About this time of year I start getting excited about attending my favorite comic con...   Yeah, it's the one we older fans still call the San Diego Comic Con, (SDCC) although the name has been changed to 'Comic Con International', (CCI).

I've blogged about the early history of this comic con in the past, but I'll repeat a little history of it that ties in with my earliest years at this con...

There was an initial mini-con that was a one day affair held March 1970 to raise funds for the then upcoming 3-day con.  I did not know of this mini-con and thus did not attend.

The 1st 'true' SDCC, then called the Golden State Comic-Con was held August 1st-3rd 1970 at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego.

I heard about this very late from a co-worker at the San Diego Zoo who knew I was into comics, and was able to attend on the last day, late in the day, after leaving work early. My memories of this event are not totally clear as it was my first realization that there were actually comics fans like me in the San Diego area!  That was a shock! Total approximate account of attendees was 300, yes only 300!

The 2nd SDCC, still called the Golden State Comic-Con, was held in 1971 at Muir College, UCSD Campus in San Diego. I was still working at the San Diego Zoo, had completed my first year at college, and either did not hear about the Con, or was too busy working.  Additionally the 'North' San Diego area where UCSD was not in my normal area of traveling to.  I had a more 'provincial' attitude in those days.  Heck, North San Diego was considered a long way off from the South Bay where I lived, even though gas was like 25 cents a gallon???  Attendance at the 2nd Con was approximately 800 persons.

Long time blog readers will then know that I first set up at this comic back in 1972 when I bought out another dealer at the Con when it was held at the El Cortez Hotel.  This Con was the 3rd San Diego's West Coast Comic-Con, (renamed), and was held August 18-20th, 1972.  

The following year I paid for a table early and exhibited when the Con was held at the Sheraton Hotel on Harbor Island in San Diego.  It was this 4th con when it was renamed to the 'San Diego Comic Con'.

Well, the reason I am blogging down memory lane this morning is because the Comic Con International has decided to also write about its' history!  With a 40 Year History to draw from, the Con has released info on the book it has available for pick-up at this Year's Con.

Here is a little bit on what the book is about: 

"The massive 208-page, 9x12 full-color book features over 620 images from the 40-year history of Comic-Con. Most of the art has not been seen since its initial publication in Comic-Con's program and souvenir books, and the majority of the photos have never been seen outside of the Comic-Con archives. And sprinkled throughout the book are quotes and observations from leading professionals in comics, movies, and television, commenting on their own experiences at the show.

The whole package is capped off with an amazing new full-color wraparound cover by one of Comic-Con's favorite special guests: Sergio Aragonés. Masterfully colored by Tom Luth!

Advance sale books are $31.99 and includes CA Sales tax, but are only available to those attending Comic-Con 2009 and must be picked up on site during the convention. Unfortunately at this time Comic-Con cannot ship the book. All orders for pick up must be received by Monday, July 13, 2009.

Books will also be for sale at Comic-Con (provided books are still available) for the cover price of $40.00 + CA Sales tax."

Trust me on this one folks... This is will be a book You will treasure for year if You have ever been part of this Con's 40 Years of history! What a keepsake this will be!

For more info on the Comic Con International, including how to pre-order and pick up the book at the con, please see the web site at:  http://www.comic-con.org

Here at Make It So Marketing's Blog, we post daily on comics and pop culture news and events.  Check out our daily blog posts, new listings of comics, graphic novels, Comic Con exclusives and more pop culture items for sale including Steve Ditko Comics in our online Store! 

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!!