By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
The San Diego Comic Convention, organizer of the annual Comic-Con event, has appointed global licensing agent, IMG as its first-ever exclusive licensing representative.
With a presence in over 30 countries, IMG is known for managing athletes and fashion icons, owning and operating hundreds of live events annually, and being a leading independent producer and distributor of sports and entertainment media.
IMG will work in partnership with SDCC to extend the reach of the non-profit’s mission of promoting comics and related popular art forms.
IMG will be responsible for identifying partners who can develop products, retail destinations, and experiences for the millions of fans who are not able to attend the annual Comic-Con convention.
“We began talking to IMG around six months ago and in the course of those discussions, it hit home to us that we could use our expertise to serve the ever-growing fan community in more ways, places and times than ever before,” said David Glanzer, Chief Communications and Strategy Officer for SDCC.
“In 2021, we embarked on the new Comic-Con Museum and now, with IMG’s expertise working with specialist partners to deliver authentic brand experiences, we can pursue an exciting new phase for the Comic-Con brand.”
SDCC is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation that was originally focused primarily on the promotion of comic books, film, and science fiction. Since its inception, Comic-Con has come to encompass other related art and fantasy content, as well as anime, interactive multimedia, and costuming.
Over the years, the Comic-Con event has hosted thousands of special guests, comics creators, sci-fi and fantasy authors, film and television directors, producers, actors, writers, and creators of the popular arts community together with their fans.
“Over 50 years ago, the Comic-Con founders simply wanted to draw attention and recognition to the comics and other art forms they loved,” said Bruno Maglione, President of Licensing at IMG.
“In doing so, they discovered a shared interest in this and related Sci-Fi, fantasy, and genre content wider than they could have possibly imagined. Today, that comic culture is mainstream entertainment culture thanks in large part to Comic-Con’s championing of this art form and its brilliant creators, and Comic-Con is the leading curator brand and guide in this space, allowing it to secure consumer attention and deliver consumer value in more ways.”
The Comic-Con event features an ever-increasing amount of forums, screenings, exhibits, and workshops.
More than 135,000 people attend its annual convention, along with thousands more who travel to San Diego each summer to take part in outside activations and activities.
“Through its annual conventions, it’s clear that Comic-Con has become a powerful consumer brand without even trying,” said Ricardo Yoselevitz, Senior Vice President of Licensing at IMG.
“We are honored to now be working with them to identify products and destinations that create new ways and avenues to engage this passionate community, while further reinforcing Comic-Con’s position as the leading curator of this form of popular art and culture.”
This year’s Comic-Con event will be held at the San Diego Convention Center from July 21 – 24.