SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL JULY 23 - 26 • SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER 50th Anniversary of Rocky and Bullwinkle It’s hard to believe it’s the 50th anniversary of America’s most beloved moose and squirrel, Rocky and Bullwinkle. Famed voice actress June Foray (Rocky and Natasha) will be attending this year’s Comic-Con as a special guest.
25th Anniversary of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
25 years ago Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman created Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Besides becoming a pop culture phenomenon, the Turtles spawned a revolution in comics selfpublishing. Now, 25 years later, it’s apparent these Turtles will live forever!
25th Anniversary of Usagi Yojimbo Stan Sakai’s rabbit ronin has entertained comic fans for 25 years! With over 120 issues and more than 20 collections in print, Usagi Yojimbo (pictured at right) continues to enthrall readers of all ages. Stan will be on hand as a special guest to help celebrate this momentous anniversary.
Comic-Con #40 Okay, technically it’s not our 40th anniversary—that would actually be in 2010. But it is the 40th annual convention, making Comic-Con International (first known as San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Con and then as San Diego ComicCon) the longest continually running comic convention in the country (if not the world). In addition to the brand new Chronicle Books publication debuting at Comic-Con (see page 14 for details), you can expect a series of panels about Comic-Con over the years, from the early days in the 1970s all the way up to 2009. They say it’s our birthday, and we’re gonna have a good time!
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer Registration is closed for 2009. If new volunteer positions open up for 2009 we will post information on our website at www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_vol.shtml Information about volunteering for 2010 will be available on our website in the fall. There will be no onsite volunteer registration.
WEAPONS POLICY
No functional weapons are allowed at Comic-Con International. Simulated or costume weapons are allowed as a part of your costume subject to prior approval by security and compliance with the following: All costume weapons must be inspected at the security station in Lobby E. All costume weapons must conform to state and federal law. Projectile costume weapons must be rendered inoperable. Costume swords will be tied to your costume in such a way that they can’t be drawn. After each person’s costume weapon has been checked, it is tagged by security and you will be given a wristband to wear to designate that your weapons have been checked. Security will escort you to the security station for inspection if your costume weapon is not tagged. If you do not want to have your costume weapons inspected or tagged, or you are not willing to comply with the foregoing, please do not bring your costume weapons.
WWW. COMIC-CON.ORG
We can’t tell you too many times: www.comic-con.org is your one-stop source for up-to-the-minute news on the big event, including schedules, registration, exhibitors, and more (plus info on our sister shows WonderCon and APE, the Alternative Press Expo). The site also includes extended content, such as the transcript of the Michael Chabon/Matt Fraction panel from WonderCon 2009, a portion of which appears starting on page 10. Best of all, it’s there when you want it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Visit it now and bookmark it for further reference for those really lonely nights on the Internet when you’re up at 2:00 am and have nothing to read . . .
YOU We’ve said it before, we’re say it again: “Y” stands for You, because we couldn’t do Comic-Con with out you, whether you’re an attendee, an exhibitor, a professional, a volunteer, a Board/Committee mem ber, an office staff worker, a Klingon, or a Stormtrooper. Comic-Con has existed, grown, and thrived for 39 years because of you. is still the sound you’ll be making starting Monday, July 27. Remember: you can sleep when you get home. Enjoy Comic-Con 2009! Usagi Yojimbo © 2009 Stan Sakai; Toucan logo art by Rick Geary; Exhibit Hall photo by Kevin Green.
Spring 2009 • Comic-Con Magazine 47