Big Apple Comic Con
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Big Apple Comic Con | |
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![]() | |
Status | Active |
Genre | Comics Popular culture |
Venue | New Yorker Hotel (2019–present) Penn Plaza Pavilion (2004–2019) Metropolitan Pavilion (2000–2003) St. Paul the Apostle Church (1996–2003) |
Location(s) | New York City, New York |
Country | United States |
Inaugurated | March 2, 1996 |
Most recent | Dec 13, 2023[1] |
Next event | December 2024[2] |
Attendance | 10,000 (2018)[3] |
Organized by | Michael "Carbo" Carbonaro (1996–2009, 2014-present) Wizard Entertainment (2009–2013) |
Website | Official website |
The Big Apple Comic Con is a New York City comic book convention, the longest-running comic book/speculative fiction/pop culture convention in New York City. It was started by retailer Michael "Mike Carbo" Carbonaro in March 1996 in the basement of the St. Paul the Apostle Church.[4] During its heyday from 2001 to 2008, the Big Apple Comic Con often featured multiple shows per year, with a large three-day "national" convention held in November, usually held at the Penn Plaza Pavilion. The show was owned by Wizard Entertainment from 2009 to 2013, but was reacquired by Carbonaro in 2014.
Over the course of its history, the convention has been known as the Big Apple Convention, the Big Apple Comic Book Art, and Toy Show, and the Big Apple Comic Book, Art, Toy & Sci-Fi Expo; with the larger three-day November shows known as the National Comic Book, Art, Toy, and Sci-Fi Expo, the National Comic Book, Art, and Sci-Fi Expo, and the National Comic Book, Comic Art, and Fantasy Convention. In 2014, the name "Big Apple Convention" was revived by Carbonaro for its March 2015 show.
Though it primarily focuses on comic books, the convention features a large range of pop culture elements, such as books, cinema, science fiction/fantasy, television, animation, anime, manga, toys, horror, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels. Along with panels, seminars, and workshops with comic book professionals, the Big Apple Comic Con often features previews of upcoming films, and such evening events as the costume contest overseen by "Captain Zorikh" Lequidre.[5]
The convention regularly hosts hundreds of artists, exhibitors, and film and television personalities in a huge floorspace for exhibitors. The show includes autograph and photo op opportunities with all of the guests, as well as the Artists' Alley where comics artists can sign autographs and sell or do free sketches.
History
[edit]Antecedents
[edit]Major comic book conventions in New York City prior to the Big Apple Comic Con included Dave Kaler's Academy Con, which ran annually from 1965 to 1967; Phil Seuling's Comic Art Convention, which ran annually from 1968 to 1983 (Seuling died in 1984); and the large annual Creation conventions, usually taking place over the weekend following Thanksgiving from 1971 to 1987. (Creation sometimes put on as many as a half-dozen smaller New York City shows per year).[6] From 1993 to 1995, promoter Frederic Greenberg[7] began hosting Great Eastern Conventions shows annually at venues including the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. (Great Eastern also ran shows in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.) Other companies, including Dynamic Forces, held New York City conventions, but all were on a smaller scale than the Seuling shows. Changes in the industry, popular culture, and the resurgent city itself since the troubled 1960s and '70s made large-scale comic-book conventions difficult to hold profitably. Jonah Weiland of ComicBookResources.com also noted that "... dealing with the various convention unions made it difficult for most groups to get a show off the ground."[8]
Birth of the show
[edit]On February 29, 1996, just two days before it was to start, Fred Greenberg cancelled[9] what had been advertised as a larger-than-usual Great Eastern show, scheduled for March 2–3 at the New York Coliseum, which the fan press had suggested[10] might herald a successor to the 1968–1983 Comic Art Convention.[11]
On the spur of the moment, comic book retailers Michael Carbonaro, Vince Gulla,[11] and Vincent Zurzuolo,[12] all of whom had planned to sell their wares at the Great Eastern show,[9] mounted a substitute convention in the basement of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle.[12] The gathering — dubbed "ChurchCon,"[9] "Hallelujah Con," or "The Show Must Go On"[13] Con — attracted over 4,000 attendees, most of whom had been planning to attend the scheduled Great Eastern Show.[10] Thus was born the Big Apple Comic Con,[9] thereafter produced exclusively by Carbnonaro.[11]
Growth
[edit]After the success of the initial 1996 show, Big Apple scheduled six separate conventions in 1997.[14]
In 1998, Big Apple held three conventions, in March, April, and October.[citation needed]
In November 1999, (after a typical March show held at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle), Big Apple inaugurated the three-day "National Expo",[15] held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18th Street in Manhattan.[16] The National Expo brought "together the National Comic Book, Comic Art and Fantasy Convention and the New York Toy, Sci-Fi and Collectible Show;"[17] the larger annual National shows were held every year from 1999 until 2008; other shows (until 2004) continued to be held at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle.
Over the years, the Big Apple con attracted many comics creators and pop culture figures.[4]
Heyday
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/BigAppleCon11.16.08ByLuigiNovi1.jpg/220px-BigAppleCon11.16.08ByLuigiNovi1.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/10.17.09TomNoonanByLuigiNovi.jpg/170px-10.17.09TomNoonanByLuigiNovi.jpg)
By 2004 (which saw four separate shows), the convention had moved to the Penn Plaza Pavilion at the Hotel Pennsylvania.[18][19][20]
Big Apple Comic Con was characterized as being in "growth mode" in 2005–2006, with five shows per year[21] and an average attendance of about 8,000 guests per show.[22]
Acquisition by Wizard Entertainment
[edit]In 2009, the Big Apple Comic Con was purchased by Gareb Shamus of Wizard Entertainment; Michael Carbonaro was retained as a senior adviser.[23] The first show under Wizard was held October 2009 at Pier 94 in Manhattan.[24][25]
The acquisition of Big Apple was part of a concerted push by Wizard's CEO Gareb Shamus to dominate the North American convention circuit, including acquiring the Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon.[26][27] As part of that strategy, Wizard initially scheduled the 2010 Big Apple Comic Con for October 7–10, the exact same dates as the previously scheduled 2010 New York Comic Con, run by Reed Exhibitions.[28][29] After a public outcry, Wizard later moved the dates of its 2010 New York convention to October 1–3.[30]
Wizard held a new "Wizard World New York City Experience" show on June 28–30, 2013.[31]
New York Comic Book Marketplace
[edit]In 2009, Michael Carbonaro established his own independent one-day convention known as the New York Comic Book Marketplace which ran annually through 2014.[12]
Though not branded as a "Big Apple Convention" and not affiliated with Wizard World, some might consider the next iteration of the Big Apple Comic Con to have been held on March 31, 2012, at the Penn Plaza Pavilion. It was Michael Carbonaro's third New York Comic Book Marketplace, and (prematurely) announced as Carbonaro's final convention.[12][32] The guest of honor was Stan Lee; other guests included George Pérez, Joe Sinnott, Dick Ayers, Carmine Infantino, Jim Steranko, Irwin Hasen, Mike Royer, Arthur Suydam, Bob McLeod, Rich Buckler, and Johnny Brennan, and Captain Zorikh's costume contest.[33]
Carbonaro held another NYCBM at the Hotel Pennsylvania on April 13, 2013.[34]
Reacquisition by Mike Carbonaro
[edit]Carbonaro reacquired the convention from Wizard in 2014. His first show after regaining the BACC name, dubbed the "20th Anniversary Return of the Big Apple Convention," was held March 7, 2015, at the Penn Plaza Pavilion.[35] The December 2015 edition of Carbonaro's convention, titled the New York Winter Comic & Sci-Fi Expo, was held at the Resorts World Casino New York in Jamaica, New York, and was co-produced by Carbonaro and Frank Patz.[36][a]
With the holiday-themed December 2019 iteration of the show, the Big Apple Comic Con moved locations to the New Yorker Hotel.[4][38] The 2020 show, scheduled for April 4–5, was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.[39] The 2021 show, held September 25–26, was the Big Apple Comic Con's Silver Anniversary show; it was also the first in-person comics convention held in New York City since the pandemic.[40][41]
In 2022, Carbonaro hosted another iteration of the Big Apple Comic Con (on March 26, 2022); he also hosted (along with promoter Laz Rivero) the first Big Apple Trading Card Show, held on January 29, 2022, at the New Yorker Hotel. The trading card show featured baseball, football, basketball, Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering cards, and more.[42]
Criticism
[edit]Comics creator Evan Dorkin was a critic of the Big Apple Con.[16] He singled out the November 2008 show in particular as "the worst convention I've ever had the displeasure to sit through", for the lackluster celebrity guests, the lack of floor plan guides for attendees, inconsistently-functioning restrooms, elevator, and escalators, the poorly performing volunteer staff, and an overall seedy, flea market atmosphere of rude dealers, creators inattentive to fans, and attendees who were disproportionately male. Dorkin, who vowed never to return to the venue, also singled out the cramped space of the venue, in particular Artist's Alley, which he speculated may have constituted a fire hazard.[43]
Similarly, journalist Heidi MacDonald criticized the Penn Plaza Pavilion location as "eight pounds of sh-t in a five-pound bag." Journalist Rich Johnston said the conventions held there were "a little cramped and hot, but I still thoroughly enjoyed [them]."[4]
Dates and locations
[edit]This section is missing information about dates, venues, and guests.(February 2013) |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ By 2017, New York Comic Con, held annually at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, had grown to rival that of San Diego Comic-Con, making it the dominant New York City-area comic convention.[37]
References
[edit]- ^ a b BARSAMIAN, NICOLLETTE (December 13, 2023). "The Big Apple Christmas Con Will Continue On". Queens Gazette.
- ^ "Thank you for a great show". Big Apple Comic Con. Retrieved Mar 4, 2024.
SEE YOU IN 2024.
- ^ a b Baltin, Steve. "Inside The Big-Money, 24-Hour World Of Comic Books," Forbes (April 12, 2018).
- ^ a b c d e f Johnston, Rich. "Big Apple Comic Con Moves to New Yorker Hotel With a Christmas Convention For December 14th," Bleeding Cool (November 26, 2019).
- ^ a b Romberger, James and Heidi MacDonald. "This weekend’s Big Apple brings comics history to programming with Royer, Fradon and more," The Beat (April 11, 2018).
- ^ Grant, Steven. "Permanent Damage: Issue #43," Comic Book Resources (July 10, 2002).
- ^ Butash, Titian. "Human conflicts make superheroes appeal to fans of all ages," Austin American Statesman (01 Jan 1989), p. E11.
- ^ Weiland, Jonah (June 10, 2005). "Battling Conventions? Talking with the NY Comic Con and Megacon Organizers". CBR.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2011. (Requires scroll down)
- ^ a b c d e Rafferty, Brian M. (October 31, 2002). "Fantasy runs rampant". QNS.
- ^ a b "Newswatch: NYC Comics Convention Cancelled, Fans Irate," The Comics Journal #185 (Mar. 1996), pp. 18-19.
- ^ a b c Cloos, Art. "The Main Event: Convention Recap: Big Apple Comic Con". Scoop (after Sept. 26, 2021).
- ^ a b c d Pate, Brian "Mike Carbonaro Retiring From Convention Promoting with Final 2012 NYCBM Show," Convention Scene (Mar. 30, 2012).
- ^ a b Miller, John Jackson. "Capital Sale Tops Turbulent Year: The Top 10 Comics News Stories of 1996," Comics Buyer's Guide #1210 (Jan. 24, 1997).
- ^ a b c d e f g "Six Big Apple Cons Set for '97," Comics Buyer's Guide (Jan. 31, 1997), p. 8.
- ^ a b Frankenhoff, Brent (Oct 22, 1999). "Big Apple Blossoms into National Comic Book, Comic Art, and Toy Show". Comics Buyer's Guide. p. 24.
- ^ a b c MacDonald, Heidi (Nov 17, 2008). "The monsters did tend to obscure the fauns and woodlings". The Beat.
- ^ a b CBR Staff (Oct 23, 2002). "NYC Comic Book Museum presents Golden Panel Awards, 'Heroes Among Us' exhibited". CBR.
- ^ a b "The National Comic Book, Art & Sci-Fi Expo". BigAppleCon.com. November 19–21, 2004. Archived from the original on October 13, 2004.
- ^ a b "Big Apple Comic Book, Art, Toy & Sci-Fi Expo". BigAppleCon.com. June 7–8, 2008. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008.
- ^ a b "Big Apple Comic Book, Art, Toy & Sci-Fi Expo". BigAppleCon.com. November 14–16, 2008. Archived from the original on September 30, 2008.
- ^ Sanderson, Peter. "Comics in Context #123: NY Comic-Con 2006: Birth pangs of a new convention," IGN (6 Mar 2006).
- ^ Dean, Michael. "Disastrous Success: The New York Comic-Con Overflows Its Site," The Comics Journal #275 (April 2006), p. 26.
- ^ a b "April 9: Wizard Entertainment CEO Acquires Big Apple Con". The Comics Journal. No. 299. August 2009. p. 22.
- ^ a b 1010 WINS. New York. October 16, 2009, broadcast.
- ^ "Guest page for the October 2009 Big Apple Convention at Wizard World" (Press release). Archived from the original on May 11, 2009.
- ^ Armitage, Hugh (June 25, 2009). "Wizard CEO buys Toronto Comicon". Digital Spy.
- ^ "Wizard's Gareb Shamus Buys Toronto Comicon". Comic Book Resources. June 24, 2009..
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (Oct 16, 2009). "Breaking: Big Apple to go head to head with New York Comic-Con next year". The Beat. Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on Feb 20, 2010.
- ^ a b MacDonald, Heidi (Oct 19, 2009). "Big Apple/Con Wars wrap-up". The Beat.
- ^ a b MacDonald, Heidi (May 18, 2010). "Con wars: Shamus retreats, moves Big Apple". The Beat.
- ^ "Wizard World New York City Experience show page". WizardWorld.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-13. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
- ^ Calmixx (March 28, 2012). "Another Comic Book Era Comes to a Close..."[permanent dead link]. GeekPropaganda.
- ^ a b Romano, Lauren (March 27, 2012). "Stan Lee and the New York Comic Book Marketplace Come to NYC". Yahoo! News.
- ^ a b "Mike Carbo's NYCBM". LiveJournal. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- ^ a b c Cloos, Art (2015). "Big Apple Con: Past and Present". The Main Event. Scoop. Gemstone Publishing, Inc. Retrieved Mar 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Krawitz, Alan (December 9, 2015). "Winter Con Festival Draws Thousands of Sci-Fi and Comic Fans to Casino". The Forum.
- ^ Lovett, Jamie (September 6, 2017). "New York Comic Con Was Attended By 151,000 People, Surpasses San Diego". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- ^ a b "Big Apple Christmas Con holds holiday party Dec.14," Amsterdam News (December 5, 2019).
- ^ a b Pierce, Ken. "2020’S BIG APPLE COMIC CON IS POSTPONED," Piercing Metal (MARCH 13, 2020).
- ^ a b c Moro, Julia. "Middle Village man plans for thousands to come to his Comic Con this weekend in Manhattan," QNS (July 15, 2021).
- ^ a b c Davenport, Emily. "Things to Do: Big Apple Comic Con to return with special 25th anniversary event in July," amNY (June 30, 2021).
- ^ "BIG APPLE TRADING CARD SHOW to host largest trading card show in New York City History this Saturday, January 29th!", Yahoo! Finance (January 24, 2022).
- ^ Dorkin, Evan (November 16, 2008). "National Tragedy" Archived 2015-07-12 at the Wayback Machine. LiveJournal
- ^ "Chaos! And the Crow Go to Church, 1997 Big Apple Comic Con Report." Comics Buyer's Guide (March 21, 1997), p. 10.
- ^ Schelly, Bill. James Warren, Empire of Monsters: The Man Behind Creepy, Vampirella, and Famous Monsters (Fantagraphics Books, 2018), p. 318.
- ^ "Comics Convention Books NYC Visit" Daily News (Apr. 04, 1998).
- ^ Patton, Marc. "Big Apple Deems Nov. 12–14 Con a Success," Comics Buyer's Guide (Dec. 31, 1999), pp. 8–9.
- ^ "Animation Art," Animation World Magazine issue 4.8 (Nov. 1999).
- ^ "Big Apple Comic Book, Art & Toy Show". BigAppleCon.com. November 10–12, 2000. Archived from the original on September 30, 2000.
- ^ King, Sharon. "Today In New York," Daily News (March 9, 2001).
- ^ David, Ben. "Opinion: What the NFT World Can Learn From the Great ’90s Comic Book Bubble. (It’s a Cautionary Tale): Lessons for Beeple and Grimes from the days of Deadpool and Spawn," Artnet News (March 30, 2021): (photo caption) "Collectors browse through bins of comic books July 6, 2001 at the Big Apple Comic Book, Art, and Toy Show in New York City."
- ^ CBR Staff. "Updates from Marvel Comics, east coast cons related to the attacks," CBR (SEP. 11, 2001).
- ^ "Big Apple Comic Con: Charity, Ultarama," YakFaceForums.com (October 9, 2001).
- ^ "Weekend in New York," Daily News (Nov. 10, 2001), p. 31.
- ^ "Big Apple Holds Third Annual National Expo Nov. 9–11," Comics Buyer's Guide (Nov. 9, 2001), p. 56.
- ^ Blumenfeld, Bruno. "Sunday In New York," Daily News (Nov. 10, 2002).
- ^ "'X-Men II' release just in time for Queens comic guru’s show," Times Ledger (May 1, 2003).
- ^ Hinckley, David (November 26, 2003). "Black Strides in Comics are no Fantasy". Daily News. p. 46. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014.
- ^ KittyCat. "The National Comic Book, Art, & Sci-Fi Show November 19, 2004," Upcoming (September 21, 2004).
- ^ CBR Staff. "Big Apple Comic Book Show returns January 22nd - 23rd," CBR (JAN 06, 2005).
- ^ "The Lady Boxer Who Put 'Million Dollar Baby' on the Ropes: Knock Out Maureen Shea Appears at the Big Apple Con: Comic Book, Art, & Toy Show Saturday April 2nd,"[dead link] PR Web (Mar. 25, 2005).
- ^ Hembeck, Fred. Archive - June 2005, Fred Sez! (June 2005).
- ^ Clifford, Catherine. "Comic relief," New York Daily News (Sept. 10, 2005)
- ^ "'Battlestar Galactica' star Richard Hatch dies at 71," KPCC website (Feb. 7, 2017): photo caption: "File: Actor Richard Hatch poses for a photo at the 10th Annual Big Apple National Comic Book, Toy & Sci-Fi Expo at Penn Plaza Pavillion Nov. 18, 2005 in New York City."
- ^ Singh, Arune. "UDON offers special products and deals at NY Comic-Con!", CBR (Feb. 21, 2006).
- ^ Margot Kidder — Pics Of The Late ‘Superman’ Star," Hollywood Life (May 14, 2018). Photo caption: "Margot Kidder: THE BIG APPLE COMIC BOOK CONVENTION PRESS RECEPTION, NEW YORK, AMERICA – 31 MAR 2006."
- ^ "Roger Hill actor at the National Big Apple Comic Book Convention . Taken November 19, 2006 in NYC..," 123rf.com. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ Catherine Bachat the National Big Apple Comic Book Convention . Taken November 19, 2006 in NYC," DreamsTime.com. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ McDonald, Heidi (Jan 19, 2007). "Big Apple this weeked; future = ?". The Beat.
- ^ McDonald, Heidi (Nov 19, 2007). "Weekend doings: Wizard World Texas, Big Apple, Dublin". The Beat.
- ^ "Hayden Panettiere Visits The Big Apple National Comic Book Convention". Getty Images. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
- ^ Cavallaro, Mike (Nov 19, 2007). "Big Apple Con". LiveJournal.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi. "Big Apple this weekend," The Beat (June 6, 2008).
- ^ CBR Staff. "Big Apple Comic Book Expo releases 2008 show details," CBR (Nov. 3, 2008).
- ^ "Associated Press: Photos: William Shatner through the years," Rapid City Journal (October 12, 2021).
- ^ "Comics Briefly: Compiled by Kate Fitzsimons," Publishers Weekly (Oct 12, 2009).
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (Dec 7, 2009). "CON! 2010: The NY Comic Book Marketplace unites all possible storylines". The Beat.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (Feb 19, 2010). "2/27 NY Comic Book Marketplace moves to Penn Plaza Pavilion". The Beat.
- ^ Pesce, Nicole Lyn. "Big Apple Comic Con gives fans chance to meet 'Harry Potter's' Tom Felton, 'Buffy's' James Marsters," Daily News (May 21, 2011).
- ^ Stampler, Laura. "CULTURE & ARTS: James Marsters Draws Fangirls To Big Apple Comic Con," HuffPost (May 24, 2011).
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (Feb 24, 2012). "Meet the vets and Stan Lee at the March NY Comic Book Marketplace". The Beat.
- ^ MacDonald, Heidi (Jan 31, 2013). "New York Comic Book Marketplace returns in April". The Beat.
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- ^ White, Matt. "Upcoming Comics Events: 6/24/2013," Publishers Weekly (June 24, 2012).
- ^ a b Cloos, Art (March 2016). "Convention Report: Big Apple Con". Scoop. Gemstone Publishing, Inc.
- ^ "Big Apple Con 2016 Information". Fancons. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
- ^ Bitette, Nicole (March 11, 2017). "Stan Lee cancels Big Apple Comic Con appearance due to poor health". Daily News.
- ^ Johnston, Rich (March 10, 2017). "Jim Lee Stands In For A Sick Stan Lee At Big Apple Comic Con This Weekend". Bleeding Cool.
- ^ "Big Apple Comic Con 2017 Information". Fancons. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
- ^ Wolfe, Jonathan; Jamieson, Wendell (March 10, 2017). "New York Today: Winter Weather, Signs of Spring". The New York Times.
- ^ "Big Apple Comic Con 2018 Information". Fancons. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
- ^ Pierce, Ken. "THE 2019 BIG APPLE COMIC CON DRAWS NEAR; HERE’S MORE SCOOP," Piercing Metal (FEBRUARY 18, 2019).
- ^ Johnston, Rich. "Liefeld Pulls Out Of Big Apple Comic Con, Starlin & Steranko Step In," Bleeding Cool (July 15, 2021).
- ^ "Catch the Wave: March 26: Big Apple Comic Con," Scoop. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- "Captain Zorikh's Costume Contest". Archived from the original on January 26, 2021.
- It Came From The Radio — official radio show of Big Apple Comic Con, hosted by Sunburst creator Mark Torres, with co-hosts Senior Correspondent Charlie Saladino; model, actress, stand-up comedian, and producer El Man Jenny Feldy; and Dominic Sparano