San Diego Comic-Con International is one of the largest and most famous of all fan conventions and/or conferences. Since 1970 when it was first held it has only increased in popularity and recognition. In recent years it has become completely mainstream and equally likely to showcase small-scale independent productions as it is to host big-time Hollywood producers and moguls. It has also evolved from the comic book centered convention to the one that includes all the media. In the eyes of the old-timers though, this is certainly not a welcome development. Nevertheless, San Diego Comic-Con has become the mecca of the comics, movie, and video game fan culture.

This single is an interesting snapshot of the fan culture in all its idiosyncratic glory. The most visible manifestation of the utmost fandom is dressing up in a costume of your favorite character. Comic-Con is full of these adorable geeks, and Douglas Wolk treats them with a healthy dose of amusement and appreciation. Wolk has a keen eye for the unusual aspects of this remarkable conference. He too has been upset with the overcrowding in recent years, and is at best nonplussed with all the celebrities who attend these days. Nonetheless he hasn’t become cynical and still has a lot of fond feeling for this unique event.

This Kindle single embodies everything best about this format. It is short, informative, incredibly well-written, and it showcases a topic or a theme that is a bit too big for an article, and yet it could potentially become incredibly boring if turned into a full-length book. I am looking forward to more titles like this one.