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Phoenix Fan Fusion

Overview

Phoenix Fan Fusion (phoenixfanfusion.com) is the largest pop culture convention in Arizona, smaller only as a fandom event than the Tucson Festival of Books. Background | Expansions | Links | History | Attendance | Guests | Other Documents | Program Book Covers Background Phoenix Fan Fusion has changed a lot over the years. It began as a comic book convention called Phoenix Cactus Comicon, run by Matt Solberg over six hours at the Best Western in Ahwatukee. It remained under this name for six years, moving to Glendale and then Mesa as it outgrew its venues. It was renamed to Phoenix Comicon during the run-up to the 2008 event, but late enough that all the published material continued with the old name. This happened halfway through its four year run at the Mesa Convention Center, with the last year there being the first fully branded as Phoenix Comicon. Consistent growth meant that, by 2014, it was a major pop culture event on a national scale that sprawled over four venues in downtown Phoenix and was attended by over 75,000 people. At its peak in 2016, it topped 100,000 but Solberg still runs the event personally today. In 2018 it was renamed to Phoenix Comic Fest. This was to avoid any potential future litigation in the wake of the court case between the owners of San Diego Comic-Con and Salt Lake Comic Con that upheld Comic-Con International's trademark of "Comic-Con" and its variants. Phoenix Comicon was not part of the lawsuit, but Solberg spoke in court against San Diego. Because of a number of issues in 2017, including a heavily armed attendee who planned to assassinate the Green Power Ranger, all activity was also consolidated into the Phoenix Convention Center for 2018. After only a year as Phoenix Comic Fest, it was renamed once again to Phoenix Fan Fusion, as part of a general re-branding that included a growing portfolio of events elsewhere. Expansions The first expansion was in 2008 when the parent organisation, Square Egg Entertainment (square-egg.com) created Saboten Con, an anime convention, to fill the gap created by the cancelled fourth AniZona. It also founded Con-Nichiwa, an equivalent event in Tucson, but Monkey Paw Entertainment took both over in 2010 and still runs them today. Closer to the core of Phoenix Comicon, Square Egg added a smaller second local event, Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest, in the winter of 2014. This was renamed after two years to Phoenix Fan Fest, for the same reasons as the main event above, a rename that coincided with a move from the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale to the Phoenix Convention Center. It ended after two further years. In 2015, it also partnered with Steam Crow to resurrect Keen Halloween, though that partnership only lasted a year, to be replaced by the quickly cancelled Thrill Halloween. The Fan Fusion name first appeared during an expansion to other states. Minnesota Fan Fest was first held in 2017 but was renamed to Minnesota Fan Fusion in 2018, when Vegas Fan Fusion was also added to the calendar, though that event was cancelled before being held. Neither was held again.

Links

Most Recent Program Book Covers

Click on the images below to open larger versions.

Cover art (left to right) was all by Travis Hanson.

History

Chronology of Arizona Conventions | Index of Program Books

Phoenix Cactus Comicon
#	Date	Location	Chair	Book	Web	Notes
1	2002 9 Jun	Best Western Ahwatukee	Matt Solberg
2	2003 13 Apr	Glendale Civic Center Glendale	Matt Solberg
3	2004 4 Apr	Glendale Civic Center Glendale	Matt Solberg
4	2005 10 Apr	Glendale Civic Center Glendale	Matt Solberg
5	2006 23 Sep 24 Sep	Mesa Convention Center Mesa	Matt Solberg	16 MB
6	2007 27 Jan 28 Jan	Mesa Convention Center Mesa	Matt Solberg	23 MB
7	2008 26 Jan 27 Jan	Mesa Convention Center Mesa	Matt Solberg	33 MB
Phoenix Comicon
#	Date	Location	Chair	Book	Web	Notes
8	2009 23 Jan 25 Jan	Mesa Convention Center Mesa	Matt Solberg
9	2010 28 May 30 May	Phoenix Convention Center Hyatt Regency Phoenix	Matt Solberg	5 MB
10	2011 26 May 29 May	Phoenix Convention Center Hyatt Regency Phoenix	Matt Solberg	16 MB
11	2012 24 May 27 May	Phoenix Convention Center Hyatt Regency Phoenix	Matt Solberg
12	2013 23 May 26 May	Phoenix Convention Center Hyatt Regency Marriott Renaissance Phoenix	Matt Solberg	13 MB
13	2014 5 Jun 8 Jun	Phoenix Convention Center Hyatt Regency Marriott Renaissance Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Phoenix	Matt Solberg	31 MB
14	2015 28 May 31 May	Phoenix Convention Center Hyatt Regency Marriott Renaissance Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Phoenix	Matt Solberg	24 MB
15	2016 2 Jun 5 Jun	Phoenix Convention Center Hyatt Regency Phoenix	Matt Solberg	14 MB
16	2017 25 May 28 May	Phoenix Convention Center Hyatt Regency Phoenix	Matt Solberg	50 MB
Phoenix Comic Fest
#	Date	Location	Chair	Book	Web	Notes
17	2018 24 May 27 May	Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix	Matt Solberg
Phoenix Fan Fusion
#	Date	Location	Chair	Book	Web	Notes
18	2019 23 May 26 May	Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix	Matt Solberg	107 MB
19	2020 25 Sep 27 Sep	Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix	Matt Solberg			1
20	2021 28 May 30 May	Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix	Matt Solberg			2
21	2022 27 May 29 May	Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix	Matt Solberg	40 MB
22	2023 2 Jun 4 Jun	Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix	Matt Solberg	42 MB
23	2024 24 May 26 May	Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix	Matt Solberg	183 MB
24	2025 6 Jun 8 Jun	Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix	Matt Solberg

Notes

Phoenix Fan Fusion in 2020 was initially postponed from 21-24 May to 25-27 Sep due to the COVID-19 crisis and later cancelled entirely. Phoenix Fan Fusion in 2021 was initially postponed from 28-30 May to 14-16 Jan 2022 due to the COVID-19 crisis and later cancelled entirely.

Attendance

Phoenix Cactus Comicon

1	2	3	4	5	6
2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
432	780	690	680	2,600	3,200

Phoenix Comicon

7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
5,200	7,000	13,988	23,001	32,127	55,313	77,818	75,501	106,096	80,703

Phoenix Comic Fest

17
2018
57,853

Guests

Phoenix Comicon generally has too many guests to list in the table above. Here are the guests announced for each event: 2002: Todd Broeker, Jay Fotos, Bryan Kinnaird, Jim Mahfood, Mark Nicholas, Dantzelle Pettit, Amanda Ruiz and Roy Young. 2003: Matt Clark, Jim Mahfood, Mike Mayhew, Scott Morse, Todd Nauck, Cheyenne Silver, Billy Tan and Dave Wohl. 2004: Raven Gregory, Brandon Huigens, Herbert Jefferson Jr., Eric Mengel, Rob Osborne, Brian Pulido and Steve Rude. 2006: Terry Austin, A.C.T.O.R., Christine Auten, Greg Ayers, Frank Beddor, Joe Benitez, Christian Beranek, Jake Black, Josh Blaylook, Bret Blevins, Johnny Yong Bosch, Tim Bradstreet, Mike Bullock, Amanda Conner, Shannon Denton, Devil's Due Publishing, Firefly Path Girls, Jay Fotos, Justin Gray, Raven Gregory, Matt Jacobs, Nat Jones, Christy Lejewski, Mike Manley, Mike Mayhew, Josh Middleton, Marat Mychaels, Noel Neill, Steve Niles, Jimmy Palmiotti, Brian Pulido, Jen Lee Quick, Steve Rude, Tim Seeley, Billy Tan, Tim Vigil and Armand Villavert. 2007: Mathew Atherton, David Beaty, Derek Benz, Christian Beranek, Mike Bullock, Shannon Denton, Jay Fotos, Tess Fowler, Crispin Freeman, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Amy Reeder Hadley, Phil Hester, Andy Kuhn, Jon S. Lewis, Rob Liefeld, Jeff Mariotte, Angel Medina, Mike Mignola, Vic Mignogna, Brian Miller, Marat Mychaels, Todd Nauck, Noel Neill, Rob Osborne, James Owen, Tony Parker, George Perez, Jen Lee Quick, Tone Rodriguez, Steve Rude, Mike Stackpole, Arthur Suydam, Joe & Tim Vigil, Len Wein, Dan Wickline and Lin Workman. 2008: Anime: Maral Agnerian, Yamila Abraham, Greg Ayres, Svetlana Chmakova, Luci Christian, Cosplay Zone, Amy Reeder Hadley, Dawn McKechnie, Midnight Mirage, Michelle Ruff, Armand Villavert, Jr. Authors: Derek Benz, P. J. Haarsma, J. S. Lewis, Madame M, Jeff Mariotte, James Owen. Comic: Sal Abbinanti, Jonnie Allan, Dave Beaty, Christian Beranek, Mike Bullock, Howard Chaykin, Ryan Cody, Clayton Crain, Steve Crompton, Daniel Davis, Shannon Denton, David Finch, Jay Fotos, Tess Fowler, Michael Golden, Raven Gregory, Jin Han, Tom Hodges, Mike Kunkel, Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness, Angel Medina, Brian & Kirsty Miller, Marat Mychaels, Tony Parker, Whilce Portacio, Brian Pulido, Tone Rodriguez, Don Rosa, Steve Rude, Patrick Scherberger, Arthur Suydam, Mark Texeira, Joe & Tim Vigil, Matt Wagner, Mark Waid, Dan Wickline, Renee Witterstaetter, Lin Workman. Media: David Ayres, Jeremy Bulloch, Lou Ferrigno, Walter Koenig, Peter Mayhew, Noel Neill, Tim Russ, Wil Wheaton. 2009: Anime: Katie Bair, Jodon Bellofatto, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Kaijugal, Reuben Langdon, Yuri Lowenthal, Tara Platt, Sarcasm-hime, Christophe Tang, Armand Villavert. Authors: Kevin J. Anderson, Frank Beddor, J. S. Lewis, Dean Lorey, Rebecca Moesta, James Owen. Comic: Kaare Andrews, Mike Bullock, Talent Caldwell, Jo Chen, Jay Fotos, Sean Galloway, Raven Gregory, Hi Fi Colour Design, Brian Holguin, Karl Kesel, Andy Kuhn, Mike Kunkel, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Jeff Mariotte, Terry Moore, Whilce Portacio, Brian Pulido, Steve Rude, Tim Seely, Ben Templesmith, Jim Valentino, Ethan Van Sciver, Dan Wickline. Media: Aaron Douglas, Lou Ferrigno, Gil Gerard, Erin Gray, Richard LeParmentier, Peter Mayhew, Noel Neill, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, Wil Wheaton.

Other Documents Index of Ephemera
Phoenix Cactus Comicon 5 Postcard (2 MB) Phoenix Cactus Comicon 7 Postcard (1 MB) Phoenix Comicon 8 Flyer (4 MB) Phoenix Comicon 10 Promotional Guide (35 MB) Phoenix Comicon 11 Promotional Guide 1 (31 MB) Promotional Guide 2 (25 MB)	Phoenix Comicon 12 Promotional Guide (25 MB) Phoenix Comicon 14 Events Deals (2 MB) Promotional Guide (30 MB) Phoenix Comicon 15 Promotional Guide (30 MB)

Program Book Covers

Click on the images below to open larger versions.

Cover art was by Mike Mayhew (2006), Rob Osborne & Jay Fotos (2007), Dave Beaty & Lin Workman (2008), Tony Parker (2010), Joe Corroney & Hi Fi Studios (2011), Todd McFarlane & Andy Arias (2012), Joe Corroney & Hi Fi (2013), Joe Corroney & Brian Miller (2014), Jason Palmer Studios (2015), Travis Hanson (2016-2023).

Last update: 2nd August, 2024