The
Comic Art Convention was an
American comic-book fan convention held annually
New York City,
New York, over
Independence Day weekend from 1968 through 1983, except for 1977, when it was held in
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and 1978 to 1979, when editions of the convention were held in both New York and Philadelphia. The first large-scale comics convention, and one of the largest gatherings of its kind until the
Comic-Con International in
San Diego,
California, it grew into a major trade and fan convention. It was founded by
Phil Seuling, a
Brooklyn, New York City, teacher, who later developed the concept of comic-book
direct marketing, which led to the rise to the modern comic book store.