| Comix Fair | |
|---|---|
| Status | Defunct |
| Genre | Comic books |
| Venue | Ramada Hotel Southwest (1988–1989) Holiday Inn—Medical Center (1990–1991) Medallion Hotel (1996) |
| Location(s) | Houston,Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 1983 |
| Most recent | 1996 |
| Organized by | Utopia Entertainment |
| Filing status | For-profit |
Comix Fair was acomic convention that was held annually between1983 and1996 inHouston,Texas. It was produced by the Houston-based company Utopia Entertainment.[1]
Comix Fairs usually took place over two days in the summer, from Saturday to Sunday. The convention featured a large range ofpop culture elements, primarilycomic books and toys,[2] but alsotelevision serials,science fiction/fantasy, film/television, animation, andhorror. Along with panels, seminars, and workshops with comic book professionals, the convention featured a large floorspace for exhibitors, including comic book dealers andcollectibles merchants. The show included an autograph area, as well as an Artists' Alley where comics artists signed autographs and drew sketches.Tank McNamara creatorsJeff Millar andBill Hinds, both based in the Houston area, were occasional guests of the show.
Comix Fair followed but was unaffiliated withHoustoncon, a large multi-genre convention which took place annually in Houston from 1967–1982. The final Houstoncon, billed as "Ultimate Fantasy," was a fiasco;[3] Comix Fair was much smaller in scale and, unlike Houstoncon, returned its focus primarily to comic books.
The first Comix Fair was held in the summer of 1983, from July 29 to 31, at the Ramada Hotel West, following Utopia's Planetcon at the Marriott Brookhollow in October 1982. An impressive guest lineup included media personalitiesTerrence Dicks andBill Mumy, and comics creatorsJim Shooter,Steve Englehart,Chris Claremont,Paul Smith,Kerry Gammill,Ernie Chan,Josef Rubinstein, Sam De La Rosa,Dick Giordano,Sal Amendola,Marv Wolfman,Len Wein,Mike W. Barr,P. Craig Russell, Rick Obadiah,Mike Grell,Mark Wheatley &Marc Hempel,Dave & Deni Sim,Cat Yronwode,Dean Mullaney,Max Allan Collins,Terry Beatty,John Carbonaro,Jaxon,Jeff Millar &Bill Hinds, andJerry Bittle. The convention program featured theT.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents charactersNoMan andDynamo (the most recent appearance of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents had been published by Texas Comics).
Dave Stevens was a guest of the 1984 edition of the Comix Fair.
The fourth annual Comix Fair was held August 22–23, 1986, at the Brookhollow Marriott. Official guests includedGary Groth,Gil Kane,Joe Pumilia,Jeff Millar,Bill Hinds, andDoug Potter.[4]
Comix Fair VI was held June 24–26, 1988, at the Ramada Hotel Southwest. Featured guests wereSergio Aragonés,Kim DeMulder,Mike Leeke, andWilliam Messner-Loebs.[5]
The seventh annual[2] Comix Fair took place June 16–17, 1989, at the Ramada Hotel Southwest.[6] Guests includedJohn Romita, Jr.,Bob Layton,Tim Vigil,[7] andDoug Hazlewood.[6]
Comix Fair VIII was held August 4–5, 1990, at the Holiday Inn—Medical Center; guests wereBill Hinds,Jeff Millar, andDoug Hazlewood.[8]
The 1991 Comix Fair expanded to three days, taking place June 21–23 at the Holiday Inn—Medical Center. Guests includedRuss Heath,Nestor Redondo,Jeff Millar,Bill Hinds, andRick Klaw.[9]
The fourteenth and final show, officially known as the "Houston Comix Fair & Toy Show," was held June 2, 1996, at the Medallion Hotel.[10] Guests includedMart Nodell andShannon Wheeler. LepreCon was used as the name for Utopia's annual March shows.
By this time, Comix Fair promoter Utopia Entertainment was putting on one-day small-scale shows in the Houston area on a bimonthly basis. Guests at some of these shows includedDoug Hazlewood,Kenneth Smith,Gil Kane,Jimmy Palmiotti,Amanda Conner,Mike Grell,Mike Wieringo,Jeff Parker,Brian Stelfreeze,Susie Owens,Bjo Trimble,Mark Allen Shepherd,Len Wein,Marv Wolfman,Jerry Bingham,Mark Schultz,William Stout,Sean Stewart,Marilyn Burns, andEdwin Neal.[1]
A 15th Comix Fair was planned for June 22, 1997, at the Holiday Inn Select,[1] but the promoter (Larry Taylor), who was born withMarfan syndrome, had to have a second, unexpected heart surgery as a result of that condition, and did not resume organizing conventions. After a subsequent writing career, he died in Seattle in 2014 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).[citation needed]
After many years of Comix Fair being the only comic convention in Houston, on August 7–8, 1993, the University of Houston hosted the "Houston Comic Book Festival," with official guestsChris Claremont,Matt Wagner,Kelley Jones,Joe St. Pierre,Evan Dorkin, andMike Leeke.
After Comix Fair's demise in 1996, Houston was devoid of comic conventions until the mid-2000s, whenComicpalooza entered the scene. Since then, the number of Houston-area conventions has exploded, with shows like the Houston Comic Con, Amazing Houston Comic Con, and Space City Comic Con all taking place in the city.