San Diego Comic-Conis in full swing this weekend.
SDCC (sometimes known simply asComic-Con) is a celebration of many different aspects of geek culture.
A few decades ago, San Diego Comic-Con helped change that.
At the first Comic-Con in 1970 (then calledMinicon) only 300 people showed up.
That may not have been a huge gatheringespecially by todays standardsbut it was enough.
The first Comic-Cons sought to unite these disparate fan groups and let everyone celebrate their interests together.
With each new event, people all over had one new home to share their interests with like-minded people.
This year alone weve seen trailers fortwo newMarvelNetflix shows, and some amazing showcases ofSuicide Squad character costumes.
And thats just the first day.
Every year, companies crowd into the legendary Hall H to show off exclusive trailers for their upcoming movies.
These trailers almost inevitably leak.
Last year we caught the first previews and footage forSuicide Squad,X-Men: Apocalypse, andDeadpool.
Those are just the highlights, too.
There may be over 150,000 people at SDCC right now, but millions of us can watch together.
No matter what your interests, you’re able to find something catering to you.
This Convention Proves Geek Culture Is Everyones Culture
SDCC isnt the only important convention out there.
In fact, it could be argued that other, fan-oriented cons are more fun to attend.
I regularly go toDragon Conin Atlanta, one of the largest fan-run geek conventions and its a blast.
Its validating to be surrounded by so many people who justgetwhy you like the things you do.
Still, theres something special about SDCC.
Here, its not just that other fans are joining with you.Businessesare doing it.
Companies come from all over to share even the slightest tease in the hopes of pleasing the fans.
Sure, theyre doing it for money, but theyre doing it forourmoney.
Not so long ago, nerd culture was shunned and mocked.
If you were into things likecomic books,action figures, orsci-fi movies, people made fun of you.
Now, its not nerd culture anymore.
Its just pop culture.
News sites are plastered with coverage of things that used to be niche.
Our own sister sitesare on the groundcovering every cultural phenomenon.Game of Thronesis the biggest television show in history.
Marvelsmovie universeis the only film franchise ever to make more than $10 billion.
Even indie comics are turning intohit TV shows.
This kind of influence matters.
Every movie you watch employs hundreds of artists.
Every superhero you see on screeninspires some little kid somewhere(which is alsowhy representation matters).
Every time two people bond over a story, it brings down one more wall.
Photos by Getty Images.
