In 1970 , a chemical group of young , nerdy guy put together one of the first amusing conventions in the U.S. Their goal was simply to facilitate the buying and deal ofcomic books , and to geek out over them with fellow buff . Little did they live that their event — San Diego Comic - Con — would one 24-hour interval be the best - know pop refinement conventionalism in the world .

The initiative Comic - Con — the name is short for Comic Convention — was actually two result , say Dani Fernandez and Ify Nwadiwe , co - hosts of the new podcastNerdificent . In its initiative episode , Nerdificent , which film a deep nose dive into nerd civilisation , discuss the chronicle of laughable book conventions . The first Comic - Con was a " miniskirt - con , " held in San Diego in March 1970 to test the waters . The response was positive , so the organizers launched a full - blow three - day event that August . Ray Bradbury , author of the popular sci - fi novel " Fahrenheit 451 , " was the featured speaker . They were thrilled — and amazed — when 300 people showed up .

By the mid-2000s,130,000 peoplewere flocking to the league annually ( 300,000 if you admit the New York version of Comic - Con ) . cartoon strip were now coolheaded , thanks in part to the film industriousness popularize characters such as Batman , Spider Man , the X - Men and the Green Lantern . With so many lover around , aper conferences start popping up in cities such as New York , Salt Lake City , Denver , Atlanta and Seattle . tailspin - offs were also deliver , such as Anime Expo , the largest Zanzibar copal formula in the U.S. and the gambling populace ’s PAX Expo .

Comic-Con fans

So , what , exactly , happens at Comic - Con ? Theoriginal case , harbor in San Diego ’s modestly sized El Cortez Hotel , in the main answer as a place to buy and sell comics . The event also included some programs , panel and scientific discipline fabrication / fantasy cinema screening .

" Now it looks like an amusement parking area , " says Hernandez . " You ’ll take the air through some type of an interactional zombie spirit maze " just to get inside . The atmosphere is frenetic , flash , sweaty and intense .

But is this increase and metamorphosis a good affair ? Some say no , assert the formula ’s focus is now on commercialism and the superhero , science fable , gambling and fantasy dealership , not laughable volume . Indeed , Mile High Comicsdropped outof Comic - Con — after 44 years ! — citing declining foot dealings and exorbitant stall price . Not to remark , the Comic - Con contractor miscarry to deliver Mile High ’s comic ledger to its booth on prison term .

But no one is predicting Comic - Con ’s downfall . After all , most folks think it ’s a circumstances more playfulness to go around in tights and a ness , hobnob with zombies and Princess Leia look - alikes , than to flip through comic books .

To find out more about Comic - Con , include what goes on inside Hall H , downloadNerdificent .