In CBG #1666 (June 2010), Jim Palicka of Aurora, Ill., wrote a letter detailing his experiences with the convention that grew into the Chicago Comicon and was later acquired by Wizard. Space considerations only allowed us to run two of the covers from the various convention booklets that Jim provided, but we promised to run all the cover, with his annotations here. So, away we go:
One of two color convention booklet covers, the 1976 Chicago Comicon program was the first booklet to carry that title as the show’s name. Held at the Pick Congress Hotel, the show had an estimated attendance of 2,100.
Jim had the front cover of his 1977 Chicago Comicon booklet signed by artist Mike Grell (above), while Denis Kitchen provided the art for the book’s back cover (below). Kitchen’s art also appears in the upcoming Oddly Compelling Art of Denis Kitchen. The 1977 show had an estimated attendance of 3,000.
The 1978 show was the first “Sweatcon.” The estimated attendance of 2,500 is the last set of attendance figures Jim had.
The 1979 Chicago Comicon had Mike Barr and John Byrne as its special guests and was the first year that Joe Sarno was not one of the show’s organizers, leaving those duties to Larry Charet and Bob Weinberg.
Mike Grell provided a second cover for the 1980 Chicago Comicon book.
Will Eisner was announced as the Guest of Honor for the 1981 Chicago Comicon, but was unable to attend due to an accident.
1982’s Chicago Comicon combined with Panopticon West, a Doctor Who convention, leading to the second Sweatcon, the second color booklet cover, and the last Chicago Comicon at the Pick Congress.
1983’s Chicago Comicon was the first held at the Ramada O’Hare in Rosemont. That location would be the show’s home until 1993 when it relocated to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, where it’s remained ever since.
Jim wrote on his photocopy of the 1984 booklet’s cover that this was a confusing image for many attendees until they saw the super-hero flying way in the background.
Mike Grell made it a three-fer with his work for the 1985 booklet.
Marvel marked its 25th anniversary at the 1986 Chicago Comicon.
Chicago-based First Comics marked a half-decade in business for the 1987 show.
The anniversary observances continued with Eclipse marking a decade at the 1988 show.
Kitchen Sink rounded out the 1980s with its 20th anniversary celebration at the 1989 show. In 1991, the company would have a massive book sale at the show.
So, what are your Chicago Comicon memories? Let us know, either with a reply on this thread, or by e-mail to ohso@krause.com.
On the eve of heading out to Chicago for the first C2E2, I spot this post. How cool!
Fond memories indeed. One correction, though: the last Comicon at the Pick Congress was in 1983, not 1982. It wasn’t as hot inside that final year as it was the year before, but it was still plenty warm!
A few years ago, I shared my thoughts about the ’81 con, my first Comicon and first major comics convention, right here.
I’m looking forward to C2E2 in large part because of its downtown location; this will be the first time I’ve stayed in downtown Chicago since that last con at the Pick Congress. Which is still there, but is now called the Congress Plaza, I think. When I get in tomorrow, I plan on wandering around that part of town; maybe I’ll take a peek inside and see if it jogs any memories after nearly thirty years!
Thanks for the correction. I was going off the list that Palicka provided to us.
Speaking of the Ramada O’Hare, years after it was no longer the home of the big con, some friends and I attended one of Motor City’s smaller shows there. It brought back a lot of memories and was fun to go around the dealers’ room without being constantly bumped and jostled.
What issue of the CBG from 2010 was it where someone provided a list of Chicago comic con’s starting with Nostalgia 72 organized by Nancy Warner and later by Joe Sarno? Also listed was the attendance figures, the years and guests that attended. I cannot locate that issue. Would appreciate your help. Thanks
It was CBG #1666. Jim Palicka of Aurora, Ill., who provided all the scans of the program booklets above, also gave us a list of that other material.