Wizard World Chicago facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wizard World Chicago Comic Con |
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Wizard World Chicago logo used in 2012
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| Status | Active |
| Genre | Speculative fiction |
| Venue | Donald E. Stephens Convention Center |
| Location(s) | Rosemont, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41°58′45″N 87°51′35″W / 41.97917°N 87.85972°W |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | July 22, 1972 |
| Attendance | 70,000 in 2009 |
| Organized by | Wizard World |
Wizard World Chicago Comic Con, also known as the Chicago Comicon, is a big event held every summer in Rosemont, Illinois, United States. It takes place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. This convention started in 1972 and was first called Nostalgia '72, Chicago Comic Con. It was created by a local teacher and dealer named Nancy Warner.
In 1997, a company called Wizard Entertainment bought the convention. Wizard World Chicago is now one of the largest comic book conventions in the United States. In 2005, over 70,000 people attended Wizard World events. This makes it one of the biggest pop culture events in the country. Other big events include New York Comic Con and Comic-Con International. Wizard World hosts many conventions each year in different cities.
The convention first focused on comic books and related arts. Over the years, it grew to include many other parts of pop culture. This includes professional wrestling, science fiction and fantasy, movies, TV shows, horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels. From 1995 to 2006, the Wizard Fan Awards were also given out at this event.
Contents
History of the Chicago Comicon
The very first comic and collectibles convention in the Chicago area was held on July 22–23, 1972. Nancy Warner organized it and called it Nostalgia '72, Chicago Comic Con. About 2,000 people came to this first event. It showed movies and had dealers from all over the country. Nancy Warner ran the show for three more years. By 1975, fewer people were coming, with only 1,000 attendees.
In 1975, Nancy Warner asked Joe Sarno, a comic book store owner, and Mike Gold to help run the show. They wanted to make Chicago a better place for conventions. George Hagenauer and Larry Charet also joined the team. They decided to call the event the Chicago Comicon.
The first Chicago Comicon was held from August 6–8, 1976. Famous guests included Stan Lee from Marvel Comics and Jenette Kahn from DC Comics. The show also had a comic auction to help local schools. About 2,100 people attended this first Chicago Comicon.
In 1977, the Chicago Comicon moved to the Pick-Congress Hotel. It stayed there until 1983. The show grew, and by 1977, 3,000 people attended. The 1978 show was nicknamed "Sweatcon" because it was so hot! In 1979, Joe Sarno was no longer an organizer.
The organizers also held smaller "Minicons" in April 1980. Guests included John Byrne and Marv Wolfman. By 1982, the daily ticket price for the main show was $5. In 1982, the Chicago Comicon joined with Panopticon West, a Doctor Who convention. This year was also called "Sweatcon II" because of the heat.
The convention kept growing. In 1983, it moved to the Ramada O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois. This was its home until 1993. Then, it moved to the Rosemont Convention Center, which is now called the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. It has been held there ever since. During the mid-1980s, smaller "Minicons" were held every December.
The 1988 show was special because it hosted the very first Harvey Awards. These awards celebrate achievements in comic books. The 1989 show focused on Batman because of the popular Batman movie by Tim Burton.
In 1992, the Chicago Comicon celebrated "independence" in comics. This included the popular creators behind Image Comics. Rob Liefeld even signed autographs for 24 hours straight! The 1992 show had 200 dealers. A three-day pass cost $25.
By 1995, fewer people were attending the show because the comic industry was having a tough time. In 1996, the Wizard Fan Awards moved to the Chicago Comicon. These awards were presented at the show every year until 2006.
Wizard Entertainment bought the Chicago Comicon in 1997. At that time, about 5,000 people were attending. Wizard's first step was to change the organizers.
In 1998, the show was renamed Wizard World Chicago. Attendance jumped to 25,000 people! A three-day pass cost $40. The 1999 show had 750 exhibitors.
By 2006, Wizard World Chicago was a four-day event. Over 58,000 people attended that weekend. The 2009 show had 70,000 attendees. However, big publishers like DC Comics and Marvel Comics did not have official booths that year.
In 2010, former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich made an appearance. He talked with attendees and took pictures. He charged money for autographs and photos. He even met Adam West, who played Batman on TV. Blagojevich said he thought The Joker was Batman's best enemy.
The 2011 show charged $60 for a four-day pass if you bought it at the door.
The 2016 show had a special "Back To The Future" reunion. Stars like Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson were there. Stars from X-Files like David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson also attended.
Key Dates and Locations
The Wizard World Chicago Comic Con has moved and grown over the years:
- 1972-1979: Started as Nostalgia '72 at the Pick-Congress Hotel in Chicago.
- 1980-1983: Continued at the Pick-Congress Hotel (later Americana-Congress Hotel).
- 1984-1992: Moved to the Ramada O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont.
- 1993-Present: Relocated to the Rosemont Convention Center (now Donald E. Stephens Convention Center).
- 2006: The show expanded from three days to four days.
Over the years, many famous guests have attended. These include comic creators like Stan Lee, Will Eisner, and Jack Kirby. Movie and TV stars like William Shatner, Bruce Campbell, Carrie Fisher, and Michael J. Fox have also been guests.
What Happens at the Convention
At Wizard World Chicago, you can find many exciting things to do!
- Panels and Workshops: You can attend talks and classes with comic book artists and writers. They share their tips and stories.
- Film Previews: Sometimes, you can get a sneak peek at upcoming movies.
- Portfolio Reviews: If you want to work in comics or video games, you can show your art to experts.
- Evening Events: There are awards ceremonies and a fun costume contest. Many people dress up as their favorite characters!
- Gaming: You can play video games and other games.
- Exhibitor Floor: A huge area where companies like movie studios and TV networks have booths. You can also find comic book dealers and sellers of cool collectibles.
- Autograph Area: Meet your favorite comic artists, writers, and actors. They will sign autographs for you.
- Artists' Alley: This is a special place where comic artists sign autographs. They might even draw free sketches for you! Writers and even models can also be found here.
Challenges and Other Conventions
Around 2009, some people started to criticize Wizard World Chicago. They felt the show was focusing less on traditional comics. Instead, it seemed to be more about professional wrestlers and old TV shows. Also, local dealers thought the location outside Chicago was not ideal. They also felt the prices to have a booth were too high.
In 2009, for the first time, big comic publishers like DC and Marvel did not have official booths. They chose to go to a new convention called Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2). C2E2 started in 2010 and has been held every year since. It became a big competitor to Wizard World Chicago. Interestingly, since 2013, C2E2 has also started to feature more wrestlers as guests.
