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| Salt Lake Comic Con | |
|---|---|
| Name | Salt Lake Comic Con |
| Status | Defunct (rebranded) |
| Genre | Comic book, pop culture, gaming, science fiction, fantasy |
| Location | Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Country | United States |
| First | 2013 |
| Founder | See text |
| Attendance | peak estimates vary |
Salt Lake Comic Con was a large pop culture convention held in Salt Lake City, Utah, that featured comic books, science fiction, fantasy, gaming, anime, and related media. Founded in 2013, it grew rapidly into a multi-day event attracting celebrities, comic creators, exhibitors, and fans from across the United States and internationally. The convention’s trajectory intersected with prominent comics publishers, film studios, television networks, and legal disputes involving major figures in the comics and entertainment industries.
The convention emerged in 2013 amid a surge of regional conventions inspired by long-running events such as San Diego Comic-Con International, New York Comic Con, Emerald City Comic Con, Wizard World Chicago, and Fan Expo Canada. Early organizers included local entrepreneurs who sought to replicate the model of Comic-Con International and HeroesCon, while booking talent associated with Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Image Comics, and Dark Horse Comics. In its initial years the convention shared the calendar with national tours promoted by companies like ReedPop and independent promoters who had previously worked with Wizard Entertainment and Great Western Events. Growth in the second and third years brought appearances by actors from franchises such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, The X-Files, and Game of Thrones, prompting rapid expansion into multiple halls and festival-style programming similar to PAX West and Dragon Con. As the brand developed, disputes over naming and trademark between the organizers and legacy industry figures culminated in high-profile litigation and rebranding efforts connected to broader trends in convention franchising exemplified by MCM Comic Con and Gotham Comic Con.
Programming mirrored that of major conventions including panel tracks for television and film properties like The Walking Dead, Walking Dead (TV series), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, and Stranger Things; comic book panels featuring creators associated with Marvel Studios, DC Extended Universe, Image Comics, and IDW Publishing; live Q&A sessions with stars from Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Guardians of the Galaxy; and industry workshops akin to those at San Diego Comic-Con. The show floor included exhibitors from Dark Horse Comics, Vault Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Boom! Studios, and Vertigo (comics), alongside vendors selling merchandise tied to Funko, Hasbro, LEGO, and Hot Toys. Specialty tracks hosted tabletop gaming similar to Gen Con offerings, video gaming tournaments inspired by EVO Championship Series, cosplay contests judged in the spirit of World Cosplay Summit, and family activities paralleling those at Children's Museum of Indianapolis outreach events.
Guests ranged from comic creators and voice actors to Hollywood stars, with headliners drawn from franchises including Star Wars, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit. Notable comics professionals who appeared were collaborators affiliated with Stan Lee, Frank Miller, Neil Gaiman, Brian Michael Bendis, Geoff Johns, Todd McFarlane, and Jim Lee. Film and television guests included actors who had worked with studios such as Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and 20th Century Fox. Voice actors and animators connected to Studio Ghibli, Toei Animation, Funimation, and Nickelodeon also featured in panels and signings. Music and performance guests echoed programming at events like WonderCon and Sakura-Con, bringing DJs and performers linked to franchises such as Doctor Who and The X-Files.
Attendance figures were reported in the tens to hundreds of thousands across multi-day runs, comparable in scale to regional conventions like Salt Lake Comic Con FanX rivals and larger festivals such as Wizard World installments. The convention generated hotel bookings involving chains like Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, and Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and boosted revenue for the Salt Lake City Convention Center and local businesses, echoing economic assessments conducted for San Diego Comic-Con International and New York Comic Con. Local tourism agencies and chambers of commerce noted increased foot traffic for restaurants, retailers, and transportation providers including Delta Air Lines and Amtrak, while ancillary events at venues like Vivint Smart Home Arena and nearby theaters mirrored partnerships seen at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo.
The convention primarily occupied the Salt Lake City Convention Center and adjacent hotels, operating with volunteer staff and professional contractors similar to organizational structures used by ReedPop, C2E2 organizers, and other promoters in the convention circuit. The organizing entity coordinated logistics with public safety partners including the Salt Lake City Police Department and emergency services modeled on protocols from Los Angeles Convention Center events. Vendor and exhibitor relations involved contracts with distribution partners, shipping carriers such as FedEx and UPS, and payment processors used across events like PAX East.
The convention’s history included legal disputes over trademark and branding with industry figures who had founded competing shows, invoking precedents from intellectual property cases involving entertainment events and promoters such as Wizard Entertainment and Reed Exhibitions. Lawsuits and countersuits addressed naming rights, ticketing practices, and contractual obligations with guests and vendors, drawing comparisons to litigation seen between other promoters in cases related to Comic-Con International and regional franchises. Criticism also arose regarding crowd control, ADA accessibility in line with standards referenced by Americans with Disabilities Act enforcement actions, and guest contract cancellations mirroring controversies at multiple contemporary conventions.