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Home , 1979 in comics, Adam West, Airtight Garage, Alan Moore, Alex Schomburg, Al Williamson

A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF COMIC-CON

TheThe 1980s1980s THE SILVER AGE OF COMIC-CON

Comic-Con found a new home through the 1980s at ’s Convention and Performing Arts Center (CPAC) and became the event everyone—fans and pros alike—wanted to visit each summer.

COMIC-CON 50 www.comic-con.org 1 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: B. Kliban and 1980 his cats were almost 1980 1980 a constant prescence 1980 at Comic-Con until his sudden death in COMIC-CON 11 1990. COMIC-CON 11 MIDDLE LEFT: Japanese and great Osamu NOTABLE JULY 30–AUG. 3 Tezuka (Astro Boy). MIDDLE RIGHT: The GUESTS Uncanny X-Men by Convention and and Performing Arts John Byrne was writer-artist, Marvel’s #1 book at , X-Men Center, Downtown the time.

MIDDLE BELOW: Attendance: John Stanley’s comic CHRIS CLAREMONT About 5,000 books based on Comic book writer, ’s X-Men gag cartoons made him a legend. Aside from one year back at BOTTOM: , the El Cortez (1981), Comic- Authors Master of Kung Fu, Sabre Con spent the 1980s at CPAC, (left) and Jerry Pour- starting with just the Exhibit nelle flank (left to right) animator and eventually expanding GO NAGAI to take over the entire facility. Clampett and actors and Kirk Manga writer-artist, Showings of in 35mm Alyn. Mazinger X, brought in big crowds to Golden Hall. from the comics THIS PAGE, TOP: section of the then very popu- Jack Katz’s The First Kingdom was fea- lar National Lampoon magazine tured on the cover Comic book writer-artist, editor (. K. Brown, , of the 1980 Souvenir EC Comics, DC Comics , , B. K. Tay- Book. lor, and ) occupied a prominent spot in the dealers’ BOTTOM RIGHT: A flier promoting all “5 room. A contingent of some of great days.” Manga writer-artist Japan’s finest manga and anime Lupin III creators attended Comic-Con, BELOW: A Brenda including (Astro Starr sketch by cre- ator . Boy), Monkey Punch (Lupin III), OSAMU TEZUKA (Candy, Candy), Father of anime and manga, and Go Nagai (Mazinger). Scott Astro Boy, Kimba the White Shaw! MC’d the Masquerade, and writer/artist Jack Katz (The First Kingdom) hosted the Inkpot ADAM WEST Awards banquet. Actor,

WALLY WOOD Comic book writer-artist, EC Comics, MAD magazine, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents,

COMIC-CON 50 Kliban cat art © 2019 J.K. Kliban • Little Lulu © 2019 Classic Media, LLC The First Kingdom © 2019 Jack Katz • Brenda Starr Copyright © 2019 Tribune COMIC-CON 50 2 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 3 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP LEFT: A non-Disney 1981 ducks draw- 1981 1981 ing from the Souvenir 1981 Book.

COMIC-CON 12 TOP RIGHT: Three COMIC-CON 12 1981 badge, including one with art by . NOTABLE JULY 23–26 MIDDLE: An entry in the 1980 Mas- GUESTS querade caught the El Cortez Hotel, attention of Wendy Downtown and Richard Pini, along with MC Gary San Diego Owens. BOTTOM LEFT: Regarded as the Attendance: greats About 5,000 (Wee father of comics Pals) and (Family Circus). Comic-Con made its final return BOTTOM RIGHT: to the El Cortez, which was tem- Looks like Spidey got Cartoonist, porarily reopened by its owners. taken to the cleaners MAD magazine The event finally shrank from by MJ, in this Souvenir Book sketch by John five days to four, where it would Romita. remain until the introduction BIL KEANE of Preview Night in 2005. The THIS PAGE, TOP: Syndicated cartoonist, Masquerade MC was Laugh-In’s ’s . Bill Woggon gave DC-themed cover Family Circus a well-received Katy Keene pro- featured the : gram. Soon-to-be executive , Bat- director Fae Desmond put to- man, and , with in the gether an amateur film festival background. DC Comics editor, that drew more than 30 entries. , , Cartoonist Bil Keane (Family Cir- THIS PAGE, BOTTOM: , Batman, cus) hosted the Inkpot Awards Comic-Con’s first banquet, while Sergio Aragonés official T-shirt fea- Superman drew of presenters tured this stunning and winners. gave rendition of Sheena, Queen of the Jungle Julie Schwartz an by . It SHOOTER (Schwartz was Bradbury’s agent was produced by Bob Comic book writer, for many years). Bob Chapman Chapman’s Graphitti started selling official Comic- Designs, which con- editor-in-chief, Con T-shirts with his new com- tinues to produce fine ,1978–1987 pany, Graphitti Designs, a part- Comic-Con merchan- nership which continues to this dise to this day. day. This was the one year in the 1980s that could not attend. The cost to attend Comic book writer-artist- Comic-Con for all 4 days in 1981? creator, Cerebus Twenty bucks!

COMIC-CON 50 Spider-Man, Mary Jane © 2019 MARVEL • Steve Canyon © 2019 Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman TM & © DC Comics • Sheena © 2019 respective copyright holder; art © Dave Stevens Estate COMIC-CON 50 4 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 5 19821982 19821982 COMIC-CON 13 COMIC-CON 13

JULY 8–11 NOTABLE GUESTS Convention and Performing Arts Center, Downtown OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: Chris Claremont and Miller were about to embark on Attendance: their mini-series for Marvel. British comic book artist, About 5,000 SECOND ROW: A murderers’ row of Art Camelot 3000 Auction art (left to right): Hogarth, Wog- gon, and Eisner. THIRD ROW: Comic greats Carl Barks (Un- With budget problems, the cle Scrooge) and (). ALLAN COLLINS Comic-Con committee made BOTTOM: Bob Chapman (left) at his Fiction, comics writer, 1982 a year of restraint: All day- Graphitti Designs booth with artist Dave , Ms. Tree, Stevens. time activities, including films and programs, were in the Ex- THIS PAGE, TOP LEFT: has hibit Hall, curtained off from been to every Comic-Con and moderated the dealers. The Masquerade, panels at most of them! once again MC’d by Gary Ow- THIS PAGE, TOP RIGHT: Sergio Aragonés ens (who brought Bill with Comic-Con founder at the 1982 Inkpot Awards. Syndicated cartoonist, Dana along with him), was held MIDDLE RIGHT: ’s Dexter creator, at the El Cortez and featured a the Duck Souvenir Book cover. Fay Wray scream-alike contest, Dennis the Menace BELOW: A 1982 flier featuring Dave Stevens’ aping (get it?) the star of King art. Kong. A program previewing the BELOW RIGHT: Jack Kirby’s Captain Victory new Star Wars movie, Return of was the star of the official 1982 Comic-Con the Jedi, had fans packed into T-shirt. the Continental Room at the Ho- Comic book writer-artist, tel San Diego. The Promising Newcomer Award was Daredevil, 300, , added to the banquet festivities, Batman: The Dark with Dave Stevens (a former as- Knight Returns sistant to Russ) being the first recipient. Syndicated cartoonist, creator, Mary Perkins On Stage

COMIC-CON 50 Art Show and Barks-Hogarth photos © Alan Light Evanier and Aragonés-Dorf photos © Alan Light • Dexter the Duck © Frank Brunner • The Rocketeer © 2019 Dave Stevens Estate • Captain Victory © 2019 Jack Kirby Estate COMIC-CON 50 6 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 7 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: Despite 1983 what this sign 1983 1983 says, there were 1983 still long lines.

COMIC-CON 14 MIDDLE LEFT: COMIC-CON 14 DC Comics artist Murphy Ander- son () with Superman NOTABLE AUGUST 4–7 co-creator . GUESTS

Convention and MIDDLE RIGHT: Performing Arts author Douglas Center, Downtown Adams (The Hitch- hiker’s Guide to Science fiction author, the Galaxy) was The Hitchhiker’s Guide Attendance: a 1983 special to the Galaxy About 5,000 guest.

BOTTOM: your magnifying This was the first year Comic- glass to see what Con tried a theme for programs: films they were A pop culture salute to the Six- showing in 1983. Syndicated cartoonist, ties, which was featured on the The cover by Souvenir Book cover with art by cartoonist Scott Con mainstay Rick Geary (his Shaw!, showcased first cover). This is the first time a his trademark cover included the line “Souvenir “Oddball Comics” humor. Program Book,” paving the way for the bigger books in the 1990s THIS PAGE, TOP: to the present. For the first time Rick Geary’s cover Comic book writer-artist, since 1974, no Inkpot Awards featured a Sixties movie producer, banquet was held; the awards theme. were handed out at a special cer- emony at the Hotel San Diego. BOTTOM: Also for the first time, comics George Pérez’s “Super Family” companies turned out in force to art was featured promote their new products, es- on the official Artist, animator, pecially for direct sales through 1983 Comic-Con comics shops. Among publish- T-shirt. , ers present were DC, Marvel, and Pacific, First, Eclipse, Kitchen the Sink, Comico, and Archie’s Red Circle. The Con’s own closed-cir- cuit TV (CCTV) in the hotel was quite popular, especially Barry GEORGE PÉREZ Short’s morning show. Arn Saba MC’d the Masquerade. Additions Comic book writer-artist, this year included role-playing New Teen , games and a children’s activity Wonder Woman, room. JLA/

COMIC-CON 50 B’Wana B’east and other characters TM & © DC Comics • Herbie © respective copyright holder Souvenir Book art © 2019 Rick Geary • “Super Family” art © 2019 George Pérez COMIC-CON 50 8 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 9 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: Editor-in-chief 1984 joins 1984 1984 Steve Saffel at the 1984 Marvel Comics booth.

COMIC-CON 15 MIDDLE: Rocketeer COMIC-CON 15 creator Dave Ste- vens (left) with artist . The NOTABLE JUNE 28–JULY 1 pair formed a spe- cial bond at Comic- GUESTS Con. Williamson Convention and drew for EC Comics, plus the syndicated Performing Arts comic strips Secret Center, Downtown Agent Corrigan and Syndicated cartoonist, Star Wars. creator, BOTTOM: Maggie The Heart of Juliet Jones Attendance: Thompson at the KP About 5,500 (Krause Publica- tions) booth. At the time, Maggie was the co-editor (along and Comic-Con was held in late June, with her husband, the earliest ever, because of the Animators, Don), of CBG, The Summer Olympics in Los Ange- Comics Buyer’s ’s les. The wide-ranging program Guide, a weekly “Nine Old Men” schedule included “Con Feud” comic industry (a –type quiz show . with Marvel vs. DC), a panel on THIS PAGE, TOP: independent publishers, and one and that asked the as to why ’s Actor, there aren’t more women read- cover for the 1984 Adventures of Superman ing or creating comics. Sergio Souvenir Book, Aragonés MC’d the Masquerade. featuring their - The Humanitar- favorite characters DAVE STEVENS The Foozle and Raul ian Award was initiated, honor- the Cat. Comic book writer-artist, ing people in comics and the popular arts who have worked MIDDLE: The 1984 The Rocketeer to help others. Famous Monsters T-shirt was the first to be based off the editor Forry Ackerman was the Souvenir Book cover. first recipient. The first Comic Book Expo— Comic-Con’s com- BOTTOM: Artist Comic book artist, ic book industry trade show, () receives the Russ Superman, , which included publishers and Manning Promising World’s Finest manufacturers—was held June Newcomer Award 26–27 in the basement of the from Barry Short Hotel San Diego, at the sugges- of the West Coast tion of Marvel’s sales manager Comics Club. Short AL WILLIAMSON and organized by was also a Comic- Comics artist, Con volunteer and a Comic-Con’s Fae Desmond. Be- EC Comics, hind the scenes at Comic-Con, former assistant VP. Larry Geeck became president syndicated cartoonist, of the Board of Directors when Secret Agent Corrigan, founder Shel Dorf retired. Star Wars strips

COMIC-CON 50 The Foozle © 2019 Marshall Rogers Estate • Raul the Cat © 2019 Howard Chaykin COMIC-CON 50 10 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 11 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: Harvey Kurtz- 19851985 man with Jack Kirby. 19851985 MIDDLE: Writers Wolfman (left) and with COMIC-CON 16 actor COMIC-CON 16 (right).

BOTTOM: Writer made NOTABLE AUGUST 1–4 his only U. S. con- vention appearance GUESTS in 1985 at Comic- Convention and Con.. He’s seen here Performing Arts with Kirby at the first annual Kirby Center, Downtown Awards at Comic- BEN Con, where he won Science fiction author, Attendance: for . Grand Tour, About 6,000 THIS PAGE, TOP: series of novels DC Comics’ cover showcased just about their entire Alan Moore made his only U.S. 1985 line of comics. comics convention appearance. BELOW RIGHT: , Jack Kirby, Frank Cartoonist, illustrator, Canadian cartoonist EC Comics, TV Guide, Miller, , and Jim B. K. Taylor’s playful Shooter (from the audience) en- 1985 T-shirt design. MAD magazine gaged in a lively discussion dur- BELOW: ing a panel on creators’ rights. Harvey at Comic- The first Jack Kirby Awards (the Con, puny human, precursor to the Comic according to this ALAN MOORE Industry Awards), sponsored by Program Book Comic book writer, and administered sketch. , Swamp Thing, by , were presented. for Vendetta Comic-Con moved further to- ward professionalism with the adoption of Rick Geary’s Toucan- design logo (see page 84) and the hiring of Fae Desmond as part- DAN O’BANNON time manager. Fae was Movie scriptwriter, director, Comic-Con’s first paid employee Dark Star, and went on to become execu- tive director, in charge of the day- to-day operations of the event, a post she holds to this day. Vol- unteer—and future Comic-Con president—Robin Doig (Donlan) took over the Masquerade. Golden Age comic book artist, science fiction illustrator, famed for his cover art

COMIC-CON 50 Souvenir Book cover art TM & © DC Comics • T-shirt art © 2019 B. K. Taylor COMIC-CON 50 12 2019 Souvenir Book Hulk Harvey © 2019 Estate www.comic-con.org 13 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: A chance 1986 meeting between 1986 1986 and Jack 1986 Kirby (as wife Roz looks on) at COMIC-CON 17 Comic-Con in COMIC-CON 17 1986. At the time, Lee and Kirby were believed to be JULY 31–AUG. 3 estranged. NOTABLE TOP RIGHT: A GUESTS 1986 badge with Convention and art by Louise and Performing Arts Morgan Rendich. Center, Downtown MIDDLE ROW: Two of the hot- Science fiction/ test indy comics author,The Broken Sword, Attendance: creators in the Time Patrol About 6,500 Comic-Con’s 1986 Artists’ Alley: Eastman (left) and of Teen- MARION Comic-Con’s Masquerade moved age Ninja ZIMMER BRADLEY Turtles fame. to Saturday night, switching Fantasy author, places with the Inkpot Awards and Darkover series banquet. Artists’ Alley was insti- BOTTOM: 1986 tuted, and among the first 75 winners include artists who took turns at the 18 (with Kirby) Jerry available tables were Scott Mc- Ordway and Karen MOEBIUS Cloud, Steve Rude, , Berger (front); () , , Mi- George Pérez, French comic writer-artist, Steve Rude, Dave chael Kaluta, , Lee , Arzach, Marrs, , the Her- Gibbons, John nandez Brothers, and Bill Mess- Totleben, and The Frank Miller (back). ner-Loebs. Official autograph signings were also instituted at THIS PAGE, TOP: a table in Artists’ Alley. Artists’ Al- She-Hulk shows ley continues to this day as free who’s in charge Golden Age comic book juried space in the Exhibit Hall, in this 1986 cover artist, co-creator, featuring Marvel run by longtime Comic-Con vol- Green Lantern unteer Clydene Nee. The longest Comics characters by John Romita. lines (and inklings of crowd con- trol problems to come) were for RIGHT: And now Frank Miller and Stan Lee. John for something Rogers was elected president completely differ- Comic Book writer, of the Board of Directors, a po- ent: British artist sition he held until his death in Brian Bolland’s November 2018. David Scroggy take on Lady took over as the executive direc- Blackhawk was the official 1986 tor of Comic Book Expo. Comic-Con T-shirt. Comic book artist, character designer,

COMIC-CON 50 Lee-Kirby photo © 1986 Chris Ng Souvenir Book cover characters © 2019 MARVEL • TM & © DC Comics COMIC-CON 50 14 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 15 19871987 19871987 COMIC-CON 18 COMIC-CON 18 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP LEFT: Writer- artist Scott McCloud was a few years away NOTABLE AUGUST 6–9 from his groundbreak- ing book, Under- GUESTS standing Comics, but Convention and was already a comic Performing Arts success with his Zot! series. Center, Downtown TOP RIGHT: Author Attendance: . About 7,000 MIDDLE LEFT: Comics creator and publisher Art Spiegel- man had critical Harlan Ellison enthralled an au- acclaim for the first dience of 1,000+ with his aptly volume of his graphic titled two-hour talk “A Brim- novel , which stone and Hellfire Afternoon went on to win the . with Harlan Ellison.” Debut- Animator ing at this year’s show was the MIDDLE RIGHT: Events Guide, permanently cre- ’s WHEW! Will Eisner’s self-portrait. ating two separate publications Souvenir Book sketch. for Comic-Con attendees, with the new magazine featuring BOTTOM: Jack Kirby’s WARD KIMBALL the complete schedule of the surprise 70th birthday Animator, one of party was the event of event. A concert with Country Comic-Con in 1987. Walt Disney’s Joe, a special exhibit in Golden “Nine Old Men” Hall, and a panel all brought at- THIS PAGE, TOP AND tention to the publication of BOTTOM: Moebius’s the comic book series Real War charming and ethe- FRANÇOISE MOULY Stories. Actors Bill Mumy and real cover and the were auctioneers official T-shirt choice Editor, publisher, for the Art Auction. of ; with art by co-creator started a three-year run as the , under- art editor, MC of the Inkpot Awards. A spe- lined the increasing cial “Women’s Power Lunch” on influence of inter- the Sunday of the Con was held national comics and at downtown’s new mall, Hor- art on Comic-Con. It ton Plaza. A major highlight for would be a few years Syndicated cartoonist, many pros was the surprise 70th until this influence birthday party held for Jack Kirby manifested itself in a name change for the at the Hotel San Diego. event. Comic writer-artist, RAW, Maus

COMIC-CON 50 The Spirit TM & © 2019 Will Eisner Studios, Inc Souvenir Book cover art © 2019 Moebius (Jean Giraud) Estate • Lone Wolf and Cub © 2019 Futubasha Publishers Inc. COMIC-CON 50 16 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 17 OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP LEFT: While 1988 Rick Geary’s Toucan 1988 1988 was adopted as an 1988 official logo in 1985, this new version, COMIC-CON 19 redrawn and refined COMIC-CON 19 by Geary in 1988, became the main piece associated AUGUST 4–7 with the show until NOTABLE 1995. GUESTS TOP RIGHT: A Convention and poster for the 1988 Performing Arts show, stressing Comic-Con’s devo- ARTHUR ADAMS Center, Downtown tion to comics. Comic book artist, MIDDLE: Pre-Simp- , Attendance: sons Monkeyman & O’Brien About 8,000 at his table with one of his in Hell characters keeping him company in the ROBERT ASPIRIN Comic-Con expanded its exhibit Exhibit Hall. Science fiction, area into Golden Hall, which be- fantasy author, came primarily the publishers’ MIDDLE: Three 1988 badges with booth area. The “supergroup” Se- Myth Adventures art by Rick Geary, duction of the Innocent debuted Scott Shaw!, and Jim as the musical entertainment Cornelius. following the Inkpot Awards banquet. The band included Max BOTTOM: A wide Cartoonist, Allan Collins, , Bill look at the 1988 Passionella, Kill My Mother; Mumy, Miguel Ferrer, and John Comic-Con Exhibit scriptwriter, , “Chris” Christensen. Superman’s Hall at CPAC. 50th birthday was celebrated Carnal Knowledge THIS PAGE: 1988 with a special display of Man of marked the 50th memorabilia. Special movie anniversary of presentations included the first Superman, strange MATT GROENING Batman film, directed by Tim visitor from another Cartoonist, creator, planet, whose . . . Burton, and Who Framed Roger , Rabbit? The first annual Will Eis- well, you know the ner Comic Industry Awards (re- rest. The Man of Steel dominated placing the Kirby Awards) were both the Souvenir MC’d by administrator Dave Ol- Book cover, with art brich. The Masquerade was held by 1950s/60s Super- GEORGE R.R. MARTIN at the Civic Theatre for the first man artist Wayne Author, editor, Boring, and the time. The Con created two new series, departments to meet fan needs: official T-shirt which Disabled Services (instigated and showcased Joe Rag Shuster’s Superman run by Robert Goodwin until his #1 cover. Fun fact: death in 1997 and now run by the Souvenir Book William Curtis) and Japanese cover was an early Animation (founded and run by use of computerized Comic book writer-artist, John Davenport to this day). color separations! creator, Mage,

COMIC-CON 50 Superman TM & © DC Comics COMIC-CON 50 18 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 19 OPPOSTIE PAGE, TOP: When 1989 meet: Moebius with 1989 1989 Will Eisner (right). 1989 MIDDLE: When legends meet, part 2: COMIC-CON 20 Sergio Aragonés with COMIC-CON 20 Groo the Wanderer.

BOTTOM: That long snaking line is a NOTABLE AUGUST 3–6 of things to come. 1989 was the GUESTS penultimate year for Convention and Comic-Con at CPAC. Performing Arts A new Convention Center was looming GILBERT and JAIME Center, Downtown on the horizon for San Diego. HERNANDEZ Attendance: THIS PAGE, TOP: Bill Cartoonists, co-creators, Sienkiewicz’s 1989 Love and Rockets About 11,000 Souvenir Book cover is one of the most memorable—and Comic-Con saw a major jump wildly creative— covers from this era. in attendance as it marked its 20th anniversary show with a FAR RIGHT: Jerry big party. Past chairmen took Robinson’s Batman turns cutting a giant cake in official T-shirt design celebrated the 50th the form of the Toucan logo. anniversary of the Afterward, Seduction of the In- Dark Knight. nocent played and Jack and Roz Kirby could be seen dancing to RIGHT: Kirby and his beloved wife, Roz, some of the slower tunes. Mark ’s 1989 Comic-Con T-shirt art, dance to Seduction Hamill was just one of the celeb- celebrating Batman’s 50th anniversary. of the Innocent at the rities to drop in for a visit, while 1989 20th anniversary an unknown young writer from party. JERRY ROBINSON , , attended BOTTOM: The Toucan Comic book artist, Batman, his first San Diego Comic-Con. has some cake in this co-creator, The ; Archie and the gang visited special 20th anniver- syndicated cartoonist, Comic-Con for the first time in sary illustration by the pages of Pep Comics; they’d Rick Geary. Still Life return in 1991 and 2003. Scott Shaw! won the Hawaiian shirt contest at the luau-themed Ink- pot Awards banquet. Clydene Comic book artist, Nee took over the Art Auction, , , which ran into the 2000s. Today it’s been replaced by a series of : Assassin How-To panels featured each year at the convention. Cartoonist, The New Yorker, , National Lampoon

COMIC-CON 50 Souvenir Book cover art © 2019 Bill Sienkiewicz • Batman TM & © DC Comics COMIC-CON 50 20 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 21 industry it was about to become. We sub- sequently made crew caps for (a.k.a. ), , DragonSlayer, and 1941. We even JEFF WALKER had a booth at Comic-Con for a few years.

How did you shift into doing this full- time? I got older. I got to see and invited to George’s office. During that con- In 1978, I got a call offering me what would American International sci-fi, Hammer hor- versation, I asked what he hoped to do next, be a dream job and ultimately a career I ror, , William Castle, and Ray Har- and George described his dream project: A could never had planned or anticipated. ryhausen films at Saturday matinees and 20-part science fiction epic that would be a The top execs at 20th Century were all-night drive-ins along with mainstream cross between Gordon serials and forming their own production company, classics like Forbidden Planet, The Day the 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Ladd Company, and it would be based Earth Stood Still, Invasion of the Body Snatch- The success of Charlie’s landmark fan on the Warner Bros. lot. Their first produc- ers, and The Haunting when they first came campaign for Star Wars changed every- tion slate included three :Out - If you’ve been coming to Comic-Con for a out and many other genre classics that have thing. The studios took notice, and soon, a land, Runner, and The Right Stuff, and I while, chances are you’ve seen a program or informed modern fandom. small group of us were bringing previews of was asked to do for those films what Charlie panel discussion that was brought to us by upcoming high-profile genre films to con- did for Star Wars. Jeff Walker. Jeff’s history with the show dates At one point, a number of other people ventions. Charlie moved on to Alien; lifelong Two weeks later, I found myself at Pine- back to the late , and in celebration of were doing what you do. Who were they fan, writer, and genre expert Craig Miller wood Studios on the set of Outland actu- Comic-Con 50, it seems more than appropri- and what did they bring to Comic-Con? took over for for the Star Wars franchise, and ally “directing” Sean Connery as we filmed ate to interview him about all he’s done for While there were guests related to I worked on Outland and . An- him giving an introduction to Outland for Comic-Con—and, more importantly, fans throughout the 1970s, they other lifelong fan and future writer/director, a “making of” featurette I was producing. and fandom—over the past five decades. were basically about favorite shows and Mick Garris, was representing The Howling It was every bit a “pinch me” moment, and movies of the past. It was publicist Charlie and Escape From . I was also hired thus began my long adventure of bringing Describe your job and how it interacts Lippincott, a friend of at USC, by Warner Bros. the year after Superman presentations to Comic-Con. with Comic-Con. who came up with the idea to create a con- came out because they had sent a publicist My favorite part of mounting these cam- My job as a genre marketing consultant is to vention campaign for Star Wars, showing down to Comic-Con the previous summer paigns was that I was allowed to write and connect films and TV shows to the fans who production art and slide shows. That started who had been booed because he had no produce many “making of” featurettes that will most appreciate them and enlist their the shift from nostalgia to previews of fu- idea who Kal-El was when asked a question. we would show on 16mm, and later video, help in spreading the word. Since 1979, I’ve ture films. During the 1980s, my work for the Ladd at conventions. This was well before they Jeff Walker (center) with Batman co-creator (left) and legendary movie director Francis Ford worked closely with the Programming De- Company led me to also be hired by Disney became staples of electronic press kits and Coppola (right) at Comic-Con in 1992 to promote Coppola’s ’s . partment at Comic-Con regarding the best and Amblin’. And since Amblin’ released then today’s DVD/Blu- extras. days, times, room sizes, and concepts for films through every studio, I was lucky comics, fans were worried the film would “I Heart City” and “ Bi- particular panels and with studios and film- enough to work on films for Universal, Co- What was the first film you brought to be a comedy and were in no mood for that. Centennial” shirts and buttons as well as makers deciding what to show and whom lumbia, Paramount, and Fox . I Comic-Con? Neither Tim nor Michael had any intention Batman insignia pins and another button to bring, as well as ideas for promo items also moderated most of our panels for over The first film I brought to Comic-Con was of making a comedy, and it was my job to featuring Bob Kane art. (swag) the fans would enjoy. two decades and my emphasis was always Outland, showing the featurette I men- turn those fan perceptions around. In spite of—and frankly because of the letting the Q&A with fans dominate the time tioned earlier. We gave out Con Am shirts The first convention panel onBatman controversy—Batman had the best open- How did your love of comics and movies we had. and tickets to a Jupiter shuttle. I also began was at the 1987 Comic-Con, where I brought ing in WB history and went on to be a mas- growing up lead to this career? very early looks at Blade Runner while in pro- Batman creator Bob Kane. The first slide we sive hit that spawned many films. Batman I grew up in the ’50s and ’60s and devoured How did you first come to Comic-Con? duction and gave out Equal Rights for Rep- showed was a still of from was the first to prove the actual power of both Golden Age reprints and new Silver At the 1973 Comic-Con, I took T-shirts and licants buttons. his first dramatic role inClean and Sober that fans and word-of-mouth to influence studio Age comics. I read the whole DC line and Charlie Lippincott at Comic-Con in 1976, a year a record display that included album covers Bob had painted a bat-cowl over. We knew choices and decisions, as well as at the had a special affinity for Batman, Adam before Star Wars premiered. for a score with liner notes by Ray You brought the 1989 Batman movie to the fans would boo, but once they got that office. Strange, Blackhawk, and Challengers of the Bradbury and the soundtrack for The Golden Comic-Con twice. Fan reception to Tim out of their system we showed a making of Unknown. In the mid-50s, the comic book Charlie and I were friends before this and Voyage of Sinbad. In the late ’70s, a friend Burton and Michael Keaton’s involve- featurette with an appearance by Tim and The 1990s saw a number of movie prop- industry had to contend with the Seduction bonded over music, comics, and genre films. and I formed The Thinking Cap Company, ment was very negative at first. How did a tour of the costume shop and the garage erties visit Comic-Con. What were some of the Innocent–inspired attack on comics Charlie also worked on films likeKing Kong, creating baseball caps emblazoned with the your Comic-Con appearances with Bat- where the was being built as well of them and what was your involvement? that caused so many mothers (including , Hitchcock’s Family Plot, and names of great writers, philosophers, and man creator Bob Kane change things? as a slide show of Anton Furst’s Gotham As Comic-Con continued to grow, many mine) to throw out comic collections. Like eventually produced the first artists. To our surprise, they did really well, When WB announced that City, featuring production art that reassured more filmmakers and actors made personal millions of others my age, I first saw King movie. and when I was covering Alien for Rolling would be directing the long-awaited Bat- fans this was going to be film appearances. Highlights included Disney Kong, Universal Monsters, and on After American Graffiti came out, George Stone, I noticed Harry Dean Stanton’s Nos- man film and that Michael Keaton would they were waiting for. revitalizing the animated film division and TV, as well as early sci-fi shows like Tom Cor- Lucas asked me if a review I wrote could be tromo crew cap and wondered if we could be playing the title role, fans were originally In 1988, Bob and I came back and un- showing extensive reels of scenes and bett Space Cadet, Rocky Jones, Captain Video, used as the liner notes for the soundtrack somehow get permission to re-create that outraged. Fresh off Frank Miller’s revolu- veiled a new trailer and an exclusive clip songs from The Little Mermaid and Beauty and of course, the Adventures of Superman, album. I was thrilled and asked if I could cap . . . . [We got an] Alien license at a time tionary take in and that featured the first images of the Batwing and the . Disney animators came to plus Twilight Zone, Batman, and as interview him and with Charlie’s help was when film merchandising was not the major the decisive vote to kill the current Robin in silhouetted by the moon. We also gave out Comic-Con every year to do presentations

COMIC-CON 50 COMIC-CON 50 22 2019 Souvenir Book www.comic-con.org 23 with artists drawing live on stage. I had the great pleasure of bringing Francis Coppola to promote Dracula. I took him to the deal- ers’ room in search of an original decoder ring (which he found). But the biggest fan attractions of that era were the 1997 re-issues of the original Star Wars trilogy, 1999’s The Matrix, and the first presentations at Comic-Con forX-Men and trilogy. The turn of the century ushered in ’s Spider- Man, and took over the fan campaigns at for the prequel tril- ogy with a first look at The Menace. Film and TV presentations at Comic-Con be- came so prevalent they needed bigger ven- ues and most were shifted from Ballroom 6 to Ballroom 20.

The 2000s saw a rise in movie (and tele- ) properties coming to Comic-Con. The 300 panel (left to right): actor Gerard Butler, 300 creator Frank Miller, actor David Wenham, Jeff What caused this influx to happen? Walker, and producer/director on the Hall H stage at Comic-Con in 2006. In 2004, the first panel to be held in the rath- er imposing, cavernous Hall H was appro- priately for Warner Bros., featuring Batman vel Studios has made regular appearances at There are many reasons why Comic-Con Begins with Cillian Murphy and Comic-Con, often announcing their movies grew to become the of popular with Keanu Reeves, followed by Disney/ and casts years in advance of the films’ actual culture it is now. These are also the same and the firstHellboy film with Guillermo Del release dates.] reasons that Hollywood’s presence and par- . ticipation grew from what were originally And that began the unprecedented What are some of the most memorable underground campaigns for fans only to growth spurt of Comic-Con that has led us films for you personally that you’ve the star-studded panels of today. to today. The last 15 years have seen a new brought to Comic-Con? The two most important factors are that and diverse generation of fans and film- My favorite campaigns have more to do Comic-Con has always provided the biggest makers flock to San Diego every year. A new with people and relationships than the films tent and welcomed diverse fans of all stripes wave of talent emerged, including Peter themselves. Getting to know Bob Kane was and has always been a nonprofit organiza- Jackson, , , like discovering a new uncle. Francis Cop- tion, dedicated to putting on a convention Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, Christopher pola was incredibly memorable. Hanging that would be a great experience for both Nolan, Zack Snyder, and many others, all with Dave Stevens during the making of The pros and fans. who have made the pilgrimage to Comic- Rocketeer was, too. Visiting a skeptical Philip None of this happened in a vacuum Con. The casts of X-Men and the Lord of K. Dick during Blade Runner and introduc- though. The programming and logistical the Rings films, the entire lineup of Marvel’s ing him to was one of the great teams at Comic-Con have been indispens- Avengers, alongside TV shows like Lost and highlights of my career. Working on Sam able over the years. Mike Pasqua, Barry Game of Thrones, appeared. Raimi’s films fromDarkman through his Spi- Bard, Gary Sassaman, David Glanzer, Fae The power of fans spreading the word der-Man trilogy was great. So was getting Desmond, Maija Gates, and Eddie Ibrahim, over social media exploded in 2006 when to introduce Wolverine creator Len Wein to among others, and all the staff and volun- Zack Snyder, Gerard Butler, and Frank Miller Hugh Jackman and getting to know true teers have been nothing short of amazing came to show clips from their revolutionary legends like Julie Schwartz, Jack Kirby, Stan and always willing to go the extra mile to adaptation of Miller’s 300. Lee, , Dave Stevens, and even make things work out for everyone, espe- In 2007, Comic-Con added program- [Superman creators] Jerry Siegel and Joe cially the attendees. ming on Thursday in Hall H. With in Shuster. Working for Amblin’ during those production and a full panel already sched- years was virtually magical, and working How has Hollywood affected Comic-Con? uled for Saturday, director Jon Favreau with and Frank Marshall If you look at the box office, viewership, and agreed to appear on Thursday and show was an honor. quality of genre films and TV shows over the the footage Paramount had planned on last 20 years, I’d argue that what has hap- debuting as a surprise. The response was Why Comic-Con? What convinced the pened during all this time was not the Hol- phenomenal and word-of-mouth spread studios to—for the most part—zero in lywood-ization of Comic-Con, but far more everywhere overnight and the Marvel Cin- on this one event to focus their genre- like the Comic-Con-ization of Hollywood. ematic Universe was born. [Since then, Mar- based promotion?

COMIC-CON 50 24 2019 Souvenir Book