Comics

Comic conventions are where readers meet the people who draw, write and print the books they collect. This tag covers the major shows and the smaller festivals, from San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con to MICE and the Schomburg Center Black Comic Book Festival. You will find artist alleys, small-press tables and panels on making comics, not just media announcements.

If you are looking for a comics festival with a specific focus, the listings here range from huge convention centers to single-room expos.

What are the biggest comic conventions?

San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con draw the largest crowds and the widest range of exhibitors, from major publishers to single-artist tables. C2E2 in Chicago and Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle are the next tier, with full artist alleys and multi-day programming. WonderCon and FAN EXPO Philadelphia round out the large regional shows.

What are comic conventions called?

They go by several names: comic con, comic convention, comics festival, and comics expo. MICE uses "expo" in its full name, while the Schomburg Center Black Comic Book Festival uses "festival" to signal its focus on creators and readers rather than media promotion. The naming often hints at whether the event leans toward retail, industry news, or independent publishing.

What is an indie comic convention?

An indie comic convention puts independent and small-press creators at the center, with little or no presence from film and television studios. MICE is the clearest example: its exhibitors are cartoonists and publishers of handmade comics, and its panels address craft and self-publishing. Larger shows like San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con include indie areas, but the overall event is broader.

What separates Comics from Children's and Crime on the fair circuit is that these events are built around artists' alleys, portfolio reviews and small-press tables rather than publishing houses. At San Diego Comic-Con and New York Comic Con, the show floor splits into a dealer section and an artist section, and the second is where you find hand-stapled zines and screen-printed minis. Emerald City Comic Con and WonderCon keep the same balance on a smaller scale, so a first-time exhibitor can test a print run without competing for attention with studio booths. MICE, the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo, goes further: no media guests, no cosplay contest, just tables and panels about making comics. The Schomburg Center Black Comic Book Festival centers Black creators and readers, with programming that treats comics as a literary tradition. Long Beach Comic Con and FAN EXPO Philadelphia mix retail and creator tables, and C2E2 fills a convention center with both.