Description
Book SynopsisOnly at Comic-Con examines the relationship between exclusivity and the proliferation of media industry promotion at the San Diego Comic-Con, from the convention’s founding in 1970 to its current status as a destination for hundreds of thousands of pop culture fans and a hub of Hollywood hype and buzz.
Trade Review"This is an important book for fan studies and beyond. Not only a brilliant exploration of Comic-Con’s history and place in contemporary culture, it also takes seriously aspects of this experience that have been under-researched. What are the meanings and values of waiting in line? How does Hall H operate? And how have licensees become so central to the event? Assessing fans’ liminal positioning, Erin Hanna acutely theorises 'exclusivity' and its (re)configurations. Start the queue here – this is a must-read for anyone interested in aspirational and affective labor, as well as Hollywood’s attempts to build cultural capital for its blockbusters." -- Matt Hills * author of Fan Cultures and Doctor Who: The Unfolding Event *
“This exciting, well-researched book situates Comic-Con within the confluence of fandom, industry, and convergence. Erin Hanna expertly reveals how industry efforts to generate publicity for major media brands hinge on the production of exclusivity for a select number of fans.” -- Derek Johnson * author of Media Franchising: Creative License and Collaboration in the Culture Industries *
"Imaginary Worlds" podcast with Erin Hanna
https://soundcloud.com/emolinsky/once-and-future-comic-con * Imaginary Worlds *
"Only at Comic-Con is a valuable contribution to both media industries and fan studies, as Hanna’s work integrates the two disciplines seamlessly in a powerful argument about the limits of exclusivity, capital, and exploitation." * Media Industries Journal *
Table of ContentsContents
Introduction: The San Diego Comic-Con and the Limits of Exclusivity
1 Origin Stories: Comic-Con and the Future of All Media
2 The Liminality of the Line and the Place of Fans at Comic-Con
3 Manufacturing “Hall H Hysteria:” Hollywood and Comic-Con
4 Ret(ail)con: From Dealers’ Room to Exhibit Hall
Conclusion: From Franchise Wars to Fry Fans: Comic-Con Anywhere
Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index
