Comic Convention

Comic book fans are flocking to San Diego for the giant comic convention known as Comic Con, and this year, comics are going high-tech! The annual Comic Book Convention gives thousands of fans a chance to experience the latest in comic book trends and characters, and to show a little character of their own. Its also a prime opportunity for Hollywood TV and movie studios to market to teens and young adults. From TV shows, to movies, to video games, comics are now a billion-dollar business, thanks in-part to Hollywood. Comic book legend Stan Lee, who co-created Spiderman and the Incredible Hulk, marvels at the success of the industry that started to pick up steam in the 70s. "Suddenly, we started getting fan mail, and people kept waiting for us outside the office and I knew something was going on. I never suspected it would be this big," Lee says. And now, its getting bigger with comics going digital. Some companies are offering them on podcasts and cell phones. "People can subscribe to those and they get a large list of different comic titles that they can read on their phone," says uClicks Jeff Weber. And while technology is infiltrating the comic world, insiders say fans are still drawn to the original artform. "Comics are sequential storytelling on paper and its a way of people expressing themselves," says Mile Comics Founder Chuck Rozanski. So whether its comic books or something more high-tech, fans of all ages are embracing a new page in comic history. The convention runs through Sunday, with record ticket sales this year. More than 130,000 people are expected to attend.