This weekend marks the end of San Diego Comic-Con and for many people it is a solemn time in which they will have to return to the normalcy of everyday life. San Diego comic con is one of the biggest comic book Convention in the world but with the trend of comic books movies and other geeky subcultures becoming more mainstream Comic-con is losing its comic book heritage.
Originally showcasing primarily comic books and science fiction/fantasy related film, television, and similar popular arts, the convention now includes a larger range of pop culture and entertainment elements across virtually all genres.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Comic-Con_International
The “primary” focus is no longer the medium of its namesake. Some of the most popular announcements have been somewhat related to comics but for some comic purists announcements like these further divert the event from being "about the comics" and towards gimmicky pop culture spoofs and sloppy Hollywood cash cows.
This week, a post about the best cosplay of the con this year featured far less comic book-inspired costumes than before. With cosplay being a staple of the convention, this is proof that we are seeing a diminishing focus on comic books in general.
Comic books have had their share fair share of popularity, a truth that begs the question: "Is mainstream just riding the coat tails of the hard earned fans the comic book industry has nurtured for over 75 years? I prefer to think that the integration of comic books into mainstream media causes this dichotomy that allows for multiple people of various interests to be unified in these conventions. But, does that seems unfair to the purist or traditionalist who come to comic conventions for, well comics?
“A Fan’s Hope”, a 2012 documentary about the San Diego Comic Con, several comic book traders and store owners were interviewed and discussed a growing concern with the lack of space and focus on comics that these conventions have had recently.
Within the last few years, there has been a resurgence of new conventions that are more dedicated to the paper medium. Smaller retailers and independent comic creators are unable to afford spaces in the bigger Cons. These venues create more opportunities for exposure but will struggles if they cannot gain the much-needed traction and popularity to be sustainable?
As a comic book fan and reader often times you're frustrated with adaptations and changes made to iconic characters, especially ones that don't suit the essence of the character.
Without that essence we would never see these character in other platforms, with that in mind I always felt the conventions were an opportunity to show appreciation for those originals but also to highlight the adaptations that have enhanced their stories and increase their readership. Great work such as Batman the animated series and the Watchmen movie, these things have taken great strides by respecting the source materials. The future for comics in Comic-cons is unclear, but it's safe to assume that all of the fans of comics want to see the “primary” focus of COMIC con sternly planted in comics.
Hello H00K
ReplyDeleteI agree with the Title of blog "Less Comic More Con but only to a certain degree. I will say that yes, the primary focus was comics books and science fiction/fantasy related film, television, and similar popular arts. The reason why the convention now includes a larger range of pop culture and entertainment elements across virtually all genres is because of one of what tends to happens to things as they progress over time, evolution. I personally believe that comic books are good but they are also a thing of the pass and people are finding new and more innovative ways to incorporate the things comic books they love in to movies, costumes, artwork, band performance, video games, tv shows, etc. The thing is the comic book aspect will always be at the core of hat is currently making all these things great today. I would a counter argument to yours would be "No Comic No Con as there can't be a convention for comics without the comics at all.
I do believe that mainstream is riding the coat tails of the hard earned fans the comic book industry has nurtured for over 75 years (Just look at those Xmen Movies combined with their personal character adaptations). I do believe that while the old way of comics being what they were is somewhat minimizing but won't completely phase out, it won't be a negative instance on the purist of the comic readers who come to comic con because the movie, tv shows, games and cosplay will make up for that in a bigger way.