Wandering the halls of Moscone South in San Francisco, one thing is clear: art and design still matter in a culture of characters--even though the storytelling industry is big business.
The showroom floor was packed Friday afternoon, and for the most part, it's low-tech. Artists draw with pen and ink, and the aisles of comics have that old paper smell.
There are figures, shirts, comics, and books. The crowd is expected to surpass the 34,000 attendees in 2009.
In the 1970s, a hit comic from DC or Marvel might sell 300,000 copies. These days a popular title would be considered a huge success if it hit 50,000 copies mark.
He sketched this really cool little guy for me.
Major comic publishers, including DC, Dark Horse, IDW, Image, and Oni Press, are here, plus scores of dealers selling comic books, original art, books, memorabilia, and action figures.
She was one of dozens of costumed attendees at WonderCon, where fans frequently take on the style and personality of their favorite movie, comic, and video game characters.