July just wrapped and I would normally be writing a recap of San Diego Comic Con, yet despite it wrapping up its second SDCC at Home last month, I realized that I am suffering what I will dub virtual con fatigue. This has nothing to do with the panels that SDCC put together or the effort that organizing such a large event takes, but more to do with the fact that I work remotely and would rather spend my time away from work not watching panels on YouTube or participating in Zoom sessions.
SDCC at Home:
As an educator, SDCC at home featured panels featured a wealth of education panels including, but not limited to, Teaching and Learning with Comics, Graphic Novels are the new Text Books, and Educational Role-Playing: Breaking the Mold with the Game Academy, but I haven't been able to bring myself to the point of watching the panels. This is coming from someone who was going to include Essex County as a required book for a sociology of sports course prior to moving to a job at a different university. For a full line-up of SDCC at home click here.
Exclusives:
Despite the virtual conventions, exclusive items have had the door opened to any fan that has access to the sale. I consider this a good thing overall, but it also questions the exclusivity of said items. Funko addressed this currently as there is a Pop! that is only available in person in their current FunKon, but otherwise these "exclusives" are available world wide. I don't have an issue with this, but it does question the value of convention exclusives moving forward.
Future of Conventions:
As someone who loves attending conventions, I wonder how COVID impacted the allure of attending conventions. Are big studios less likely to spend big dollars for conventions if the return of streaming has similar results? If a company that sells convention exclusives is able sell out online what is the value of attending a convention? I feel that the end goal of conventions is to inform the largest audience as possible and wonder how the virtual format will impact conventions moving forward.
Summary:
As we move forward in a post-COVID world, I feel that there will be a strong desire for in-person conventions, but that large companies will realize the value in online sales and that a combination of convention exclusive news/products will result in a market/convention that is more online in nature. I think that some convention exclusives will remain intact, but the majority will move to the online environment.
POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.
