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Most Awaited Comic Conventions in 2017

If you’re the kind of comic con attendee that wants to get into the comic book business, get your pitch ready. Here is my list of the most awaited comic cons coming up in 2017.

Cosplayers may find many of the comic cons on this list welcoming. Though I’ve tried to pick only the conventions where comics get center stage. San Diego and its ilk are not on this list, if only for the reason that they’re notoriously hard to get into. Or move around in.

U.S. Comic Cons

WonderCon
(Mar 31- Apr 2, 2017)

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Comic-Con International: San Diego is a nonprofit educational corporation dedicated to creating awareness of comics

This comic con in Anaheim, CA is running as I write. If you’ve already made it there, you’ll find it’s a fantastic place for American comics, anime screenings, cosplay and movies. Ticket prices are quite inexpensive starting at $20. It doesn’t have San Diego Comic Con’s intensity. But it has the same quality of vendors, a huge list of exhibitors including small and independent publishers, a packed Artist’s Alley, and fan club tables. Everyone should be happy at WonderCon 2017. Panels include Writing 101, Comic Book Law School, The Webcomics Gathering, Writing for Animation and lots of other exciting stuff for comic creators.

MegaCon, Orlando
(May 25-28, 2017)

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MegaCon Orlando is the South East’s largest comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming event

The family-run Megacon is bringing in celebrities like Mike Tyson, Tim Curry, James Marsters (and more Buffy stars) and creators like Stan Lee, J. Scott Campbell, Gail Simone, Skottie Young, Howard Chaykin, Paul Mounts, Michael Cho and more.

This convention also boasts cosplay guests, special gaming and sci-fi guests, and generally has something for every lover of pop culture.

Heroes Con
(June 16-18, 2017)

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HEROES CONVENTION was founded in 1982 by Shelton Drum, owner of Charlotte’s Heroes Aren’t Hard To Find comics shop

Heroes Con is great because it’s turning 35, but it’s still a medium sized convention. Which means, you actually get face time with your heroes at the artist’s and writers’ booths. It’s also the largest independent comic book convention. The comic con is known for its fantastic hospitality to guests. All good reasons to check it out. Besides, the guest list includes Neal Adams, Chris Burnham, Vanesa Del Rey, Jim Mahfood, Jim Rugg, Alison Sampson and other names you may not have heard of but can discover!

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The Small Press Expo is North America’s premiere independent cartooning and comic arts festival

The Small Press Expo is all about independent and small press comic books. This is one of my favorite expos, and I make it a point to fly to Maryland every year to discover new comic books and network. This expo is very creator-friendly. Retailers aren’t allowed booths, so you’ll be surrounded by a mine of independent publishers. I love the close-knit, friendly atmosphere of comic book lovers, creators and fans getting together to interact and chat about what they share a great love for.

New York Comic Con
(Oct 5-8, 2017)

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New York Comic Con is the East Coast’s biggest and most exciting popular culture convention

If you want to meet industry professionals and score a contract, the New York Comic Con is one of the best places to go. After all, the Big Apple is the headquarters of DC and Marvel. The convention is great for its American superhero comic focus. But of course, it’s also fandom friendly, no matter your tastes.

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Wizard World Comic Con produces pop culture conventions across North America

This convention holds events around the country. It’s good for comic creators and fans who can’t travel around the country. Again, it’s a pop-culture festival with equal focus on comics, movies and fantasy.

Fan Expo Canada
(Aug 31-Sept 3, 2017)

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FAN EXPO CANADA™ is the largest Comics, Sci-fi, Horror, Anime, and Gaming event in Canada

The Canadian expo is the biggest pop culture event in Canada. It goes on for four days, and if you can make it there you won’t be disappointed by the huge Artist’s Alley. It has seen some great artist celebrities like Stan Lee make appearances in the past.

International Comic Cons

If you’re anywhere abroad during these international conventions, or can fly out for them, do check out these comic cons with an international flavor.

MCM London Comic Con
(May 26-28, 2017)

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The MCM London Comic Con is a multi-genre fan convention held in the London Borough of Newham twice yearly, usually on the last weekend in May and October.

This is the UK’s biggest pop culture event. If you ignore the celebrities and get to the comic tables, you’ll find a host of exciting European comics from publishers of all sizes. If you’re ever in London around the time of the comic con, I highly recommend it for a look at how comics work across the Atlantic.

Comiket, Tokyo, Japan
(Aug 11-13, 2017)

Comiket

Comiket (コミケット Komiketto), otherwise known as the Comic Market (コミックマーケット Komikku Māketto), is the world’s largest dōjinshi fair, held twice a year in Tokyo, Japan.

Comiket is a huge bi-monthly comic market for lovers of manga. If you can read Japanese, or are such a die-hard fan that the language barrier doesn’t matter, you can check out the world’s largest manga market. You’ll find a lot of self-published work or Dojinshi as well as the usual commercial manga, anime and games. It’s a huge, crowded event and some people line up for days to get inside though things are changing.