See You At San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture

by Mathew Klickstein, Stan Sakai (Foreword), Jeff Smith (Foreword)

SEE YOU AT SAN DIEGO: AN ORAL HISTORY OF COMIC-CON, FANDOM, AND THE TRIUMPH OF GEEK CULTURE is the full story of pop culture nostalgia and modern fandom through the lens of the prehistory, history, and expansion of the largest pop culture gathering worldwide: Comic-Con. As told through countless intimate, hilarious, at times heartbreaking and often thought-provoking stories by nearly fifty of today's most integral members of the pop culture community. 

"An essential and defining resource of the forces that have transformed popular culture over the course of the past century." -- Fangoria  

Why did Neil Gaiman need a horde of armed ("Well, not exactly  armed ," he assiduously corrects) Klingons to help him through a particularly aggressive crowd of fans at Comic-Con one year? What was it like for the Russo Bros to first greet the overwhelmingly massive audience in Hall H and announce their debut Marvel film? Why are edible costumes no longer allowed at conventions of  any  kind? And what does all of this have to do with Dr. Timothy Leary, Leonardo DiCaprio, Hunter S. Thompson, David Bowie, and Frank Capra?

No roads needed on this fantastic voyage where you'll boldly go into the heart of fandom as we know it and love it today, courtesy countless intimate, hilarious, at times heartbreaking and even occasionally thought-provoking stories told by nearly fifty of the most integral members of today's modern scene along with super-special celebrity guests who together make it clear how and why the geeks have at long last inherited the Earth.

Bursting with reflections, observations, and plenty of raw hot takes on everything from Ray Bradbury to Stan Lee, from  The  Twilight Zone to  Twilight,  from  Star Trek  to  Star Wars , and  MAD Magazine  to  Watchmen ,   SEE YOU AT SAN DIEGO's special guests include: Neil Gaiman, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, Bruce Campbell, Felicia Day, Scott Aukerman, Stan Sakai, Sergio Aragonés, Trina Robbins, The Russo Bros., Lloyd Kaufman, Tim Seeley, Kevin Eastman, Maggie Thompson, and many others, along with 400+ pics and art, plus an afterword by Wu-Tang Clan's own uber-nerd mastermind RZA.

Learn how, in this historical and sociological tour de force, the geek at last inherited the earth ... with a little help from a half-century of the planet's largest pop culture gathering (clocked twice by Guinness!): the San Diego Comic-Con.

"A fantastic, exhaustive look at the rise of geek fandom and culture over the past century through the lens of San Diego Comic-Con." -- Boing Boing

Genres: Comics, Nonfiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 2022

About the author

Mathew Klickstein is a freelance screenwriter, journalist, author, arts therapist, and playwright.

Previously, Klickstein has worked for several magazines as a staff writer or editor. His work has appeared in WIRED, Paste Magazine, the New Yorker, New York Daily News, Splitsider (now New York Magazine's Vulture), Heavy Metal Magazine, Alternative Press, ABLE Magazine, Boulder Weekly, and Yellow Scene Magazine.

Reviews

[Shayna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pros:
- Treasure trove of first hand accounts and interviews
- Great read for those interested in comic con history

Cons:
- The loose organization of quotes were too loose. More headings other than the occasions "Part One" sectioning would have made it easier to follow.
- The quotes chosen from different people often repeated the same information which came across as repetitive. Could have used more editing.
- The audiobook version had some poor choices: the narrators sounded like they were reading rather than being in interviews, they were often young people yet they were reading quotes from older people and talking about their age which just didn't match, the narrators clearly didn't look up what the people they were reading for were supposed to sound like in real life (like the one who read for Kevin Smith). Considering this book is a companion to a documentary I don't understand why the audio clips from the actual interviews weren't used. That would have been far more authentic than using voice actors.

[William Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly well researched, entertaining and informative look at the origins of SDCC and how it's grown into the power house that it is today. Featuring interviews with those still alive who helped found and run the convention, you can feel the love for Fandom and for the convention itself, it's no wonder it got to be as big as it is! This is a must read for all

[Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic oral history of the creation of San Diego comic con. Excellent history and interviews. If you have any remote interest on what goes on behind the scenes of a comic convention I strongly recommend this book.

[Jasmine Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little repetitive and some quotes felt a bit redundant but otherwise a great read, felt like a little treasure trove of inside secrets and anecdotes.

[angelofmine1974 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Way too long of a book to keep my interest.

For the rest of my book talk, visit my Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/Ej-MQpmScjw

Enjoy!

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories and rich memories from the waaaayy back early days of geek culture, when it was still something fringy for polite society to scoff and roll their eyes at. Those weirdos who love Star Trek and dress up in costume and write letters to comic book editors, who needs 'em?

The gang behind the genesis of Comic Con, now a significant event on the global pop calendar, started out as a small, tight group of passionate teenaged comic clubbers in late ‘60s San Diego. Fortune smiled when Jack Kirby, the much-publicized “King of Comics,” (although he hated that nickname) relocated from Long Island to Southern California, where he encouraged eager fans to drop by while he churned out the following month’s caped adventures. He took a liking to this crew in particular, sketching them into an obscure issue of Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen, and his supportive presence at the first cons lent instant credibility. Oh, Kirby’s going to be there? Actually, I hear San Diego is beautiful this time of year...

As years became decades, the event grew and grew. The cynical refrain is that Hollywood and company spoiled it, shifting a niche get-together into a glitzy mass media mega-event, but the truth is, this was always a multi-headed hydra. In its first decade, comic fans mingled with science fiction authors and readers, Lord of the Rings cosplayers crossed paths with petitioning Trekkies and late-night movie marathons drew big crowds. It’s easy to gatekeep, to play a little turnabout, self-righteously snubbing the perceived poseurs, but that wouldn’t fit the event’s M.O. Even if it’s not to your taste, the idea has always been to celebrate fandom in all its colors and flavors. Comic Con has changed, no doubt, getting bigger and louder and vastly more crowded, but it’s also remained the same.

[David Rickert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never been to Comic-Con, and after reading this I probably never will. The time when I would have really enjoyed it is long gone. But this massive book is a compelling story about a bunch of geeks and weirdos that created something truly special for themselves and eventually brought the masses along.