Since 1970, when a small group of comic book lovers organized the first show, Comic-Con International has been the place to check out the latest comics creations and connect with legions of fans. Comic-Con documents this cultural phenomenon. Lavishly illustrated pages feature rarely seen photos and images from the Comic-Con archives. Quotes, anecdotes, and profiles of luminaries make for a veritable who's who of the entertainment world.

Only at Comic-Con examines the relationship between exclusivity and the proliferation of media industry promotion at the San Diego Comic-Con, from the convention's founding in 1970 to its current status as a destination for hundreds of thousands of pop culture fans and a hub of Hollywood hype and buzz.

The Comic-Con phenomenon—and what it means for your business The annual trade show Comic-Con International isn’t just fun and games. According to award-winning business author and futurist Rob Salkowitz it’s a “massive focus group and marketing megaphone” for Hollywood—and in Comic-Con and the Business of Pop Culture, he examines the business of popular culture through the lens of Comic-Con. Salkowitz offers an entertaining and substantive look at the show, providing a close look at the comic-book and videogame industries’ expanding influence on marketing, merchandising, and the entertainment industry. Rob Salkowitz is founder and Principle Consultant for the communications firm MediaPlant, LLC.

A once-in-a-lifetime, insider look at the unique experience that is Comic-Con. This BradyGamescompanion Comic-Con Epsiode IV- A Fan's Hopeprovides a broad takeon the experience of Comic-Con and how it became the quintessential centre of American pop culture. It offers an insider's look at the panels, exhibitions, workshops, awards ceremonies and parties; and the unique experience of attending one of the most important events in the entertainment industry. Featuring photos and exclusive interviews from the San Diego Comic-Con 2010, the book highlights the Comic-Con experience for celebrities such as Seth Green, Kenneth Branagh, Seth Rogen and Matt Groening. Comic-Con Episode IV- A Fan's Hope is a must-have for anyone who is interested in the unique Comic-Con experience, or in pop culture as a whole.

Following the bestselling The Secret Loves of Geeks comes this brand-new anthology featuring comics and prose stories by cartoonists and professional geeks about the world of comic book conventions from the guests who've attended them across the world. Featuring stories that are funny, sad, sweet, embarrassing, and heartfelt; of a geek culture life that shapes us, encourages us, and exhausts us every summer. Featuring work by Brian Michael Bendis (The Man of Steel), Jim Zub (Wayward), Kieron Gillen (The Wicked and the Divine), Sina Grace (Iceman), and many more.

A tale of love, heartbreak and surfing from an important new voice in comics. In Waves is Craig Thompson's Blankets meets William Finnegan's Barbarian Days. In this visually arresting graphic novel, surfer and illustrator AJ Dungo remembers his late partner, her battle with cancer, and their shared love of surfing that brought them strength throughout their time together. With his passion for surfing uniting many narratives, he intertwines his own story with those of some of the great heroes of surf in a rare work of nonfiction that is as moving as it is fascinating.

"Nate, Teddy, and Fiona are preparing for one of the biggest days of the year--Kanigher Kon, their city's annual comic convention. Meanwhile, Nate and Ultraviolet hear that someone has been auditioning supervillains for a big job. The challenge is to pull off the world's biggest heist. The day of the convention arrives and Nate and his friends discover that a group of supervillains have formed an alliance in an attempt to steal a valuable comic book. Who will swoop in to save the day?"--P. [4] of cover.