Pop Culture dictionary
Comic-Con
comicon [ kom-ik-kon ]
What is Comic-Con?
A comic-con is a convention (con, for short) focused on comic books and related forms of pop culture entertainment, including movies, TV shows, and video games.
The term comic-con is a general one and comic-cons are held in many locations, but the term often specifically refers to San Diego Comic-Con (officially known as Comic-Con International: San Diego), which is the most well-known event of its kind.
Other well-known comic-cons include those held annually in New York and Seattle.
In general, comic-cons often feature a variety of events, notably panels with entertainment industry professionals, including artists, writers, actors, and directors. Fans who attend comic-cons often participate in cosplay—dressing up as fictional characters.
In general, comic-con is sometimes spelled comicon, and a comic-con is sometimes called a con for short (though this can be applied to any convention). San Diego Comic-Con is sometimes abbreviated as SDCC.
⚡️When is Comic-Con?
San Diego Comic-Con is usually held annually in July. In 2024, San Diego Comic-Con will be held from July 25–28.
Where does Comic-Con come from?
The first San Diego Comic-Con was held in 1970 and was called San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Con.
The con in comic-con is short for convention. Comic books, often simply called comics, got their name because early comic strips were primarily humor-based (superheroes and other genres became popular later).
Examples of Comic-Con
Who uses Comic-Con?
Did you know … ?
- The San Diego Comic-Con usually draws more than 100,000 attendees.
- The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, which honor professionals in the comic industry, have been awarded in conjunction with San Diego Comic-Con since 1988.
What are other words used in discussion of Comic-Con?
- comic
- comic book
- con (definition 5)
- convention
- cosplay
- pop culture
- panel
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of Comic-Con like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of Comic-Con that will help our users expand their word mastery.