Big Apple Con

Now in its 28th year, the Big Apple Comic Con is the longest-running comic book/speculative fiction/pop culture convention in New York City. It was started by retailer Michael "Mike Carbo" Carbonaro in March 1996 in the basement of the St. Paul the Apostle Church.Johnston, Rich
"Big Apple Comic Con Moves to New Yorker Hotel With a Christmas Convention For December 14th,"
''Bleeding Cool'' (November 26, 2019). Having grown out of the church, between 1999 to 2008, the Big Apple Comic Con often featured multiple shows per year, with a large three-day "national" convention held in November, at the Metropolitan Pavilion and later at the Penn Plaza Pavilion. The show was sold to Wizard Entertainment in 2009 but was reacquired 2014 by Big Apple CC Corp (owned in part by Mr.Carbonaro) in 2014. Mr. Carbonaro says Wizard could not produce a successful show in NYC.

Over the course of its history, the convention has been known as the Big Apple Convention, the Big Apple Comic Book Art, and Toy Show, and the Big Apple Comic Book, Art, Toy & Sci-Fi Expo; with the larger three-day November shows known as the National Comic Book, Art, Toy, and Sci-Fi Expo, the National Comic Book, Art, and Sci-Fi Expo, and the National Comic Book, Comic Art, and Fantasy Convention. In 2014, the name "Big Apple Comic Con" was revived by Mr. Carbonaro for its March 2015 show.

In 2018 the Big Apple Comic Con moved from the decaying Penn Plaza (last show 2018) to the recently renewed 1929 Art Deco masterpiece New Yorker Hotel (now the Wyndham hotel).

Though it primarily focuses on comic books, the convention features a large range of pop culture elements, such as graphic novels, cinema, science fiction/fantasy, television, animation, anime, manga, toys, horror, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels. Along with panels, seminars, and workshops with comic book professionals, the Big Apple Comic Con often features previews of upcoming films, and such evening events as the costume contest hosted b y "Captain Zorikh" Lequidre.Romberger, James and Heidi MacDonald
"This weekend’s Big Apple brings comics history to programming with Royer, Fradon and more,"
''The Beat'' (April 11, 2018).

The convention regularly hosts hundreds of artists, exhibitors, and film and television personalities in a huge floorspace for exhibitors. The show includes autograph and photo op opportunities with all of the guests, as well as the Artists' Alley where comics artists can sign autographs and sell their work.

History

Antecedents

Major comic book conventions in New York City prior to the Big Apple Comic Con included Dave Kaler's Academy Con, which ran annually from 1965 to 1967; Phil Seuling's Comic Art Convention, which ran annually from 1968 to 1983 (Seuling died in 1984); and the large annual Creation conventions, usually taking place over the weekend following Thanksgiving from 1971 to 1987. (Creation sometimes put on as many as a half-dozen smaller New York City shows per year).Grant, Steven
"Permanent Damage: Issue #43,"
''Comic Book Resources'' (July 10, 2002). From 1993 to 1995, promoter Frederic Greenberg began hosting Great Eastern Conventions shows annually at venues including the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. (Great Eastern also ran shows in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.) Other companies, including Dynamic Forces, held New York City conventions, but all were on a smaller scale than the Seuling shows. Changes in the industry, popular culture, and the resurgent city itself since the troubled 1960s and '70s made large-scale comic-book conventions difficult to hold profitably. Jonah Weiland of ComicBookResources.com also noted that "... dealing with the various convention unions made it difficult for most groups to get a show off the ground."

Birth of the show

On February 29, 1996, just two days before it was to start, Fred Greenberg cancelled what had been advertised as a larger-than-usual Great Eastern show, scheduled for March 2–3 at the New York Coliseum, which the fan press had suggested"Newswatch: NYC Comics Convention Cancelled, Fans Irate," ''The Comics Journal'' #185 (Mar. 1996), pp. 18-19. might herald a successor to the 1968–1983 Comic Art Convention.Cloos, Art
"The Main Event: Convention Recap: Big Apple Comic Con"
''Scoop'' (after Sept. 26, 2021).

On the spur of the moment, comic book retailers Michael Carbonaro, Vince Gulla, and Vincent Zurzuolo, all of whom had planned to sell their wares at the Great Eastern show, mounted a substitute convention in the basement of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle.Pate, Bria
"Mike Carbonaro Retiring From Convention Promoting with Final 2012 NYCBM Show,"
Convention Scene (Mar. 30, 2012). The gathering — dubbed "ChurchCon," "Hallelujah Con," or "The Show Must Go On"Miller, John Jackson
"Capital Sale Tops Turbulent Year: The Top 10 Comics News Stories of 1996,"
''Comics Buyer's Guide'' #1210 (Jan. 24, 1997). Con — attracted over 4,000 attendees, most of whom had been planning to attend the scheduled Great Eastern Show. Thus was born the Big Apple Comic Con, thereafter produced by Mr. Carbonaro.

Growth

After the success of the initial 1996 show, Big Apple scheduled six separate conventions in 1997."Six Big Apple Cons Set for '97," ''Comics Buyer's Guide'' (Jan. 31, 1997), p. 8.

In 1998, Big Apple held three conventions, in March, April, and October.

In November 1999, (after a typical March show held at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle), Big Apple inaugurated the three-day "National Expo", held at the Metropolitan Pavilion on West 18th Street in Manhattan. The National Expo brought "together the National Comic Book, Comic Art and Fantasy Convention and the New York Toy, Sci-Fi and Collectible Show;" the larger annual National shows were held every year from 1999 until 2008; other shows (until 2004) continued to be held at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle.

Over the years, the Big Apple con attracted many comics creators and pop culture figures.

Heyday

By 2004 (which saw four separate shows), the convention had moved to the Penn Plaza Pavilion at the Hotel Pennsylvania.

Big Apple Comic Con was characterized as being in "growth mode" in 2005–2006, with five shows per year and an average attendance of about 8,000 guests per show.

Acquisition by Wizard Entertainment

In 2009, the Big Apple Comic Con was purchased by Gareb Shamus of Wizard Entertainment; Michael Carbonaro was retained as a senior adviser. The first show under Wizard was held October 2009 at Pier 94 in Manhattan.1010 WINS. New York. October 16, 2009, broadcast.

The acquisition of Big Apple Comic Con was part of a concerted push by Wizard's CEO Gareb Shamus to dominate the North American convention circuit, including acquiring the Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon. As part of that strategy, Wizard initially scheduled the 2010 Big Apple Comic Con for October 7–10, the exact same dates as the previously scheduled 2010 New York Comic Con, run by Reed Exhibitions. After a public outcry, Wizard later moved the dates of its 2010 New York convention to October 1–3.

Wizard held a new "Wizard World New York City Experience" show on June 28–30, 2013.

New York Comic Book Marketplace

In 2009, Michael Carbonaro established his own independent one-day convention known as the New York Comic Book Marketplace which ran annually through 2014.

Though not branded as a "Big Apple Convention" and not affiliated with Wizard World, some might consider the next iteration of the Big Apple Comic Con to have been held on March 31, 2012, at the Penn Plaza Pavilion. It was Michael Carbonaro's third New York Comic Book Marketplace, and (prematurely) announced as Carbonaro's final convention.Calmixx (March 28, 2012)
"Another Comic Book Era Comes to a Close..."
GeekPropaganda. The guest of honor was Stan Lee; other guests included George Pérez, Joe Sinnott, Dick Ayers, Carmine Infantino, Jim Steranko, Irwin Hasen, Mike Royer, Arthur Suydam, Bob McLeod, Rich Buckler, and Johnny Brennan, and Captain Zorikh's costume contest.

Mr. Carbonaro held another NYCBM at the Hotel Pennsylvania on April 13, 2013."Mike Carbo's NYCBM"
LiveJournal. Retrieved March 17, 2013.

Reacquisition by Mike Carbonaro/Big Apple CC Corp (BACC)

Mr. Carbonaro, as front person for the newly formed Big Apple CC Corp reacquired the convention from Wizard in 2014. The first show after regaining the BACC name, dubbed the "20th Anniversary Return of the Big Apple Convention," was held March 7, 2015, at the Penn Plaza Pavilion. In December of 2015, BACC partnered with Frank Patz to produce the New York Winter Comic & Sci-Fi Expo, was held at the Resorts World Casino New York in Jamaica, New York.

With the holiday-themed December 2019 iteration of the show, the Big Apple Comic Con moved locations to the New Yorker Hotel."Big Apple Christmas Con holds holiday party Dec.14,"
''Amsterdam News'' (December 5, 2019). The 2020 show, scheduled for April 4–5, was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. On July, 17th 2021 the BACC "25th Anniversary Prequel" was the first in-person comic convention held in New York City as it reopened after the pandemic, and September 25–26, the Big Apple Comic Con held its Silver Anniversary show;

Since post Covid 2012, now a fixture of the New Yorker Hotel, the BACC has hosted 5 events beginning March 26, 2022, an annual "Christmas Con" in December (in 2024 called "Holiday Con"), and (along with promoter Laz Rivero) the first Big Apple Trading Card Show, held on January 29, 2022, at the New Yorker Hotel. The trading card show featured baseball, football, basketball, Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering cards, and more."BIG APPLE TRADING CARD SHOW to host largest trading card show in New York City History this Saturday, January 29th!"
''Yahoo! Finance'' (January 24, 2022).

Criticism

Comics creator Evan Dorkin was a critic of the Big Apple Con. He singled out the November 2008 show in particular as "the worst convention I've ever had the displeasure to sit through", for the lackluster celebrity guests, the lack of floor plan guides for attendees, inconsistently-functioning restrooms, elevator, and escalators, the poorly performing volunteer staff, and an overall seedy, flea market atmosphere of rude dealers, creators inattentive to fans, and attendees who were disproportionately male. Dorkin, who vowed never to return to the venue, also singled out the cramped space of the venue, in particular Artist's Alley, which he speculated may have constituted a fire hazard.Dorkin, Evan (November 16, 2008)
"National Tragedy"
. LiveJournal

Similarly, journalist Heidi MacDonald criticized the Penn Plaza Pavilion location as "eight pounds of sh-t in a five-pound bag." Journalist Rich Johnston said the conventions held there were "a little cramped and hot, but I still thoroughly enjoyed hem"

Dorkin was describing his personal experience at an event in 2008, before the sale of the Big Apple Comic Convention to Wizard. Ms. MacDonald who is a great friend of the BACC, and a guest at the 2024 event, was describing the convention space, and how it was choking the potential of the show.

Mr. Carbonaro, who apologized to Mr. Dorkin at the time, has said that one of the key reasons for the sale to Wizard World was the lack of quality space available for comic book conventions in NYC, and issues with the management of the Penn Plaza.The return of the newly reformed BACC to the Penn Plaza in 2015 included the 18th floor of the Pennsylvania Hotel and a revamped relationship with Penn management. Still unsatisfied, the BACC had its first show in the New Yorker in 2017 and moved out of the Penn Plaza definitively in 2018.

Fans positive response to the BACC, offers a good idea of the excitement, fun, and intimate atmosphere of a comic convention that caters to contact and really having time to meet the guests. 82% of fan responses on the shows Facebook page are positive.

Roland Edwards writing on the BACC Facebook page in 2019: "I was impressed by how well big name guests like William Shatner and Kathleen Turner were treated...The venue is intimate and conveniently located near mass transit. The small staff of volunteers kept up with the demand. The vendors I spoke with at the end said they had a good show (made money)."

Dan Rovira, also on the BACC Facebook in 2019: "I have been going to the Big Apple Con for some 9 years and I have always found it to be terrific . . . the guest artists for comics are superb. I am looking forward this March to attend. I highly recommend this outstanding convention."

Tidarut Hansub-Udom in 2021 wrote: "It was my first time going and I had a lot of fun. Great vendors, artists, guests, panels and gaming area. Everyone is very friendly, which makes the environment more accepting for all attendees."

BACC's move to the New Yorker was a sea change for the event. Spacious, but intimate, scrupulously (Wyndham) clean the response from guests and audience has been overwhelmingly positive. Ming Chen, "I just love the Big Apple Comic Con," Jim Steranko a regular guest at the show since the days of St Paul's Church: "It is my favorite real comic con."

Dates and locations

See also

* List of comic book conventions

Notes

References

External links

*
*

''It Came From The Radio''
— official radio show of Big Apple Comic Con, hosted by Sunburst creator Mark Torres, with co-hosts Senior Correspondent Charlie Saladino; model, actress, stand-up comedian, and producer El Man Jenny Feldy; and Dominic Sparano

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Recurring events established in 1996
1996 establishments in New York City
Culture of Manhattan
Comics conventions in the United States
Conventions in New York City