Florida Has One More Attraction: A Comic Convention!

As comic books are becoming more and more popular in the public sphere, comic book conventions are attracting bigger audiences and popping up all over the world. Here at Culture of Comics, we have covered various conventions from the world over. Rob Salkowitz, author of Comic Con and the Business of Pop Culture, estimates comic book conventions made 600 million dollars last year domestically in ticket sales alone. He talks numbers in his ICv2 column here.

Fort Lauderdale about to have its own convention this May. Joey Cammisa, owner of War and Pieces and Troy Humble , owner of graphic design company Humble Ink, decided to partner up and start their own convention closer to home. Conventions have all different capacities and venues. 

Cammisa and Humble's  WAP! Comic Book Convention doubles as a charity event for the Dan Marino Foundation which helps children with neurodevelopment disabilities. They are also hosting various events prior to the convention to raise money. This past weekend the pair held the WAP the Wall event, a donation to the charity grants you access to graffiti a 30-foot-wall. 

From the Convention's Facebook page

The WAP! Comic Book Convention takes place May 9-11 at Broward convention center.It features a rare art exhibit by classic DC artist Jerry Robinson. Ninja Turtles co-creator
Kevin Eastman will also appear. Stay tuned to the Convention's Facebook page for new announcements. Tickets are $25 and available through Ticketmaster.


Of the location Cammisa says, “"Right now when people think comic conventions they think San Diego and New York, and I want to add a third one to that list, and I want it to be South Florida." This is a smart choice. San Diego Comic Con and New York Comic Con might be destination conventions, with thousands upon thousands flocking into the area specifically for the con but Fort Lauderdale and neighboring Miami have other attractions already bringing in tourists. They are also home to two of the busiest Cruise Terminal ports in the United States: Port Miami and Port Hollywood. With couples, families and singles waiting to embark(or disembark) on a ship, looking for some entertainment to hold them over, the right advertising and marketing could make Fort Lauderdale's first big comic convention the first of many!