guy © 2019 Frank Miller and • Sandman TM & © DC Comics • Elfquest © 2019 Souvenir Book cover art © 2019 Steranko • Batman and Wonder Woman TM & © DC Comics • 30 Things art © 2019 Scott Shaw! COMIC-CON 50 20 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 21 “WE HAVE A HULK TOUCAN.”

According to Wikipedia: “Toucans are members of the Neotropi- In 2009, for the 40th anniversary of Comic-Con, we asked Rick cal near passerine bird family Ramphastidae. The Ramphastidae to bring back the bird, and he was featured on the cover of the are brightly marked birds and have large, often-colorful bills. The Souvenir Book, perched atop the El Cortez Hotel (now a condo family includes over forty different species.” building) in his newly-adopted garb. And then in 2012, Sometime in the mid-1980s, Comic-Con adopted the Toucan as when our official website, www.comic-con.org, was redesigned an official logo. As artist explained:“I was asked to do a and revamped, Toucan became the name for our new official blog. logo of some kind, and I came up with the Toucan. Actually, it wasn’t Rick generated a whole slew of new drawings (some of them seen meant to be specifically a toucan, just a funny bird with a big beak.” here for the first time), and the Toucan once again became a part Rick’s “funny bird” was a part of Comic-Con until 1995, appearing of the Comic-Con family. (Someone in the office actually named in publications, the occasional embroidered sweatshirt, and in ad- him, too: Stan.) Since emerging from his self-imposed exile, Stan vertising, both locally and in comics. In 1995, Comic-Con added “In- the Toucan has appeared on official Comic-Con T-shirts, pins, tiki ternational” to its name and the iconic eye logo was created. mugs, and—of course—on our blog on a regular basis.

TOP TWO ROWS: Comic-Con’s favorite bird made a comeback in late 2012, when the company launched a blog called simply “Toucan.” This was the first set of new draw- ings Geary did, including both sketches and finished color art.

RIGHT: Don’t tell HBO, but we call the one with the sword the Game of Thrones Toucan.

BELOW: The comics-loving Toucan was adopted as the official symbol of the Comic- Con Graphic Novel Book Clubs, now 11 groups strong in the greater San Diego area. (See pages 236-237 for details.)

TOP: A 1983 ver- ABOVE: Geary’s first version of sion of the Comic- the dancing Toucan, created for Con logo. Comic-Con’s 25th anniversary.

ABOVE: Geary re- LEFT: A 1995 Comic-Con fined the Toucan Holiday card (in snowless San logo in 1988, in this Diego). drawing showing RIGHT: The 25th anniversary both B&W and color logo for Comic-Con 1994. renditions.

COMIC-CON 50 All artwork by Rick Geary © 2019 SDCC COMIC-CON 50 22 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 23 TOP ROW: Other Toucans created by Geary include (left to right): Movie Toucan, TV Toucan, and Book Toucan.

ABOVE: A button given out at a panel during Comic- Con in 2013, commemorating the launch of the new blog.

MIDDLE: One of our favorites: Spaceman Toucan.

BELOW: Two versions of Professor Toucan: (left) “I will be in my office on Wednesday, but not Thursday” Ivy League Professor, and Graduation Professor. Plus Cosplay Toucan on the far right.

COMIC-CON 50 24 2019 Souvenir Book