Just before the start of this year's show, Mike Friedrich and Joe Field, the co-producers of the Oakland-based WonderCon, approached Comic-Con International to take over the operation and ownership of the Bay-area comic convention.  Friedrich told ICv2 that he and Field both came to the conclusion that CCI, with its full time staff, had the infrastructure that could grow the show, which until this year had shown little change in attendance over a three-year period.  This year's show did post an estimated 30% gain in attendance, which should put it over the 10,000 figure  (see 'Dealer Tables Almost Gone').   Compare this with the 30,000 that typically attend Comic-Con International's San Diego show, and the 2,700 that attended the Alternative Press Expo (also run by CCI), and you can get a feel for the size differentials between U.S comic conventions.  In addition to APE and Comic-Con International, CCI also manages ProCon and Comic Book Expo, which are currently held in conjunction with the San Diego con.

Both Field and Fredrich will stay on for two years as consultants.  CCI is reportedly negotiating with the current WonderCon venue for a short term deal, though the long term location for the show is still up in the air, since there is some talk of moving it across the bay to San Francisco.  WonderCon will keep its April spot on the calendar, however, because it provides an ideal venue for previewing summer film and comic releases.  CCI  will work hard to increase the number of publishers attending WonderCon.  Currently DC Comics is the publishing anchor of the show, which relies primarily on dealer tables and guests to bring in the fans.

For retailers, the switch of WonderCon to CCI management should mean a higher profile, more consumers, and more publishers.  In spite of other career commitments that kept them from concentrating on WonderCon full time, Friedrich and Field and their staff did an excellent job of advertising the show this year.  They received a real bonus when invitee Michael Chabon was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his novel about the golden age of comic publishing, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (one novel that just about every comic shop should stock) the day before the show opened.  Chabon granted numerous interviews to Bay area TV stations, which definitely helped get the word out about WonderCon.  The increased attendance is also a positive sign that the comic market might finally be starting to grope its way back towards the light.