SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL JULY 24 - 27 • SAN DIEGO CONVENTION CENTER
Themes
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Each year Comic-Con celebrates a number of anniversaries and special themes related to comics and the popular arts. Some of these themes become part of the Programming schedule, while others are reserved for the Souvenir Book, where pros and fans alike contribute articles and art about these special topics. Here’s what we’re celebrating this year: • 75th Anniversary of the American Comic Book Born in 1933 with Funnies on Parade, the industry really took off in 1938 when Superman was born. • 75th Anniversary of Doc Savage The Man of Bronze first appeared in his own pulp magazine—with stories by “Lester Dent”—in 1933. • 75th Anniversary of the original King Kong This seminal “monster” movie redefined special effects and action/adventure! • 50th Anniversary of Famous Monsters of Filmland! Forry Ackerman’s pun-filled love story to movie monsters launched many a career. • 50th Anniversary of the Legion of Super-Heroes (See Comics History 101 on page 18 for more details.) • 25th Anniversary of American Flagg! Howard Chaykin’s outrageous mix of celebrity, sex, science fiction and action is a groundbreaking work. • The Editorial Cartoon (with special guests Steve Breen and Signe Wilkinson) Comic-Con celebrates your daily dose of cartoon commentary during this election year.
Volunteers
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You can volunteer for Comic-Con 2008! Putting on this big event requires over a thousand volunteers to help ensure that everyone at the show has the best experience possible. Volunteers must be 16 or older to participate. You can volunteer for any or all of the days—your choice. There are literally hundreds of volunteer tasks each day in over twenty-one departments. When you visit the Volunteer Desk to check in, you will get your first assignment. For each day you volunteer, you get a free 1-day badge for that day. All pre-registered volunteers get to attend Preview Night, and those who do at least four shifts get the rare and amazing volunteer T-shirt that cannot be bought in any store. The deadline to submit your registration, whether online or by fax or mail, is June 24 (mailed forms must be postmarked by that date). You can sign up online to volunteer for Comic-Con 2008 at www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_vol.shtml. Just follow the simple directions. If you’ve volunteered in previous years and want to do so again, we ask that you please register online for 2008. After you fill in your info, you will get an online confirmation code and an e-mail confirming receipt of your form. If you don’t have access to the Internet or prefer to mail or fax your form, you can download a PDF version of the volunteer form (you can also volunteer online for our other shows, WonderCon and APE) from the Comic-Con website, or request forms from the office by fax (619-414-1022), by mail (Volunteers, PO Box 128458, San Diego CA 92112-8458), or by e-mail (volunteers@comic-con.org).
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Website It’s the first—and last—word on Comic-Con (and WonderCon and APE)! It’s www.comic-con.org, your one-stop source for up-to-the-minute news on the big event, including schedules, registration, exhibitors, and more. Best of all, it’s there when you want it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Bookmark it now!
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You
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“Y” stands for You, because we couldn’t do Comic-Con without you, whether you’re an attendee, an exhibitor, a professional, a volunteer, a Board/Committee member, an office staff worker, a Klingon, or a Stormtrooper. Comic-Con has existed, grown, and thrived for 38 years because of you. So what are you waiting for? Register now online so we can see you at Comic-Con 2008. (Yes, YOU.)
is the sleep you can get caught up on starting Monday, July 28. Your bed will still be there when you get home. Enjoy Comic-Con 2008! See you next year!
Funnies On Parade © 2008 Eastern Color Printing. King Kong artwork courtesy Warner Home Video. ©Turner Entertainment Co. and Warner Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. American Flagg! ©2008 Howard Chaykin. Photo by Adrian Velasquez.
Spring 2008 • Comic-Con Magazine 47