here we are on the eve of comic-con 2012. many of you will be fortunate to attend. i've been shut out for the last couple years so i'll live vicariously through your reports. how about we wistfully look back at the san diego comic con 30 years ago? comics were were a niche and somewhat nerdy preoccupation that had a loyal following. comic-cons were smaller and mainly about comics unlike the monster media events of the last few years. there were no long lines to get up close with the comic greats. alan light, publisher of the comics buyer's guide and other comic-related publications, documented many of the early comic conventions and events. here is a small selection of photos that he took of the of the 1982 san diego comic-con. all 174 of his photos can be seen here . thank you alan light. maybe some of you who were there can share some memories.
the 1982 convention was held at the convention & performing arts center & hotel. the attendance was about 5000. look at those lines and crowds!
among the special guests were carl barks and burne hogarth
dealer bruce hamilton had some barks paintings for sale. this was "rude awakening" 1974 based on wdc&s 155.
bruce hamilton with alan light
dealer bud plant
some simple costumes
another simple costume
hank ketcham with mr & mrs milton caniff
will eisner with jack & roz kirby
up close at kirby's booth
a young and serious frank miller. the sign behind him (no x-men drawings) belongs to john byrne
dealer's toy table
comic detectives
marty hay
look at all that space! you could roll a bowling ball down the aisle and not hit anyone.
Very cool Jeff! Thanks. My first San Diego con was back in 1997.
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**PRIMETIME GA** ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? -Matthew 16:26
Registered: 11/07/03
Posts: 31668
Loc: London, England
Oh for a time machine. All those (now sadly passed) heavyweights in attendance, with no lines...you could just casually walk up to them and have a chat. Kirby, Eisner, Caniff, Hogarth, Barks. Fantastic.
