“Comic books haven’t lost any of the magic, they’ve gained even
more magic...” - Mike Michalski
Every year more than 100 ‘comic cons’ take place around
the world stretching as far as Comiket in Japan to the four
different comic cons we have here at home in Windsor. The
conventions are growing, bringing in hundreds of thousands
of people, with some of the biggest such as San Diego and New
York selling out in minutes.
It is difficult to trace the origin of the first comic book
convention, but New York’s ‘Comicon ‘64’ in 1964 may have
been the first such convention ever held, or at least the first in
North America. It started the ideas behind much of what has
become the basis of comic cons: putting the consumer in
touch with distributors and engagement between creators and
fans. Conventions are now being held in more than 30 of the
50 United States and in half of Canadian provinces.
Comic Book SyndiCON is one of the four conventions held
in Windsor and is holding its inaugural event this August in
partnership with St. Clair College’s Family Fun Day. With a
focus on its namesake, the SyndiCON provides a free
experience for Windsor and Essex County to meet their
favourite comic book artists, learn how to draw in the style of
different comics and even enjoy some cosplay.
“That was our goal: to avoid focusing on the hype, the
celebrities and the movies, and zero in on comic books and
their creators,” says Mike Poirier, one of the organizers of
SyndiCON and co-host of Comic Book Syndicate.
Poirier says he’s found some comic-cons have lost some of
what made them special, specifically focusing on comics. With
conventions featuring more guests from television, movies,
anime and occasionally even an adult film actor or two, he
says the conventions have become more about money than the
art.
“Comic books have inspired billion-dollar franchises, but
the actual comic books themselves are currently a niche
market,” says Poirier. “It’s a bit like the tail wagging the dog.”
Even with the conventions becoming bigger and featuring
more pop culture stars, everyone can still take away something
by attending, especially if they visit the different comic book
vendors.
Michael Michalski, organizer of Windsor Comic-Cons
which runs both Super Summer Comic-Con and Christmas
Comic-Con, emphasizes he tries to have his events stay true to
the source material. Doing so allows both young and old to be
exposed to a different form of the written word. Reaching
youth is especially important for Michalski because comics
Windsorites browse through a vendor's collectibles at the
Giovanni Caboto Club during Super Summer Comic Con 2
aren’t as accessible as they used to be, when comic books
could be picked up in any convenience store.
“Comic books haven’t lost any of the magic, they’ve
gained even more magic because they’re somewhat of an
anomaly to these kids,” says Michalski. “You expose comic
books to kids, they’re more magical than ever.”
“It’s not work to them, it’s a lot of fun. Before you know it,
they’re picking up new words, they’re being exposed to all
different subject matter. It’s a fantastic medium all the way
around.”
Often it can be special guests brought to the conventions
who draw in crowds because of their popularity or because
their films may be featured as sneak peeks as part of the
event. At SyndiCon, people will come to meet their favourite
artists from Windsor like Shane Heron and Cristina Marin.
Larger events like Fan Expo often see celebrities including
Stan Lee, Neve Campbell and Billy Dee Williams.
Super Summer Comic Con here in July featured actors
Rob Archer from Lost Girl, and Kevin Duhaney and Jeff
Parazzo of Power Rangers Dino Thunder. The performers
signed autographs and took photos with fans who otherwise
may have been unable to meet them. But for the actors
themselves, going to the conventions to meet their fans means
just as much to them as it does to the fans.
“It’s to get up close and personal with my fans,” says
Duhaney, who played the blue Dino Ranger on the show’s 13th
season. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be working.”
August 2015 - The HUB 33