Welcome to a pop culture event where people can fulfill their dreams of becoming a superhero while sneaking a peak at their favorite celebrity or viewing a preview for an upcoming movie. Comic-Con is an international festival that showcases many aspects of entertainment such as comics, film, and television. It attracts audiences of all generations from around the world. The 43rd Annual Comic-Con wrapped up this weekend in San Diego, CA where fans and industry professionals celebrated the history of Hollywood and its culture.
What is the “big idea” of Comic-Con? To bring attention to audiences everywhere the joy and recognition for comics and similar art forms (comic-con.org.). In an effort to unite artists with his audience, Shel Dorf, founder of Comic-Con, launched an event contrived from his passion for comics on March 21, 1970 in San Diego, CA (Harvey, 2009). What began as a gathering of individuals who shared their love for media and comic strips has transpired into a worldwide marketing extravaganza for the entertainment industry.
As Young (2010) explains, utilizing multiple platforms to advertise and launch a brand or product will generate greater audience exposure. Comic-Con is the ideal event for introducing new games, films, and television to a mass crowd. Spectators anticipating the next “Twilight” or “Expendables” have the opportunity to preview a clip from their favorite movie, which essentially promotes “word of mouth” advertising. In addition to marketing upcoming features, Comic-Con paid tribute to well-known franchises such as “James Bond” and “Power Rangers.” Celebrating past franchises at the 2012 expo brought attention to Hollywood’s culture as it connects with people across all generations (Associated Press, 2012).
Comic-Con is a marketing masterpiece as it builds excitement around a topic that many people appreciate – entertainment and media. Moreover, it creates conversation and stories. As Heath and Heath (1997) explain, stories relate to entertainment; people identify with characters in a movie or are drawn into a world of fantasy created by its author. Comic-Con allows people to be part of a story; to express themselves as “Ironman” or a “Star Wars” trooper. Additionally, it creates social media frenzy as people share their experiences using sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Applications designed specific for Comic-Con for the iPhone, iPad, and Android also promote instant communication and advertising.
Comic-Con has evolved from what many believe to be solely a comic book convention, to a powerful vehicle for marketing movies and television. It is an expo that continues to attract audiences from all generations; creating a “buzz” about upcoming features and media events. Although Comic-Con originated from the idea of recognizing comics, it has transpired into a world of appreciation for all aspects of entertainment. What did you miss at the 2012 Comic-Con? Here are a few highlights that will keep people talking.
Quentin Tarantino presents “Django Unchained.”
Robert Downey Jr. speaks about “Ironman 3.”
Superman “Man of Steel” is Introduced.
True Blood Season 5: Comic-Con Trailer.
For additional information about these highlights, visit Comic-Con’s official website: Comic-Con official website: http://www.comic-con.org/.
Sources
Associated Press. (2012, July 11). Comic-con to celebrate history, heritage by marking anniversaries of long-running franchises. The Washington Post. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/comic-con-to-celebrate-history-heritage-by- marking-anniversaries-of-long-running franchises/2012/07/11/gJQAV8d2cW_story.html
Comic-Con official website: http://www.comic-con.org/
Harvey, R. C. (2009). Shel Dorf, Founder. Comic-Con International 2009 Souvenir Book. Retrieved July 14, 2012, from
http://www.comic-con.org/common/shel_dorf.shtml
Heath, C., & Heath, D. (1997). Made to stick: Why some ideas survive and others die. New York, NY: Random House.
Young, A. (2010). Brand Media Strategy: Integrated Communications Planning in the Digital Era. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Images
Photo of Ironman: http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/07/26/comic-con-full-iron-man-2-panel-report/
Photo of Superman by Warner Bros. http://movies.yahoo.com/blogs/movie-talk/comic-con-2012-man-steel-wows-crowd-first-002728821.html
Hot Movies at Comic-Con 2012 by Yahoo Movies: http://movies.yahoo.com/comic-con/
Golden State Comic-Con graphic: Shel’s graphic design skills served him well at Comic-Con. He designed the first logo for the show, which is similar to his design for the Detroit Triple Fan Fair.: http://www.comic-con.org/common/shel_dorf.shtml
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