 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2021) |
| Big Apple Comic Con (BACC) | |
|---|---|
 New York City's Original Comic Con | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Comics Popular culture |
| Venue | New Yorker Hotel (2018–present) Penn Plaza Pavilion (2004–2018) Metropolitan Pavilion (2000–2003) St. Paul the Apostle Church (1996–2003) |
| Location(s) | New York City, New York |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | March 2, 1996 |
| Most recent | Mar. 25-26, 2023 [1] |
| Next event | Nov 23, 2024[2] |
| Attendance | 8,000 (2018)[3] |
| Organized by | Michael Carbonaro (1996–2009) Wizard Entertainment (2009–2013), Big Apple CC Corp (2014 to present) |
| Website | Official website |
Now in its 28th year the Big Apple Comic Con is the longest-running comic book/speculative fiction/pop culture convention in New York City. It was started by retailer Michael "Mike Carbo" Carbonaro in March 1996 in the basement of the St. Paul the Apostle Church.[4] Having grown out of the church, between 1999 to 2008, the Big Apple Comic Con often featured multiple shows per year, with a large three-day "national" convention held in November, at the Metropolitan Pavilion and later at the Penn Plaza Pavilion. The show was sold to Wizard Entertainment in 2009 but was reacquired 2014 by Big Apple CC Corp (owned in part by Mr.Carbonaro) in 2014. Mr. Carbonaro says Wizard could not produce a successful show in NYC.
Over the course of its history, the convention has been known as the Big Apple Convention, the Big Apple Comic Book Art, and Toy Show, and the Big Apple Comic Book, Art, Toy & Sci-Fi Expo; with the larger three-day November shows known as the National Comic Book, Art, Toy, and Sci-Fi Expo, the National Comic Book, Art, and Sci-Fi Expo, and the National Comic Book, Comic Art, and Fantasy Convention. In 2014, the name "Big Apple Comic Con" was revived by Mr. Carbonaro for its March 2015 show.
In 2018 the Big Apple Comic Con moved from the decaying Penn Plaza (last show 2018) to the recently renewed 1929 Art Deco masterpiece New Yorker Hotel (now the Wyndham hotel).
Though it primarily focuses on comic books, the convention features a large range of pop culture elements, such as graphic novels, cinema, science fiction/fantasy, 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, the Big Apple Comic Con often features previews of upcoming films, and such evening events as the costume contest hosted b y "Captain Zorikh" Lequidre.[5]
The convention regularly hosts hundreds of artists, exhibitors, and film and television personalities in a huge floorspace for exhibitors. The show includes autograph and photo op opportunities with all of the guests, as well as the Artists' Alley where comics artists can sign autographs and sell their work.
- ^ BARSAMIAN, NICOLLETTE (December 13, 2023). "The Big Apple Christmas Con Will Continue On". Queens Gazette.
- ^ "Thank you for a great show". Big Apple Comic Con. Retrieved Mar 4, 2024.
SEE YOU IN 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Forbeswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Johnston, Rich. "Big Apple Comic Con Moves to New Yorker Hotel With a Christmas Convention For December 14th," Bleeding Cool (November 26, 2019).
- ^ Romberger, James and Heidi MacDonald. "This weekend’s Big Apple brings comics history to programming with Royer, Fradon and more," The Beat (April 11, 2018).