Montreal Comiccon

Montreal Comiccon Le Comiccon de Montréal
Montreal Comiccon logo (2011-)
Status	Active
Venue	Place Bonaventure (2006-2011) Palais des Congrès (2012-)
Location(s)	Montreal, Quebec
Country	Canada
Inaugurated	2006
Attendance	60,000 in 2016
Organized by	Major Comics and other affiliated comic book stores
Website
http://www.montrealcomiccon.com

The Montreal Comiccon (French: Le Comiccon de Montréal), under its current form, was launched in 2006 as "Montreal Comic-Con". The event features comic books, toys, games, science-fiction, horror, anime, non-sport cards and collectibles. It is held 2 times a year at the Palais des Congrès convention center in downtown Montreal, with the larger "Comic-Con" taking place in July over the course of 3 days and a smaller "Mini-Con" being held in the winter; also over the course of 3 days.

Special guests, artists, exhibitors and special contests make the Comiccon suitable for children and adults. The September 2012 edition featured guests such as William Shatner (Star Trek), Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Malcolm McDowell^[1] ("A Clockwork Orange"), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and other special guests.

The Montreal Comiccon strives to become a fan convention with multi-genre content, with focus on comics, sci-fi, horror, anime and games. While sharing common traits with San Diego's Comic-Con International , the Montreal Comiccon differentiates itself by offering a variety of attractions catering to both the anglophone and francophone population markets of Montreal, and bridging the gap between American comics and European bande dessinée with crossborder and overseas guests and attractions.

Programming

As with most other comics conventions, the Montreal Comiccon offers a select range of activities, exhibits, and other attractions. Comiccon's programming consists of a large Dealers Room, an Artists Alley, a costume contest, a trading-card games area and Guest panels. New to 2010 are film screenings, Guest photo sessions and a Masquerade. 2011 sees the introduction of additional photo booths, structured autograph line-up barriers, a larger main events stage and dedicated panels/screenings rooms.

History

View of the main hall during the 2012 edition

The Montreal Comiccon held its first edition in 2006 at the Place Bonaventure exhibition center. From 2006 to 2010, the Comiccon was held in room 200-N, a low-ceiling windowless exhibition hall beneath the main hall. Due to 2010's outstanding success, the 2011 show was moved to Place Bonaventure's main hall to accommodate the increased attendance, giving them about three times more space to move around.

The 2012 Montreal Comiccon was held on the weekend of September 14–16, 2012. Due to unexpected demand from the 2011 event, the Montreal Comiccon expanded to a full three days in 2012. The Comiccon also changed venue in 2012, from Place Bonaventure to newer and larger convention facilities at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.

The Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Organization agreed in principle with the organizers of the Montreal Comiccon and presented the 8th Annual Joe Shuster Awards in conjunction with the event on the evening of Saturday, September 15, 2012.^[2]

Due to growing attendance rates, the 2015 event will be held in July instead of September in order to use the entire floor space of the Palais des congrès.^[3]

The organizers run a smaller 1-day convention in December called the "Mini-Comiccon". The 2012 Mini-Comiccon was held on Saturday, December 8 at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal. It offered smaller selections of guests, dealers and artists, but offered at the same time more opportunities throughout the year for fans to purchase comics, meet celebrities and wear costumes, among other things. The admission prices were also lower. The organizational structure remained the same as the main September 3-day edition, but with slightly less staff and volunteers.

Dates and locations

Note: Only September/July editions are shown here.

Dates	Location	Attendance (turnstile)	Notable guests	Notes
September 2006	Place Bonaventure Montreal, Quebec	...	...	First edition.
September 15–16, 2007	Place Bonaventure Montreal, Quebec	700	...	...
September 13–14, 2008	Place Bonaventure Montreal, Quebec	1,100	...	...
September 19–20, 2009	Place Bonaventure Montreal, Quebec	4,000	Lou Ferrigno, Jeremy Bulloch and Honky Tonk Man, with Brad Swaile.	Brad Swaile was one of the first anime/manga guests to be invited to Comiccon.
September 11–12, 2010	Place Bonaventure Montreal, Quebec	8,300	Brent Spiner, Billy Dee Williams, Peter Mayhew, Ethan Van Sciver, Darick Robertson, Leonard Kirk, Herb Trimpe, Dale Eaglesham, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Larry Hama, Tim Sale, Kirby Morrow.	Last time the main September edition was held in room 200-N. High attendance numbers prompts the organizers to move to the main hall.
September 17–18, 2011	Place Bonaventure Montreal, Quebec	20,000+	Stan Lee (Guest of Honour), Adam West, Burt Ward, James Marsters, Doug Bradley, Sid Haig, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, David Prowse (canceled), Clare Kramer, Mercedes McNab, Jeremy Bulloch, Maria de Aragon, Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Noelle Hannibal, Neal Adams, Josh Adams, Sergio Aragonés, Jim Starlin (canceled), Stan Sakai, Gail Simone, Joe Benitez, Pia Guerra, Ian Boothby, Herb Trimpe, Dale Eaglesham, Vic Mignogna, Lillyxandra, KellyJane, TealPirate, Dany, Sgt Slaughter, Rick Martel, Todd van der Heyden.[4]	First time the main September edition was held in the main hall. Attendance reaches facility limit and Montreal Fire Marshal's office halts ticket sales for three hours on Saturday.
September 14–16, 2012	Palais des congrès de Montréal Montreal, Quebec	32,000[5]	Patrick Stewart (Guest of Honour), William Shatner (Guest of Honour), Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner, John de Lancie, Malcolm McDowell, James Marsters, Nicholas Brendon, Laura Vandervoort, Mike Mignola, Gunnar Hansen, Lloyd Kaufman, Kevin Sorbo, Ben Templesmith, Frank Cho, Eddie McClintock, Aaron Ashmore, Sam Huntington, Kristen Hager, Bryan Perro, Gavin Blair, Elias Toufexis, Jean-Pierre Talbot, Heroes of the North, the cast of Being Human, Patrick Sénécal, Maxime Martin, Julie du Page, Véronique Tremblay, Rémy Couture, Johnny Yong Bosh, George Pérez, Jim Starlin, Tim Sale, Darwyn Cooke, David Finch, Richard Starkings, Yanick Paquette, Karl Kerschl, Lar Desouza, Ryan Sohmer, Dan Parent, Kelly Tindall, Geof Isherwood, Marvin Mariano, Ray Fawkes, Aislin.[6]	Change of venue. First edition to be a 3-day event.
September 13–15, 2013	Palais des congrès de Montréal Montreal, Quebec	42,000+[7]	Gillian Anderson (Guest of Honour), Christopher Lloyd (Guest of Honour), George Takei, Sean Astin, Jason Mewes, Felicia Day, Edward James Olmos, James Callis, Michael Hogan, Tahmoh Penikett, Jason Mamoa, Jason David Frank, Margot Kidder, Lou Ferrigno, Mick Foley, Kevin Nash, Chris Jericho, Maryse Ouellet, Bret Hart, Becky Cloonan, Neal Adams, Theresa Tilly, Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Frazer Hines, Ray Park, Manu Bennett.	...
September 12–14, 2014	Palais des congrès de Montréal Montreal, Quebec	51,000[8]	Patrick Stewart, Colin Baker, Stephen Amell, Hulk Hogan, Katie Sackhoff, Tricia Helfer, Karl Urban, George A. Romero, Amy Dumas, Trish Stratus, Jimmy Hart, Brent Spiner, Danny Glover, Denise Crosby, Gates McFadden, John de Lancie, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Marina Sirtis, Michael Dorn, Nick Bradshaw, Simon Bisley,[9]	...
July 3–5, 2015	Palais des congrès de Montréal Montreal, Quebec	...	Guests of Honour: Billie Piper, John Barrowman, Karen Gillan, and Ron Perlman. Featured Guests: Gwendoline Christie, Jason Momoa, Caitlin Blackwood, David Ramsey, Aislin, Alex A., Darwyn Cooke, Doug Bradley, Eve Myles, Francis Manapul, Garrett Wang, George Mihalka, Giancarlo Esposito, Graham McTavish, Hayley Atwell, J. August Richards, Jacques Lamontagne, Jae Lee, James O'Barr, Jeffrey Combs, Jewel Staite, Joe Flanigan, Josh McDermitt, Kane Hodder, Kevin Smith, Mark Meer, Mark Pellegrino, Michael Golden, Michael Rooker, Michel Falardeau, Mike Rooth, Mitch Pileggi, Neal Adams, Raphael Sbarge, Road Warrior Animal, Ron Simmons, Scott Wilson, Sean Gunn, Steve Blum, Steve Cardenas, Veronica Taylor, and Whilce Portacio. Other Guests: 2 Cold Scorpio, Alexandre Fontaine Rousseau, Andy Bélanger, Ariane-Li Simard-Côté, Arthur Suydam, Béatrice Picard, Becky Cloonan, Ben Templesmith, Benoît Rousseau, Canadian Dalek Empire, Cathon, Charles Martinet, Dan Parent, Dave Ross, DeLorean Time Machine, Denis Rodier, Doctor Who Society of Canada, Ecto-1, Eric Talbot, Ethan Van Scriver (postponed), Frédéric Antoine, Frédéric Millaire-Zouvi, Francois Lapierre, Front Froid, Gabriel Lessard, Gabriel Morrissette, Gautier Langevin, Geof Isherwood, Gilbert Lachance, Heroes of the North, Hubert Gagnon, Hugolin Chevrette-Landesque, Ivy Doomkitty, Jacques, Samson, James Raiz, Jean-Baptiste Monge, Jean-Dominic Leduc, Jim Su, Johanne Léveillé, Julie Rocheleau, Karibu, Kelly Tindall (postponed), Kevin Maguire, LARPs: The Series, Les Apatrides, Maël Davan-Soulas, Mandalorian Mercs, Marco Rudy, Michel Lacombe, Michel Viau, Mike Zeck, Monika Lee, Montreal's Wolverine, Nick Bradshaw, Olivier Carpentier, Philippe Martin, Quebec Ghostbusters, Quebec Imperial Fortress, Renee Witterstaetter, Richard Suicide, Riddle, Samuel Cantin, Scott Kolins, Simon Fontaine, Sophie Bédard, Stéphanie Leduc, Tarek, Thierry Labrosse, Ty Templeton, Vincent Pompetti, Wolverine and the Montreal X-Men, Yan Mongrain, Yanick Paquette, Yohann Morin, and Zviane.	Change of month.
July 8-10, 2016	Palais des congrès de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec	56,000[10]	Guests of Honor: John Barrowman, Kate Mulgrew, Tom Felton, and William Shatner. Featured Guests: Alfonso Ribeiro, Amy Matysio, Arryn Zech, Billy Dee Williams, Bob Layton, Bob Morley, Brent Spiner, Brett Dalton, Cary Elwes, Cary Nord, Chris Sarandon, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, David Lloyd, Elias Toufexis, Eliza Dushku, Eric Bischoff, Ernie Hudson (postponed), Francis Manapul, Greg Land, Jeik Dion, Jessica Nigri, Leo Fafard, Liam McIntyre, Linda Ballantyne, Manu Bennett, Marcus To, Michael Golden, Michael Ironside, Mike Grell, Morena Baccarin (postponed), Neal Adams, Nichelle Nichols, Peter Cullen, Ric Flair, RKSS, Robin Lord Taylor, Ryan Hurst, Scott Hall (postponed), Summer Glau, Toby Proctor, Tom Grummett, Vic Mignogna, and Yaya Han. Other Guests: '67 Impala, Andy Bélanger, Brendan McKeigan, Bryan Perro, Bumblebee (1997 Camaro), Canadian Dalek Empire, Dan Parent, Dave Ross, Djibril Morissette, Doctor Who Society of Canada, Ecto-1, Emersen Ziffle, Eric Talbot, Fernando Ruiz, Gabriel Morrissette, Gautier Langevin, Gisèle Lagacé, Greg Hyland, Jamie Tyndall, Jason Hatrick, Jean-Baptiste Monge, Jeep 12, Jimmy Suzan, Joë Tbo, K.I.T.T., Kamui Cosplay, Kirsten Finch, Kristen Hughey, Lowell Dean, Mandalorian Mercs, Marco Rudy, Marguerite Sauvage, Mel Gosselin, Mike Rooth, Nick Bradshaw, Noelle Hannibal, Olivier Carpentier, Paul Ash, Quebec Ghostbusters, Quebec Imperial Fortress, Rémi Maynègre, Renee Witterstaetter, Richard Comely, Richard Pace, Robert Bailey, Rossi Gifford, Stéphanie Leduc, The DeLorean, Thierry Labrosse, Tim Riel, Ty Templeton, Wolverine and the Montreal X-Men, Yanick Paquette, and Youppi!	...
July 7-9, 2017	Palais des congrès de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec	TBD	TBA

See also

View of the main hall during the 2011 edition

• List of comic book conventions
• Otakuthon, Montreal's anime convention
• Fan Expo Canada in Toronto, Canada's largest multigenre convention
• Ottawa Comiccon in Ottawa

References

1. "One on One with Malcolm McDowell". About.com Montreal. Retrieved 2015-01-20.
2. "2012 Joe Shuster Awards". joeshusterawards.com. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
3. https://www.facebook.com/MontrealComiccon/photos/a.370255381887.153620.161293941887/10152468218086888/?type=1&theater
4. "Montreal Comiccon 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2011-09-14.
5. As per MCC's Twitter feed Twitter Feed.
6. "Comiccon de Montréal 2012 Convention Information @ AnimeCons". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-06-26.
7. As per MCC's Facebook Page.
8. https://www.facebook.com/MontrealComiccon/photos/a.10150603290146888.389730.161293941887/10152465312496888/?type=1&theater
9. Our Guests
10. http://www.montrealcomiccon.com/en/news/122-56-000-fans-attend-epic-8th-edition/

External links

Official sites

• Montreal Comiccon official website
  • Montreal Comiccon on Facebook
  • Montreal Comiccon on Twitter

Media articles

• Montreal Comiccon 2011 report at UysFaber
• Article on Comiccon 2010 in the Montreal Mirror (2nd article of the page)
• Article on Comiccon 2010 on Canoë Divertissement