When the pandemic hit the world, shutting people inside their homes, pop culture fans across the United States had a serious concern: what about Comic-Con?
Comic-Con, in short, is an annual gathering of numerous people who share a love for movies, shows, comics, and more. Like in the case of most other events, COVID-19 seemed like a bad idea as the coronavirus pandemic got out of control. So, as obvious as it might sound, the organizers decided to cancel both the 2020 Comic-Con and their smaller Anaheim event, WonderCon.
Even in 2021, both events were canceled. However, due to the popularity of the comic book experience, the non-profit organization behind the event decided to hold the virtual Comic-Con@Home this year.
The Virtual Comic-Con@Home
The Comic-Con@Home, aka the 2021 Comic-Con International: San Diego, was held between July 23, 2021, and July 25, 2021. In an effort to capture the same exciting vibes as the traditional event, the event allowed fans to meet their favorite comic creators, buy an array of comic book merchandise, and bond with fans, through the online arena. Nevertheless, the virtual event was much less spontaneous. For instance, the panels were pretaped.
Perhaps, one of the most significant advantages of the online version was that it was completely free. Hence, fans will now think twice before buying tickets to offline Comic-Con events and booking a hotel next time.
Will There Be an In-Person Comic-Con Event in 2021?
With the COVID-19 pandemic slowly subsiding, convention organizers are slowly returning to in-person events. For instance, Reedpop has scheduled Florida Supercon, C2E2, and New York Comic Con for this fall. They have also set up some extensive plans for safety during these challenging times. This includes proof of vaccine, temperature checks, and mask requirements, which we will look at in detail in the upcoming section.
What’s more, after the virtual Comic-Con International: San Diego that took place in July 2021, the organization is also planning to put up a scaled-down event called the Comic-Con Special Edition this November.
Now, people across the United States have something to get excited about. You can even check the odds from a well-known sportsbook Bookmaker. After all, this will be the first in-person Comic-Con International event as both SDCC and Anaheim’s WonderCon were cancelled due to COVID-19.
The “Special Edition” of the San Diego Comic-Con that will be held during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend will be a scaled-down event compared to the summer staple. However, the audience strength isn’t of much concern at the moment. What really matters is the Comic-Con finally coming back in person and how fast it happened.
Safety Measures to Watch Out
With the Comic-Con returning in-person, organizers are taking everything they can to ensure the safety of the attendees. After the cancellation of in-person events in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the biggest fairs in pop culture will take place in November 2021, but with caution. Depending on your age, you will have to submit proof of vaccination or a negative test. Furthermore, masks are mandatory for everyone involved.
People who are 12 years of age or older will have to submit a full vaccination certificate with an approved vaccine to enter the convention. On the other hand, children aged 12 years or less can take part in the event by testing negative for the coronavirus as the FDA hasn’t yet approved a vaccine for minors.
Apart from the vaccination requirements, the NYCC also mandates all participants to wear masks approved by specific agencies. Ideally, your mask should fit you comfortably, covering both your nose and mouth completely. Now, this comes as quite sad news for cosplayers who can’t use another style in the event.
Like with other in-person events today, the organization can also ask participants to wear a different mask over the one they are already wearing. Nevertheless, note that this information hasn’t been confirmed by Comic-Con’s management. But security is more critical than cosplay this year, so anything that ensures your safety and health is absolutely fine.
Furthermore, the event will be operating at a reduced capacity in order to facilitate social distancing. There is also a firm policy of “no handshakes, no greetings, no hugs.”
The guidelines are put in place, mainly due to the new Delta variant that is accelerating rapidly across the United States. Lastly, it is worth mentioning that those who attend the Comic-Con Special Event and buy “meet and greet’s” will only be able to chat and interact with your much-loved stars and characters through an acrylic screen.
Author Profile
- I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!
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