Fan Expo Chicago
fan expo chicago formerly wizard world chicago comic con commonly known chicago comicon comic book convention held summer rosemont illinois united state donald e stephen convention center traditionally threeday event friday sunday expanded four day thursday sunday founded nostalgia chicago comic con later chicago comic nostalgia convention local dealer school teacher named nancy warner acquired wizard entertainment informas fan expo unit fan expo chicago among larger comic book convention united state third place overall attendance single event originally showcasing comic book related popular art convention expanded year include larger range pop culture element professional wrestling science fictionfantasy film television horror animation anime manga toy collectible card game video game webcomics fantasy novel also home wizard world fan award chicago collectible dealer nancy warner staged area first comic collectible convention july – calling nostalgia chicago comic con attracted attendee ran show featured movie screening well dealer far los angeles atlanta buffalo new york oklahoma city unrelated show called chicago comic con produced mark lully atlantis bookstore planned take place midland hotel announced guest including stan lee jim steranko mike hinge show cancelled warner approached local comic book store owner joe sarno associate mike gold produce show job overcome chicago reputation subpar convention city early process george hagenauer comic retailer larry charet brought although sarno wanted name show chicago comic art nostalgia convention voted name chicago comicon adopted first chicago comicon held playboy tower hotel august – special guest marvel comic figurehead stan lee dc comic president jenette kahn seminal cartoonisteditor harvey kurtzman artist mike grell illustrator tim conrad show featured comic auction benefiting chicago alternative school network later auction benefited literacy volunteer chicago first chicago comicon attracted attendee chicago comicon moved back pickcongress hotel michigan avenue location show remained pickcongress renamed americanacongress hotel producer added bob weinberg help coordinate show attendance reached admission charge day show dubbed sweatcon extreme heat show produced larry charet bob weinberg first year joe sarno one show organizer admission day show organizer hosted chicago minicon april – usual location pickcongress hotel guest included john byrne max allan collins tim conrad mike grell paul kupperberg marv wolfman feature show admission day gone day eisner show guest honor unable attend due accident returned guest honor year chicago comicon merged panopticon west doctor convention overwhelming heat dubbed sweatcon ii comicon expanding show moved larger venue ramada ohare hotel rosemont illinois northern suburb location show home relocated rosemont convention center known donald e stephen convention center remained ever since mids show organizer hosted annual oneday minicons every december program booklet celebrated marvel comic th anniversary followed program celebrating chicagobased first comic th anniversary booklet marking eclipse comic th anniversary program noted kitchen sink press th anniversary show featured inaugural presentation harvey award oneday admission comicon show focused batman due popularity tim burton batman movie also featured panel underground comic included harvey pekar jay lynch skip williamson clay wilson oneday ticket show chicago comicon celebrated spirit independence eg hotselling group creator behind image comic rob liefeld held hour autograph session friday morning saturday morning show featured dealer attendee charged per person threeday pas show featured fifty publisher dealer also hosted comic art conference comic industry slump attendance show decreasing convention ownership included charet main show organizer moondog comic owner gary colabuono comicon featured stan lee roast hosted comic art conference chicago comicon became new home wizard world fan award presented show every year discontinuation wizard entertainment bought chicago comicon charet partner show attendance topping wizard first order business fire previous organizer show renamed wizard world chicago attendance jumped charge per day three day show featured exhibitor show featured exhibitor like dc marvel hasbro bandai charged attendee day weekend wizard world chicago expanded four day boasted weekend attendance people show attracted attendee neither dc comic marvel comic official presence show disgraced former illinois governor rod blagojevich made appearance wizard world chicago conversing taking picture attendant charged autograph photo also humorous televised meeting adam west blagojevich remarked considered joker best batman foil comic fandom website bleedingcoolcom reported blagojevich met mostly positive reception time chicago described mixed show charged oneday pas fourday pas door show scheduled august – cancelled due covid pandemic next show scheduled june – convention postponed october due covid wizard entertainment convention sold informas fan expo unit august rebranded accordingly beginning criticism wizard world chicago mounting particularly resented show declining emphasis traditional comic market thing like professional wrestler old tv show addition local dealer resented show location outside chicago city limit high exhibition price show first time representation major publisher like dc marvel according deanna isaac chicago reader publisher opted instead appear competitor convention reed exhibition chicago comic entertainment expo ce challenged wizard world chicago position chicago major comic convention official website blast past chicago comiccon poster comic buyer guide january chicago comicon memory comic buyer guide website april