San Diego Comic-Con Oral History Panel

Get back to the roots of San Diego Comic-Con with a special offsite panel that dives into the convention’s earliest days.

Set for Thursday, July 23 from 2pm-3pmat Bards & Cards in the Gaslamp, this “oral history alternapanel” promises a rare opportunity to hear directly from some of the surviving originators of the con, sharing firsthand stories about how Comic-Con came to life and evolved into the global pop culture powerhouse it is today.

The venue sits just a short walk from the San Diego Convention Center.

The panel is being organized by Mathew Klickstein, whose book See You at San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con compiles stories from the creators, artists, and fans who built the convention from the ground up, including Roger Freedman (1970’s committee member), Wendy All (1970’s committee member), Scott Smith (Director of Electronic Publicity), Clayton Moore (1970’s committee member), Gus Krueger (son of co-founder Ken Krueger), Barry Short (1980’s Program Director), and Dave Clark (co-originator).

And while he won’t be there in attendance, legendary cartoonist and illustrator Rick Geary — who created Comic-Con International’s Toucan mascot — designed the offsite panel flyer, and sends his regards.

More information still to be announced.