WICOMICON

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Convention
Name: WICOMICON
Dates: April 28, 2018
Frequency: One-off pop-up convention
Location: 1100 Wicomico, Baltimore
Type: Fan run convention
Focus: Geek culture & fans of color
Organization:
Founder: Keith Chow, Chuck Collins, Karama Horne, Elijah Kelley, Andre Robinson, Patrick Strange, Uraeus
Founding Date: April 28, 2018
URL: https://twitter.com/WICOMICON2018
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WICOMICON was a one-day pop-up convention held on April 28, 2018 at 1100 Wicomico in Baltimore. The convention was organised in the wake of the cancellation of and the controversy surrounding Universal FanCon, and was born out of the desire to make an inclusive, diverse convention happen in Baltimore despite the collapse of FanCon. The convention was organised and executed in just one week.

The convention took its name from the Wicomico building in which it was held; organiser Uraeus noticed that the word "comic" was contained within the building name, and suggested putting an N on the end to make "WICOMICON". The organisers later learned that "Wicomico" was derived from Algonquin words that roughly translated to "a place where homes are built".[1]

The convention was a rousing success, attended by around 1,000 artists and fans[2], including many vendors who had planned to exhibit at Universal FanCon, and featuring celebrity guests including Luke Cage showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker, professional comic creators Greg Pak and Ron Wilson, and stars from The Magicians and Killjoys.[1] Reactions to and announcements about the event were chronicled on the #WICOMICON hashtag on Twitter.

Another event to rise from the ashes of FanCon was Famcom, a livestreamed event taking place on April 22, 2018; the two events promoted one another and were often discussed alongside one another.

"Non-Existent Community"

"A black square with the words Non existent community picked out in bold lettering. The unity half of community is in red while the rest of the lettering is in white. The Black Heroes Matter logo is at the bottom of the design."
The 'Non-Existent Comm(unity)' T-shirt design by Uraeus.

In the wake of FanCon's collapse, cofounder Robert Butler gave a controversial interview to Vulture about what had happened in which he blamed the disaster on a lack of fans buying ticket sales. “Unfortunately, they just didn’t [buy tickets]. I should have known better. But I let my belief in this nonexistent community blind me.”[3]

The phrase "Non-existent community" became a flashpoint for the backlash against FanCon, and a rallying cry for projects like WICOMICON that set out to prove Butler wrong. WICOMICON organiser Uraeus turned the quote into a T-shirt design, produced by Black Heroes Matter.

Some fan comments:

IF THE COMMUNITY WAS "NONEXISTENT," THEN @WICOMICON2018 AND @famconLIVE WOULDN'T HAVE FUCKING HAPPENED. HOW FUCKING DARE YOU?! OWN YOUR BULLSHIT.[4]

I was at @WICOMICON2018 and honestly this article just makes what they accomplished even more impressive. It's crazy how a whole pop-up convention built around diversity and inclusivity was made in one week by a "nonexistent community", right?[5]

"Nonexistent community." Oh word? But yet @WICOMICON2018, a last minute pop-up con that rose from the ashes that was #FanCon, was flourishing. And @blerdconDC was livin lavish last year.

We outchea mayne. We been here. Don't blame us for your faults.

#nonexistentcommunity[6]

"If more fans had bought tickets... the whole debacle could have been avoided... I should have known better. But I let my belief in this nonexistent community blind me.” #FanCon

I'm stunned by this analysis. Nonexistent? 😂 Our community is UNBREAKABLE. #WICOMICON[7]

Saying the community is nonexistent is a slap in the face to cons who make it work. To @WICOMICON2018 @Nerdtino @blerdconDC and other inclusive cons who MAKE SHIT HAPPEN FOR AND BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY. We hear you. Watch us work. #latinx #lgbtq #poc #FanConFallout #blerd[8]

WAYMENT. @WICOMICON2018 had just under 1,000 people attend. Which means if that article is true,[note 1] then WE SOLD MORE TICKETS THAN THEM IN A WEEK TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T EXIST. #mybrainjustbroke[9]

Links & Further Reading

Notes

  1. ^ When the original article on Vulture ran, it claimed that FanCon had sold just 169 tickets. However, this clarifying note was later added: Clarification: An earlier version of this piece noted that FanCon had only sold 169 tickets by early 2018. Between mid-March and late April, ticket sales increased to around 1,700 sold.

References

  1. ^ a b WICOMICON: A place where community was built, Keith Chow, Syfy. Published September 6, 2018 (Accessed June 19, 2021).
  2. ^ The Founders of Wicomicon on How They Pulled Off Their Pop-up Convention, and the FanCon Fallout, Lila Shapiro, Vulture. Published May 9, 2018 (Accessed June 19, 2021).
  3. ^ The Story Behind FanCon’s Controversial Collapse, Lila Shapiro, Vulture. Published May 7, 2018 (Accessed July 3, 2021).
  4. ^ Tweet by @ShannonL_Miller, posted May 7, 2018 (Accessed July 3, 2021).
  5. ^ Tweet by @ayearasaghost, posted May 7, 2018 (Accessed July 3, 2021).
  6. ^ Tweet by @BJynx, posted May 8, 2018 (Accessed July 3, 2021).
  7. ^ Tweet by @BHMatter, posted May 8, 2018 (Accessed July 3, 2021).
  8. ^ Tweet by @chelsearedd_, posted May 8, 2018 (Accessed July 3, 2021).
  9. ^ Tweet by @theblerdgurl, posted May 8, 2018 (Accessed July 3, 2021)
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