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Fans gather for a group photo outside of Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia.
DRagon con
Comic Book Conventions:
A Gathering of Fans
Ready to attend your first comic convention? Here’s how to make it happen.
By Spencer Carney
On Nov. 22, 2025, Heritage Auctions made headlines when it sold an unrestored copy of “Superman #1,” published in 1939, for a record-breaking $9.12 million. The sale was soon followed by yet another milestone: On Jan. 9, 2026, Metropolis Collectibles and ComicConnect announced that Action Comics #1 (which featured Superman’s first appearance) went for $15 million in a private sale. Let’s be real—these comics are worth more money than most people will see in a lifetime, but the anecdotes help illustrate the collectability of comics.
If you’re curious to see how popular comic books have become, look no further than your nearest comic book convention. The meet-ups that started in the 1960s as places where fans could buy, sell and trade comics have grown to become something much more. Today’s conventions still have plenty of comic books for sale, but they can be big affairs that have an almost carnival-like atmosphere and feature things like celebrity guests, costume contests, memorabilia, movie tie-ins and more.
Make your first visit to a
comic convention a success.
If you’d like to experience the excitement for yourself (or chaperone your kids), read on for the origin story of comics, a roundup of top conventions and helpful insider tips to make your first visit to a comic convention a success.
Comic Books: From Humble Beginnings to Cultural Phenomena
When the first American-style comic books appeared on newsstands in the early 1930s, many were simply forgettable collections of humorous strips that had previously appeared in newspapers. But the new comic book format proved popular with young readers and soon, publishers began putting out books telling original stories in a variety of genres. Historians refer to this as the golden age of comics, and it is most notable for producing and refining fantastic tales of fictional “super heroes” like Superman and Batman. Nearly a century later, comic books are still captivating readers of all ages and interests, and comic collecting is a hobby showing no signs of slowing.
Why Go to a Comic Book Convention?
A collective excitement fills the convention hall as dealers, creators and fans mingle. Here are some of the things you can do at a comic convention:
• Marvel at your surroundings and take in all the sights. (Comic book conventions are a great place to people watch and there may be costume contests.)
• Hunt for back issues, original art or memorabilia.
• Meet writers and artists. (Creators may sign autographs, sketch original artwork or even review a budding illustrator’s portfolio. Pros may speak at panel discussions.)
• Find out about upcoming series and/or TV and movie properties.
• Forge friendships with fellow fans and collectors.
Coming to a Convention Hall Near You
Comic conventions come in all sizes. The two biggest are in San Diego and New York. The New York Comic Con (NYCC) is the East Coast’s largest pop culture convention and runs Oct. 8–11, 2026. San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) is the largest convention of its kind in the world, with more than 130,000 attendees filling San Diego Convention Center to capacity July 22–26, 2026.
Here are 13 more top comic book shows, each in a different state and listed in the order they’ll take place in 2026:
MILWAUKEE COMIC CON
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Milwaukee’s longest running comic book and pop culture convention, Milwaukee Comic Con takes place Feb. 21 at Wisconsin State Fair Park.
megacon orlando
Orlando, Florida: With plenty of comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming and cosplay, MegaCon Orlando unfolds March 19–22 at Orange County Convention Center.
Chicago, Illinois: The only pop culture convention in the heart of downtown Chicago, Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) takes over McCormick Place, March 27–29.
sc comicon
Greenville, South Carolina: SC Comicon brings top creators in comics and celebrity guests to the Greenville Convention Center, April 11–12.
Minot, North Dakota: Featuring pop culture, comic books, gaming and more, iMagicon occurs April 24–26 at North Dakota State Fair Center.
Novi, Michigan: Cosplay contests, sketch duels and more happen at Motor City Comic Con, May 15–17 at Suburban Collection Showplace.
Denver, Colorado: Formerly Denver Comic Con, the new Fan Expo Denver celebrates fan culture May 28–31 at the Colorado Convention Center.
Falcon Heights, Minnesota: Billed as a “One-Day Wonder,” MNCBA SpringCon takes place June 6 at MN State Fairgrounds Education Building.
Charlotte, North Carolina: Famous for a family-friendly comics-oriented atmosphere, Heroes Convention Charlotte takes place June 12–14 at Charlotte Convention Center.
Knoxville, Tennessee: Fanboy Expo Knoxville features celebrity guests, comic industry pros, cosplay and more, July 10–12 at the Knoxville Convention Center.
Waterloo, Iowa: Meet artists, game designers, celebrities and special guests at Con-Quest, July 17–19 at Waterloo Convention Center at Sullivan Brothers Plaza.
Comic con nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska: Following a successful inaugural 2025 show, the second annual Comic Con Nebraska happens Aug. 8–9 at the Omaha Convention Center.
Dragon Con
Atlanta, Georgia: Highlighted by contests, events, special guests, workshops and an attendance of more than 80,000 people, Dragon Con comes to town Sept. 3–7 at several locations downtown.
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Tips for Your First Comic Convention
Chris Ferguson, an art director at comics publisher AWA Studios, has done design work for multiple conventions and attended dozens of shows. He’s got some practical advice for novices:
• Unless you’re attending in costume, dress for comfort; there’s a lot of walking involved.
• See if outside snacks and drinks are allowed, as food concessions can sometimes be pricey.
• With so much to do at a comic convention, give yourself plenty of time to explore it all.
• The last day of a weekend convention is the best day to try and get deals from vendors.
Gene Shanks has attended conventions as a fan, then as a vendor, and today he’s a creative vendor selling his own self-published comics (check out his work at IndyPlanet.com). Here are some lessons he’s learned:
• If you find a comic that you want, don’t be afraid to haggle. Many prices are negotiable.
• Cosplayers spend a lot of money and time making costumes of their favorite characters. Most are happy to pose for photographs, but ask permission before snapping your pics.
• Check the convention’s guest list to see which creators will be at the show and on what day(s).
• If you want to get a back issue signed by an artist or writer, don’t be surprised if they charge a fee. The average cost is around $10 a signature.
If you love comic books, pop culture and fan gatherings, a comic book convention might be the perfect place to let your imagination run wild.
Ready to plan your Comic Convention getaway? Get started today at AAA.com/TripCanvas.
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