L.A. Comic Con is a three-day multi-genre convention"Comic-Con vs. Anime Expo: Our Picks". LA Weekly July 30, 2010 held annually in downtown Los Angeles, California. L.A. Comic Con is one of the largest independent conventions in the United States"Exclusive Interview with Los Angeles Comic Con CEO Chris DeMoulin". Temple of Geek October 16, 2019 and encompasses several categories, including comics, horror, sci-fi, anime, gaming, and pop culture, with a particular focus on the local Los Angeles community.
The convention was founded as Comikaze Expo in 2011"COMIKAZE EXPO 2011". LA Weekly November 6, 2011 by Regina Carpinelli and her two younger brothers, fans of geek culture from Temecula, California."Regina Carpinelli: Entrepreneur at a Young Age, Now a Superwoman" . Formidable Woman Magazine June 22, 2019 The convention went through several rebrandings – first to "Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo" and then "Stan Lee's LA Comic Con"."Stan Lee Reintroduces His L.A. Convention: New Name, Even Greater Ambitions" September 28, 2016"Stan Lee's LA Comic Con Brings Huge Costumed Crowd To Downtown" October 31, 2016 L.A. Comic Con is also known as "LACC""Stan Lee's Legacy Lives On at Los Angeles Comic Con" October 14, 2019 and is often described as "A convention created by fans, for fans."
Originally founded as an event to showcase local Los Angeles talent, the first Comikaze Expo in 2011 primarily featured local artists, comic book publishers and dealers, and various celebrity appearances including horror icon Elvira."Comikaze Expo Presents Horror Icon Elviras Farewell Convention Appearance". Review Fix October 11, 2011 The convention has grown since then to include a wider variety of entertainment and popular cultures including fantasy, horror, comic books, manga, western animation, toys, and video games. The Con has grown in size every year, starting with 35,000 attendees in 2011"10 Guests I Am Excited To See At Stan Lees LA Comic Con 2017".geekXpop September 30, 2017 and expanding to over 123,000 attendees in 2019. The convention has drawn big names to match its big crowds, with celebrities like Elijah Wood,"EVENT PICK: L.A. COMIC CON". LA Weekly October 9, 2019 Ron Perlman, Gabriel Iglesias,". Epic Geekdom October 24, 2019 Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson,"Watch Stan Lee Introduce The Rock At LA Comic Con". ComicBook.com October 29, 2017 and Gerard Way"L.A. Comic Con brings fan favorites to the Los Angeles Convention Center". Temple of Geek2019-09-16 attending in years' past.
History Regina Carpinelli and her two younger brothers, fans of geek culture from Temecula, California, were regular attendees of San Diego Comic-Con."Regina Carpinelli: Our Fearless Comikaze Queen". Defective Geeks October 21, 2011 After moving to Los Angeles, Regina Carpinelli decided that the city needed a large-scale comic book convention."About L.A. Comic Con" . April 22, 2015. The three Carinellis set up Comikaze Entertainment Inc. and started out to organize one.
The first event, called Comikaze Expo, was held on November 5–6, 2011 in the Kentia Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The large exhibitor space featured local artists, tattoo artists, comic book dealers, comic book publishers, press vendors, designers and collectibles merchants. There was an Artists' Alley where celebrities and artists signed autographs and sold portraits. Traditional contests and gaming tournaments included the Cosplay Contest, the Masquerade, Magic The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, Warhammer, and several original Nintendo games. There were also panels featuring various celebrities,. Screen Invasion, by Karin Abcarians - October 11, 2016 reunions, and upcoming feature films. Among the events was horror icon Elvira's last convention appearance. There were about 35,000 attendees throughout the weekend.
In 2012, veteran creator Stan Lee and his company, POW! Entertainment, as well as Cassandra Peterson (better known as Elvira), formed a partnership with Comikaze Expo, and the convention was rebranded as Stan Lee's Comikaze."Stan Lee launches his own comic convention" . Geekout That same year, Advanstar joined Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo as a strategic partner, taking on the event's "back end" work managing deals with unions, the convention center, and other "business" aspects of the show."Advanstar Partners With Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo". Folio Magazine June 12, 2012
The 2012 show was held in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, and featured about 600 artists and vendors, including gaming publisher Activision, who launched several new games. New activities included a 75,000 sg ft Zombie Apocalypse obstacle course, a Quidditch pitch, and a NERF dart battle hosted by Max Landis. Panel discussions were displayed on a 14 ft jumbotron, including Kevin Smith, a live version of Fatman on Batman with Adam West, a version of the Dating Game with Adrianne Curry, and a Q&A with Stan Lee and Todd McFarlane.Clark, Noelene (September 13, 2012). "Stan Lee's Comikaze: Elvira, Quidditch, zombies and more".Esposito, Joey (September 13, 2012). "Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo Rethinks Conventions". That year the show had about 50,000 attendees.Hughes, Mark. "Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo A Rousing Success". Forbes, September 21, 2012
In September 2013, a reality show, Fangasm, premiered on SyFy. The show followed the experiences of seven pop culture fans as they lived together in a Los Angeles apartment building and interned at Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo, vying for his attention and approval. The show was hosted by Regina Carpinelli."FANGASM BOSS REGINA CARPINELLI TALKS UPCOMING COMIKAZE EXPO" . Agents of Geek October 8, 2013
In 2014 the show introduced Club Nokia, a free Cosplay Dance party for its attendees.
For the 2016's edition, the convention was renamed Stan Lee's L.A. Comic Con."Is SDCC launching a San Francisco Comic-Con?". Comics Beat, April 11, 2016, by Heidi MacDonald The show continued to include panel discussions on a variety of topics,"Super powers meet higher power at Comic Con". Jewish Journal, by Allyson Gronowitz, November 2, 2016 and an all-night dance party."Stan Lee's Los Angeles Comic Con: Behold the Cosplay! (Photos)". The Wrap, Catrina Dennis | October 31, 2016
L.A. Comic Con 2018 was dubbed LACC's "Octoversary", as the eighth show in the convention's history. The show featured a celebration of Fangoria, a horror film magazine. Elijah Wood appeared at the con to promote SpectreVision's film "Mandy","28 Of The Coolest Events Happening In Southern California This Weekend". LAist October 25, 2018 and attendees also got a private screening of "Mandy". Tenacious D appeared on a main stage panel for a Q&A about Post-Apocalypto."TENACIOUS D POST-APOCALYPTO ZONE AT LA COMIC-CON" . IHEARTCOMIX October 19, 2018 The cast of Marvel's "Agents of Shield" also held a main stage panel, as did Marvel's Runaways."LA Comic Con Welcomes Marvel's Runaways and More". The Nerd Element October 1, 2018
In 2019, L.A. Comic Con continued expanding its show floor by adding more programming and event categories, leading the show to be described as "one of the most diverse celebrations of pop culture in Los Angeles.""The L.A. Comic Con 2019 Experience". Nerdbot October 16, 2019
The 2019 con saw the addition of a full "Horror" section to the con and over 800 exhibitors. New exhibits included a Jay and Silent Bob Reboot photo op with Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes in front of the 30 ft Quick Stop Facade"Jay and Silent Bob take over L.A. Comic Con". PixelatedGeek September 20, 2019 an exhibition of famous automobiles from the Petersen Automotive Museum"2019 LA Comic Con". Samurai Josh November 28, 2019 and a live wrestling event with Women of Wrestling.". AXS October 11, 2019 LG Display had an activation on the exhibit floor with an OLED TV Truck on the convention floor."LG Display Kicks Off OLED Truck Tour in the U.S". HDTVTest September 26, 2019 On Friday October 11, the first night of L.A. Comic Con, KROQ's Stryker and Klein broadcast live from the LACC VIP Lounge for 4 hours."KROQ LIVE DJING FROM LOS ANGELES COMIC CON ON FRIDAY". Nerd News Social October 10, 2019
Programming L.A. Comic Con is often described as a convention "by fans, for fans," largely because of its reputation for being communicative with their attendees and incorporating fan requests into the convention's programming. LA Comic Con 2019 made several major programming decisions based on convention attendees' responses to an email survey, including adding a horror section to the convention and bringing in the casts of The Office and SpongeBob SquarePants."L.A. Comic Con brings fan favorites to the Los Angeles Convention Center". Temple of Geek September 16, 2019
In addition to their focus on fan-friendly programming, L.A. Comic Con also prides itself as being a family-friendly event. The convention is open for free to children 12 and under with an adult who has a 1-Day or 3-Day badge."L.A. Comic Con Guide: What To Do, See, and Buy At This Year's Con". 93.1 Jack FMl October 9, 2019 The convention also has an annual tradition of hosting an Indoor Trick-Or-Treat event on Sundays for children 12 and under for The Indoor Trick-Or-Treat event traditionally goes on for two hours' on the 3rd and final day of the con. Children can trick-or-treat at any of the convention's booths or tables."What to See and Do at L.A. Comic Con: A Guide to the Film Events, Cosplay and Panels"."Los Angeles Downtown News' '2019-10-10
L.A. Comic Con 2019 included programming driven by major feature films, including a main stage panel for the feature film "Zombieland: Double Tap" with the cast and director of the film"Zombieland: Double Tap Excites Los Angeles Comic Con" . "Los Angeles Downtown News" October 15, 2019 and an early pre-release screening for convention attendees."Los Angeles Comic Con: Early Screening of Zombieland Double Tap (NO SPOILERS)". "Convention.Life" October 18, 2019
L.A. Comic Con 2019 had several high-profile main stage panels. There were several cast reunions, including a "Hellboy" reunion with Ron Perlman and Doug Jones,"2019 LA Comic Con Recap: 'Hellboy' reunion and Stan Lee tributes dominate one nerdy weekend". "The Burn-In" October 18, 2019 a reunion panel with the cast of "The Office" and a reunion of the cast of "X-Men: The Animated Series"."LA ComicCon 2019: X-Men: The Animated Series Reunion". "That's My Entertainment" October 16, 2019
Other 2019 programming included a panel interview with the Incredible Hulk's Lou Ferrigno and Flash Gordon's Sam Jones,"Los Angeles Comic Con 2019 Highlights". "Gender Biased Reviews' ' 2019-10-11 The Ultimate Spider-Man's Drake Bell"Drake Bell Talks Spider-Man, Drake and Josh + More With Stryker & Klein". "Stryker & Klein" 2019-10-11 a main-stage panel with the cast of Steven Universe"Unconventional Wisdom: Asian Americans Take On Los Angeles Comic Con". "Character Media' '2019-10-26 and the cast of the film Daniel Isn't Real.
L.A. Comic Con also hosts the Annual National Cosplay Championship. The inaugural cosplay competition took place in 2015"Comikaze Attendance Rose 21% In 2015; See Cosplay Gallery". "Forbes" November 6, 2015 The National Cosplay Championship has reoccurred at L.A. Comic Con every year,"STAN LEE'S LA COMIC CON NATIONAL COSPLAY COMPETITION 2016". "CostumeBiz.net" October 31, 2016"Stan Lee's L.A. Comic Con Wraps Up Weekend of Comics, Cosplay, and Fun" . "KKSM AM 1320" November 2, 2017"Everything You Need To Know About This Weekend's Los Angeles Comic Con". "The Con Guy" October 26, 2018 with the fifth Annual Cosplay National Championship at the 2019 L.A. Comic Con being officially presented by Disney's "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil"."What to See and Do at L.A. Comic Con: A Guide to the Film Events, Cosplay and Panels"."Los Angeles Downtown News" October 10, 2019
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