It’s impossible to list all the things we’ve missed during the pandemic: eating in restaurants, traveling with friends, hugging our grandparents. But for us nerds, the cancelation of in-person comic and fan conventions has been a real blow. For many of us, it’s a chance to meet up with friends, show off our finest cosplay, and indulge in some extreme nerdery. But for artists and small businesses, cons are not just fun, but offer critical networking and financial opportunities. Luckily, with the vaccine becoming readily available, brighter days are on the horizon. And the granddaddy of conventions, San Diego Comic Con, has announced that they will return live and in-person in 2021!
SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON IS BACK
NOVEMBER 26-28, 2021 🚨 pic.twitter.com/crOaqZIojP
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) March 28, 2021
There’s just one catch: SDCC 2021 will take place over Thanksgiving weekend.
(image: Lionsgate)
The SDCC announcement read, “Comic-Con Special Edition will be the first in-person convention produced by the organization since Comic-Con 2019, and the first since the onset of the global pandemic COVID-19. The Fall event will allow the organization to highlight all the great elements that make Comic-Con such a popular event each year, as well as generate much needed revenue not only for the organization but also for local businesses and the community.”
Comic-Con International previously announced their virtual event for this summer, [email protected], which will take place on July 23-25. David Glanzer, spokesperson for the nonprofit organization, said “the loss of revenue has had an acute impact on the organization as it has with many small businesses, necessitating reduced work schedules and reduction in pay for employees, among other issues.” He added, “Hopefully this event will shore up our financial reserves and mark a slow return to larger in-person gatherings in 2022.”
Look, we get it. 2020 messed up everyone’s finances. But choosing Thanksgiving weekend for your event is truly absurd. It’s already the most jampacked time to travel in the best of years, with flights, hotel fees, and other costs jacked up because of the holiday. It makes an already expensive trip all the more expensive and difficult to attend.
But FAR more important is the fact that SDCC expects us to ditch our family and friends for the important holiday weekend. So many people spent Thanksgiving 2020 without their loved ones due to COVID-19. We’re not about to do that 2 years in a row. It’s an especially cruel choice for all the artists, staffers, creators, journalists, and actors who are contractually required to attend these events to promote their upcoming projects. Not to mention fans who work in retail and won’t be able to take off work on the biggest shopping weekend of the year.
Many took to Twitter to call out SDCC’s bizarre choice:
So they scheduled #SDCC on the same weekend as the first chance most families will (hopefully) be fully able to celebrate Thanksgiving in two years.
See you in 2022! https://t.co/5TUS26rOsQ
— Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) March 28, 2021
This is so beyond stupid. If conditions are safe, won’t talent, producers, PR, press, etc., want to spend Thanksgiving with family? I certainly would. Did any thought or consideration go into this decision (other than greed)?https://t.co/SgEHoaERrc
— Lesley Goldberg (@Snoodit) March 28, 2021
People: Everyone is vaccinated so I can spend Thanksgiving with my family after a couple years! #SDCC: pic.twitter.com/qgcrJyb0Wu
— Jordan Maison (@JordanMaison) March 28, 2021
Nobody wants to return to ComicCon more than I do. But this is a no from me. Especially since the numbers of Covid cases are up despite vaccines. Good luck & stay safe to all who attend.
Comic-Con Announces Fall Dates For In-Person Convention – Deadline https://t.co/OZufYoi1uq
— LaToya Morgan (@MorganicInk) March 28, 2021
My family missed Thanksgiving last year because of the pandemic.
This year, we’ll all be vaccinated. There’s no way I’d be attending any event instead of spending that time with them. Even if everything were magically back to normal.
I can’t imagine others feeling differently.
— Dan Slott (@DanSlott) March 28, 2021
Sure. Make it during the one non-denominational fall holiday weekend in U.S., w/ always peak airfare prices. And I’m sure A-list celebs will LOVE doing this. Black Friday, indeed. https://t.co/quxVGr3TNq
— Tara Bennett (@TaraDBennett) March 28, 2021
Others are thrilled by the return of in-person cons in any form, and regard the Thanksgiving weekend event as a bonus con instead of SDCC proper:
We know most of you know this, but remember, this November event is NOT #SDCC proper. This is “Comic-Con Special Edition”, a presumably smaller and different event.
Just to clear up any confusion on the bird app.
— SDCC Unofficial Blog (@SD_Comic_Con) March 28, 2021
It will be interesting to see both the size and scope of this con, as well as what (if any) a-listers and headliners show up for the event. Will ticket sales go fast, or will everyone be waiting for 2022?
What do you think? Would you attend SDCC in-person over Thanksgiving if you could?
(via The Hollywood Reporter, featured image: Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb)
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