Gareb
Shamus, CEO of New York based Wizard Entertainment, announces today that he has
purchased the Toronto Comicon, a show that has been consistently awarded The
Best International Comic Book Convention (non-USA) by ComicBookConventions.com,
for the last 5 years.
“We've always had a strong following in Canada, so buying the Toronto
Comicon is something that allows me to give back to our fans. These attendees
are known to be serious collectors and comic industry followers,” said Shamus.
“I am thrilled to offer the guests, celebrities, artists, dealers and
exhibitors to our Canadian audience for the very first time.”
Peter Dixon, owner of Paradise Conventions and former owner of the Toronto
Comicon, will still be intimately involved in the show production, his friendly
manner ensuring the continuation of the trademarked relaxed atmosphere of the
show.
“Wizard brings greater industry recognition and star power to the show. I’m
excited about having the fans get this bigger experience,” said Dixon.
The next show dates have not been set yet, but the newly managed Toronto
Comicon is expected to debut in 2010.
About Wizard Entertainment: Gareb Shamus founded Wizard Entertainment in 1991.
Today, Wizard Entertainment publishes Wizard, ToyFare, FunFare and numerous
books and magazines about today's top talent, comic books and toys. Wizard
produces Chicago Comic-Con at the Rosemont Convention center, August 6-9; Big
Apple Comic-Con at Pier 94, October 16 -18 and Wizard World Philadelphia at the
Philadelphia Convention Center June 11-13, 2010.
Yeah - it is always funny to hear Americans refer to Canada as 'international' when it comes to specific markets, even as other markets are shared - the 'North American box office' being one example.
Maybe we should adopt the conventions used in Africa or the Middle East, and say that Wizard is expanding regionally. My issue is that they call this "expansion." That would imply that the Toronto Con did not exist until Wizard "expanded." Wouldn't there be a better word? What do you call that, when large corporations swallow local markets?
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