Motor City Comic Con

The Motor City Comic Con is a fan convention held in Novi, Michigan, United States, at the Suburban Collection Showplace. It is traditionally a three-day event (Friday through Sunday), usually held in May of each year. The Motor City Comic Con was founded in 1989 by comics retailer Michael Goldman.

Motor City Comic Con
StatusActive
GenreSpeculative fiction
VenueDearborn Civic Center (1989–1998)
Novi Expo Center (1994–2004)
Rock Financial Showplace/Suburban Collection Showplace (2005–present)
Location(s)Novi, Michigan
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated1989
Attendance50,000 (2015)[1]
Organized byMotor City Conventions
Filing statusfor-profit
Websitewww.motorcitycomiccon.com

Though it primarily focuses on comic books, the convention features a large range of pop culture elements, such as film actors, professional wrestling, science fiction/fantasy, film/television, animation, anime, manga, toys, horror, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels. Along with panels, seminars, and workshops with comic book professionals, there are previews of upcoming feature films, portfolio review sessions with top comic book and video game companies, and such evening events as a costume contest. Traditional events include gaming and hours of other programming on all aspects of comic books and pop culture.

The Motor City Comic Con features a large floorspace for exhibitors. These include media companies such as movie studios and TV networks, as well as comic-book dealers and collectibles merchants. Like most comics conventions, the show includes an autograph area, as well as the Artists' Alley where comics artists can sign autographs and sell or do free sketches. Despite the name, Artists' Alley can include writers and even glamour models.[2]

History

Southfield, Michigan, comic book retailer Michael Goldman, owner of Motor City Comics,[3] staged the first Motor City Comic Con at the Dearborn Civic Center[4] in 1989. Antecedents to the Motor City Comic Con include the seminal multi-genre convention, the Detroit Triple Fan Fair, which was held annually in the Detroit area from 1965 to 1978;[5] and Gary Reed's King Kon, held in the area from 1984-1986.

Show promoter Goldman brought on Gary Bishop in 1989 to manage the convention;[4][6] Bishop worked for Motor City Conventions until 2007. From 1992–1998, the Motor City Comic Con was the site of the Compuserve Comics and Animation Forum's Don Thompson Awards (also known as the Thompsons). From 1993–2004, the convention was held twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Typically the larger three-day spring convention was held in Novi and the smaller two-day fall show was held at the Dearborn Civic Center.

The fall 1998 show hosted the convention's fourth annual Red Cross blood drive and the seventh annual charity art auction to benefit of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. By this point, the Motor City Comic Con had raised nearly $35,000 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In 1999, Goldman claimed the Motor City Comic Con was the third-largest comic convention in the United States.

By 2003, the most popular elements of the Motor City Comic Con were the appearances of celebrities from the world of film, television, and other media; rather than the comic book creators who were the namesake of the show.[7] (This mirrored the situation at other so-called comic book conventions nationwide.)

In fall 2005, after many years of being held at the Novi Expo Center, the facility closed and the convention moved to the newly built Rock Financial Showplace (later renamed the Suburban Collection Showplace).

In 2010 Miriam Kruger joined the company as event director. That year, Motor City Comic Con scheduled a fall component to its show for the weekend of October 30–31. That same weekend was the debut of the new show Detroit Fanfare; Motor City Comic Con changed its fall show to November 20–21,[8] and later canceled the fall 2010 show altogether.[9]

Dates and locations
DatesLocationOfficial guestsNotes
1989Dearborn Civic Center[4]2,500 attendees[4]
February 17–18, 1990Dearborn Civic CenterErik Larsen, Gary Kwapisz, Jeff Albrecht, John Ostrander, Kim Yale, Marshall Rogers, Matt Feazell, Mike Grell, Norm Breyfogle, Rob Liefeld, and Tim DzonAdmission $4 each day; $7 for the weekend
1991
1992
Fall 1993Program booklet cover by Tom Morgan
March 25–27, 1994Novi Expo Center, Novi, MichiganProgram booklet cover by Rich Buckler and Sheldon Moldoff
Spring 1995Program booklet cover by Brian Murray
October 7–8, 1995Dearborn Civic CenterProgram booklet cover by Franchesco
March 22–24, 1996[10]Novi Expo CenterProgram booklet cover by David W. Mack and Sheldon Moldoff
October 12–13, 1996Dearborn Civic CenterProgram booklet cover by Jim Mooney
March 21–23, 1997[11]Novi Expo CenterProgram booklet cover by Rob Prior
October 11–12, 1997Dearborn Civic CenterProgram booklet cover by Kirk Jarvinen and Randy Zimmerman
May 15–17, 1998[12][13]Novi Expo CenterProgram booklet cover by Will Eisner
October 10–11, 1998Dearborn Civic CenterKyle Hotz, Guy Davis, Vince Locke, Rob Prior, David W. Mack, Mike Okamoto, Franchesco, Scott Rosema, Randy Zimmerman, Jason Moore, Susan Van Camp, William Messner-Loebs, Mark Crilley, Joe Jusko, David Quinn, Dan Brereton, Lurene Haines, James Robinson, James O'Barr, Matt Feazell, Ken Gale, Mercy Van Vlack, Dan Mishkin, Timothy Truman, Adam Hughes, Joe Chiodo, and John Hollis$8/day; program booklet cover by Joe Chiodo
May 14–16, 1999Novi Expo CenterProgram booklet cover by Joe Kubert and Sheldon Moldoff
October 23–24, 1999Novi Expo CenterDavid W. Mack, Tim Vigil, David Quinn, Vincent Locke, Jill Thompson, John Ostrander, Guy Davis, Mark Waid, Devin Grayson, and William Messner-LoebsProgram booklet cover by David Finch and Joe B. Weems
May 19–21, 2000Novi Expo CenterJames DoohanProgram booklet cover by D-Tron, Andy Park, and J. D. Smith
October 21–22, 2000Novi Expo CenterDick Ayers, Terri Boyle, Frank Brunner, Sal Buscema, Guy Davis, Dan DeCarlo, Franchesco, Cully Hamner, Adam Hughes, Georges Jeanty, Joseph Michael Linsner, Vince Locke, William Messner-Loebs, Jason Moore, James O'Barr, Mike Okamoto, David Quinn, Greg Rucka, Marie Severin, Brian Steelfreeze, Karl Story, Randy Zimmerman, and Bob MayProgram booklet cover by Joseph Michael Linsner
May 18–20, 2001[14]Novi Expo CenterSergio Aragonés, Todd Dezago, David Finch, Franchesco, Andy Lee, Steve Lieber, Paul Jenkins, Jason Moore, James O'Barr, Michael Avon Oeming, Brian Pulido, Stan Sakai, Chris Sprouse, J. Michael Straczynski, Michael Turner, Randy Zimmerman, Murphy Anderson, Pam Bliss, Mark Crilley, Marshall Dillon, Dick Giordano, David W. Mack, Eddy Newell, Martin Nodell, Mike Okamoto, Diana Okamoto, Jim Ottaviani, Greg Rucka, Billy Tucci, and Chris Yambar$15/day; program booklet cover by David W. Mack
November 17–18, 2001Novi Expo CenterAaron Bordner, Peter David, Guy Davis, Marshall Dillon, Vince Locke, Jason Moore, Mark Schultz, William Stout, Randy Zimmerman, Chase Masterson, Vaughn Armstrong, Julie Caitlin Brown, Jeremy Bulloch, Angus McGinnis, Garek Hagon, and Kenneth Colley
May 17–19, 2002Novi Expo CenterCindy Williams, Frank Cho, Guy Davis, Christopher Golden, Carmine Infantino, Joseph Michael Linsner, Vince Locke, Andy Lee, David W. Mack, Tom Mandrake, Dan Mishkin, Bill Morrison, Mike Okamoto, Scott Rosema, Thomas E. Sniegoski, Brian Stelfreeze, Roy Thomas, S. Clay Wilson, and Randy Zimmermanc. 14,000 attendees;[15] admission: $16 per day;[16] program booklet cover by Matt Groening
October 26–27, 2002Novi Expo CenterRichard Herd, James Horan, Michael Edmunds, David Prowse, Shannon Baska, Glori Anne Gilbert, Patrick Bauchau, Jon Gries, and Richard MarcusProgram booklet cover by James O'Barr
May 16–18, 2003Novi Expo Center[7]Aaron Bordner, Mark Bode, Dan Brereton, Norm Breyfogle, Guy Davis, Dan Fogel, Frank Kelly Freas, Laura Freas, Gilbert Hernandez, Jaime Hernandez, Vince Locke, William Messner Loebs, James O'Barr, Jim Pitts, Paul Ryan, William Stout, Billy Tucci, Neil Vokes, and Larry Welz15,000 attendees;[2] program booklet cover by William Stout
October 18–19, 2003Novi Expo CenterKurt Busiek, Andy Lee, and David W. MackProgram booklet cover by Paul Ryan
May 14–16, 2004Novi Expo Center[17]Julie Benz, Erin Gray, Kate Jackson, Ron Perlman, and Alfonso Ribeiro15th anniversary show;[17] program booklet by Dick Ayers and Greg Horn
October 16–17, 2004Novi Expo CenterDan Mishkin, Rowena Morrill, Bill Morrison, Stephanie Murnane, Eddy Newell, Diana Okamoto, Mike Okamoto, Mike Pascale, Scott Rosema, Steve Rude, Stan Sakai, Paul Sizer, Layne Toth, Daniel Webb, Bill Wilkinson, and Randy ZimmermanProgram booklet cover by Steve Rude
May 13–15, 2005Novi Expo CenterTerry Austin, Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers, Mark Texeira, Billy Tucci, Guy Davis, Vince Locke, Scott Rosema, Randy Zimmerman, James O'Barr, Pam Bliss, Matt Feazell, Art Baltazar, Andy Bennett, Dave Aikins, Aaron Bordner, Bill Bryan, Kevin Leen, William Messner-Loebs, Carl Lundgren, Mick McArt, Eddy Newell, Diana Okamoto, Mike Okamoto, and Paul SizerProgram booklet cover by Mark Sparacio, Mark Texeira, and Billy Tucci
October 15–16, 2005Rock Financial ShowplaceDick Ayers, Mark Bode, Guy Davis, Dave Dorman, Al Feldstein, Ron Garney, Mike Grell, Paul Gulacy, Casey Jones, Trent Kaniuga, Ray Lago, Andy Lee, Vince Locke, William Messner-Loebs, David W. Mack, Brian Pulido, Don Rosa, Scott Rosema, Paul Ryan, Timothy Truman, and Randy Zimmerman
May 20–21, 2006Rock Financial Showplace[18]Adam West, Burt Ward, David Faustino, and Jerri Manthey[18]Program booklet cover by Jim Steranko and Mark Sparacio
October 14–15, 2006Rock Financial Showplace[19]Guy Davis, William Messner-Loebs, James O'Barr, Ken Osmond, Robert Culp, Bill Daily, Lori Petty, and Michael Dorn[20]
May 18–20, 2007Rock Financial ShowplaceBarBara Luna,[21] Louis Gossett, Jr.,[4] and Lou FerrignoProgram booklet cover by Joe Corroney and Mark Sparacio
May 16–18, 2008Rock Financial Showplace[22]Robert Armstrong, Dick Ayers, Art Baltazar, Jeremy Bastian, Gary Scott Beatty, Pam Bliss, Matt Busch, Tommy Castillo, Chris Claremont, Guy Davis, Matt Feazell, Al Feldstein, David Finch, Gary Friedrich, Tony Gray, Ken Kelly, Robert Kraus, Vince Locke, William Messner-Loebs, David Petersen, Arthur Suydam, Billy Tan, Billy Tucci, Daniel Way, Bernie Wrightson, Chris Yambar, and Randy ZimmermanProgram booklet cover by Matt Busch and Marc Wolfe
May 15–17, 2009Rock Financial ShowplaceArt Baltazar, Dwayne McDuffie, Guy Davis, Carrie Fisher, John Schneider, Aaron Douglas, Michael Hogan, Kristy Swanson, Julie Newmar, Doug Jones, Catherine Bach, Garrett Wang, and Joyce DeWitt[23]
May 14–16, 2010Rock Financial ShowplaceLinda Blair, Lindsay Wagner, and Adam West
May 13–15, 2011Suburban Collection ShowplaceDavid Petersen, Tim Sale, George Takei, Brent Spiner, Kate Mulgrew, Tricia Helfer, Sam Huntington, and Ernie Hudson[24]Program booklet cover by Keu Cha and Mark Sparacio
May 18–20, 2012Suburban Collection ShowplaceBilly Tucci, Mike Grell, Ethan Van Sciver, Peter Bagge, Joseph Lee, Nichelle Nichols, Colin Ferguson, Dean Cain, Loni Anderson, Howard Hesseman, Billy Dee Williams, Christopher Knight, Butch Patrick, and Erin Gray[25][26]18,000 attendees
May 17–19, 2013Suburban Collection ShowplaceComic Guests: Stan Lee, George Pérez, David Lloyd, Greg Horn, Katie Cook, Mark McKenna, Tony Moore, Kalman Andrasofszky, Simon Bisley, Carlos Pacheco, Ryan Stegman, Mike McKone, Tom Raney, Yanick Paquette, and Chris Sprouse; Media Guests: Alex Winter, Norman Reedus, Cary Elwes, Marina Sirtis, Edward James Olmos, Meaghan Rath, Colin Baker, Micky Dolenz, Curtis Armstrong, and Robert Carradine30,000 attendees
May 16–18, 2014Suburban Collection ShowplaceWilliam Shatner, Jason David Frank, Billy Zabka, Martin Kove, Burt Young, Milo Ventimiglia, Bret "The Hitman" Hart, The Nasty Boys, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, Robert Hays, Kristanna Loken, Brittany Daniel, and Paris Themmen40,000 attendees
May 15–17, 2015Suburban Collection ShowplaceWilliam Shatner, Linda Blair, Billy Boyd, Dean Cain, Robert Englund, Lou Ferrigno, Tom Kenny, Ralph Macchio, John Schneider, Jimmie Walker, and Dawn Wells; The Walking Dead: Chad Coleman, "Tyrese", Michael Cudlitz, "Abraham", Lawrence Gilliard Jr., "Bob", Emily Kinney, "Beth", Chandler Riggs, "Carl", and Scott Wilson, "Hershel"50,000 attendees
May 13–15, 2016Suburban Collection ShowplaceLea Thompson, Lena Headey, Adam West, Jon Bernthal, Michael Cudlitz, Michael Nesmith, Brenda Strong, Ric Flair, Tara Reid, and Robin Lord Taylor55,000 attendees
May 19–21, 2017Suburban Collection ShowplaceRyan Stegman, Mena Suvari, Ron Perlman, Sean Astin, Neal Adams, Zach McGowan, LeVar Burton, Scott Wilson, Billie Piper, and Michael Rooker55,000 attendees
May 18–20, 2018Suburban Collection ShowplaceBlack Lightning: Nafessa Williams, Cress Williams, and China Anne McClain; Black Panther Lexus LC 500, Lucy Lawless, Frank Quitely, and Jerome Flynn; It Kids: Chosen Jacobs, "Mike", Jackson Scott, "Georgie", Jack Grazer, "Eddie", Jaeden Lieberher, "Bill", and Wyatt Oleff, "Stanley"; John Cassaday, Stephen Amell, Summer Glau, and Val Kilmer; and Smallville: Tom Welling, "Clark Kent / Superman" and Michael Rosenbaum, "Lex Luthor"60,000 attendees
May 17–19, 2019Suburban Collection ShowplaceAlanna Masterson, Barry Williams, Benjamin Byron Davis, Brandon Routh, Brian Baumgartner, Charlie Hunnam, David Tennant, D.B. Woodside, Doug Jones, Elizabeth Berkley, Ethan Peck, Felicia Day, Freema Agyeman, George Takei, Henry Ian Cusick, Henry Thomas, Henry Winkler, Irene Bedard, Jack O'Halloran, John Cleese, Jonathan Frakes, Joonas Suotamo, Judith Hoag, Justin Briner, Kristian Nairn, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Leslie David Baker, Linda Larkin, Lori Petty, Lou Ferrigno, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Monica Rial, Neve Campbell, Nick Castle, Pauly Shore, Pom Klementieff, Roger Clark, Ryan Hurst, Sarah Douglas, Shawn Michaels, Theo Rossi, Tom Ellis, and Tom Payne

References
  1. Shea, Bill. "Thanks to zombie fighters and superheroes, Motor City Comic Con shatters attendance record," Crain's Detroit Business (19 May 2015).
  2. Gopwani, Jewel. "Superheroes Come Alive at Novi, Mich., Comic-Book Expo," Knight Ridder Tribune Business News (19 May 2003), p. 1.
  3. "Need a Comic Book? Collector has 500,000," Columbus Dispatch (Nov. 30, 1997), p. 5C.
  4. Powers, Nancy Chipman. "Batman Would Feel At Home: Collectors To Head For Motor City Comic Con Show," Detroit Free Press (13 May 2007), p. CJ.5.
  5. Cooke, Jon B. "Rich Buckler Breaks Out! The Artist on Deathlok, T'Challa, and Other Marvel Tales," Comic Book Artist Collection, Volume 3 (TwoMorrows Publishing, 2005).
  6. Watson, Ursula. "Comic book conventions a hit with young, older collectors," Detroit News (Aug. 6, 2003), p. J6.
  7. Culbertson, Amy. "Event Spotlight: Motor City Comics Con Stars Highlight 3-Day Meeting," Detroit Free Press (16 May 2003), p. E.12.
  8. Henrickson, Eric. "A feast for geeks," Detroit News (Oct. 28, 2010).
  9. Pate, Brian. "Motor City Comic Con Cancels Fall 2010 Show," Convention Scene (Nov. 17, 2010).
  10. "Comics Call: And thousands of fans answer at Motor City convention," The Grand Rapids Press (25 Mar 1996): b3.
  11. Ottaviani, Jim. "News Watch: Motor City Convention, March 21–23," The Comics Journal #195 (Apr. 1997), p. 25.
  12. "Detroit Gears Up for Motor City Con," Comic Book Marketplace, vol. 2, #58 (Apr. 1998), pp. 74-75.
  13. "Motor City Comic Con Rocks Detroit May 15–17," Comics Buyer's Guide (April 17, 1998), pp. 56, 62.
  14. "Thank Your Teacher," Detroit Free Press (07 May 2001), p. C.8.
  15. Litch, Paul. "Motor City Con 2002," Archived 2010-12-25 at the Wayback Machine CGC Vol. 1, issue #2. (June 2002).
  16. "This Weekend's Top 10," Detroit News (May 18, 2002).
  17. Breithaupt, Christy L. "Pow! Comic Con drops into Novi," Detroit News (May 14, 2004), p. E1.
  18. Graham, Adam. "Holy comic con, Batman!: Convention celebrates pop culture with comic books, movie and TV stars and more," Detroit News (May 20, 2006), p. 04D.
  19. Lendzion, Mary. "Comic Relief: X-Trava Con Show to Head to Livonia Next Sunday," Detroit Free Press (10 Sep 2006), p. 4.
  20. "Critic's choice", Detroit News (13 October 2006), p. F.10.
  21. Frankenhoff, Brent. "Motor City Comic Con 2007: A quick travelogue," CBGXtra.com (May 18, 2007).
  22. Whitall, Susan. "'Wolfman Mac' show will be back in May," Detroit News (19 Apr 2008), p. D.3.
  23. Henrickson, Eric. "Comic fans to get royal visit," Detroit News (May 14, 2009).
  24. Henrickson, Eric. "Takei carries on 'Star Trek' legacy," Detroit News (May 12, 2011).
  25. Hammerstein, B J. "Artists, wrestlers and stars of yore," Detroit Free Press (17 May 2012), p. Z.24.
  26. Henrickson, Eric. "'Uhuru' beaming in for Comic Con," Detroit News (May 17, 2012).

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