Issue #25 - ComicCon, Emphasis on the Con

Sorry not sorry

I’m not sure what to call this week’s issue. ComicCon — Emphasis on the Con might sound a bit harsh, but honestly, that’s how most of these events feel. There’s rarely much actual comic content involved. It’s definitely "Pop," just not the kind that’s being advertised.

That said, there’s something powerful about how creators push through despite being excluded. Whether they manage to find a spot inside these events or work from the outside, their resilience stands out.

Think about it: you’re working tirelessly to break into an industry that doesn’t always seem to care about its own core. It’s a tough reality — but you’ll see what I mean soon enough.

Highlights

• One years since the tragic passing of Benny Potter aka Comicstorian.

• George Perez would have been 71 this year.

• James Gunn's "Superman" Sets the Stage for a New DCU: The upcoming film, directed by James Gunn and starring David Corenswet as Superman, introduces a reimagined Man of Steel who embodies hope and moral integrity. This film launches the "Gods and Monsters" era of the DC Universe, featuring characters like Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult), and the Justice Gang, which includes Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and Green Lantern Guy Gardner.

• Justice League's Future Teased: While the Justice League hasn't formed yet in this new universe, Gunn hints at its eventual emergence, suggesting that both the "Superman" film and "Peacemaker" Season 2 will be pivotal in setting up the broader DC narrative.

• Wonder Woman Film in Development: A new Wonder Woman movie is officially in the works, separate from the previously announced "Paradise Lost" HBO Max series. Details about casting and storyline are still under wraps.

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Notes from the Creator

Whenever I go to an event, I follow a simple routine. First, I hunt for the indie comics. Then I make my way through Artist Alley (if there is one), and finally, I take a quick look at the rest before heading out.

I’ve never been particularly interested in the figures, TCGs, cosplay, or the endless other things you find at a Comic-Con. Don’t get me wrong — I don’t dislike them — they’re just not my thing. Of course, there are always exceptions, but those exceptions usually come with a hefty price tag, so I tend to skip them.

As I mentioned in a previous issue, every year it feels like fewer people I care about supporting show up at these events. Recently, I spoke with someone who used to work at these conventions, and I shared my theory: it’s becoming increasingly difficult for local artists to afford a table, and on top of that, organizers seem to be limiting how many tables go to comic creators or artists.

So, I decided to do a little digging, specifically for Oz Comic-Con.

Getting exact prices wasn’t easy. They didn’t use to list them publicly ahead of time, and you had to submit an “expression of interest” form to even see the costs. Add to that the fact that most Australian event websites still feel like they're stuck in the late 90s.

Still, from what I could gather over the past four years, the price for a standard 2x2m table has jumped by about 60% — from around $350 to $550. Along the way, they also seem to have quietly removed some of the previous discounts (like cheaper electricity or lighting options, which now cost extra).

The person that I talked to that used to work there told me tables were as low as $200 less than 10 years ago. That is 175% increase. Just what every local artist wants to hear.

At this year’s event, I counted:

• 1 comic back-issue table

• 1 mini comic store setup by King Comics

• About 4 or 5 tables with local comic creators

That’s out of roughly 400 total tables/booths. There were more tattoo booths at Comic-Con than actual comic ones.

Now, I’m no event manager. My experience with running events is just about zero. But I struggle to understand why anyone would bother booking a table at an event where only 7 out of 400 booths are comic-related.

Sure, you might think, “Well, maybe I'll stand out since there’s less competition.” But honestly, the crowd isn’t really there for you. I bought everything I could from the local creators, spent some time chatting with them, and even then, Sunday was dead. I spent about 20 minutes at each table, and most people just walked by, glanced, and kept going.

When I asked the creators how the day was going, I got the usual polite answer: “Yeah, it’s been a bit slow, but hopefully it’ll pick up.” This was already around noon.

Thanks for reading!

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