One of the mixed blessings of making comics is geographic independence. Modern creators and publishers can live and work anywhere which offers a tremendous amount of diversity and flexibility. But this also makes working in comics a lonely and solitary occupation for many. Unlike film, theater, television or video games, the professional community doesn’t easily congregate, except for the various comic conventions.

Of course, there were very few cons in 2020, and the absence has rippled through the industry. Creators, fans, and publishers have vacillated between desperation to return to their beloved shows and trepidation to jumping back into a stew of con crud that was only slightly less frightening than COVID 19. With both vaccination rates and infection rates going up, it is difficult to tell when or to what extend conventions will return, even as other public gatherings resume at limited capacities.

This means the logistical challenge of producing a convention, which has always been complex, now has to account for the uncertainty of herd immunity vs. a new variant lockdown. The results have been predictably mixed. The prestigious Angouleme Festival in France has been cancelled for 2021. WonderCon, HeroesCon and MOCCA have also postponed. The larger US conventions in New York and San Diego are still planning in person events, but San Diego has run into a wave of pushback for scheduling their event on Thanksgiving weekend.

I said in a recent panel with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund that the future of conventions will merge the in-person connection of live conventions with the convenience of online shows. That transition won’t be seamless, and it might not get worked out this year. Even if it does, many attendees might not be willing or able to return to the show floor for some time.

When do you plan to get back into cons?

If you have questions about the business or legal aspects of your comic book publishing and you'd like a free consultation, please contact me and we can set something up that fits in with your schedule.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS BLOG POST IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE WITH YOUR COMIC PROPERTY, DISCUSS IT WITH A QUALIFIED CONTRACT ATTORNEY OR CONTACT C3 FOR A FREE CONSULTATION