Alamo City Comic Con (ACCC) is an annual pop culture convention held in San Antonio, Texas, primarily at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The event brings together celebrities, comic book creators, cosplayers, and fans of movies, television, video games, and comics. It is the largest convention in San Antonio and one of the largest pop culture conventions in Texas, experiencing rapid growth since its inception.
History
Founding and Early Growth (2013–2015)
ACCC was founded in 2013 by Alfredo "Apple" De La Fuente, a passionate fan of comics and pop culture. The first event attracted over 34,000 attendees, featuring Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, and Chad Coleman from The Walking Dead, as well as notable guests such as Sean Astin, Danny Trejo, Adam West, Burt Ward, Rob Liefeld, and Neal Adams.
The convention's popularity skyrocketed in 2014, nearly doubling attendance to 73,000 visitors. That year, ACCC hosted Stan Lee, along with actors from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Clark Gregg) and The Walking Dead (Scott Wilson, Chandler Riggs, Emily Kinney).
By 2015, attendance exceeded 78,000, making it one of the fastest-growing conventions in the United States. The event once again featured Stan Lee, alongside a Sons of Anarchy reunion with Ron Perlman, Kim Coates, Tommy Flanagan, Mark Boone Junior, Ryan Hurst, Emilio Rivera, and Michael Ornstein. Other major guests included Jon Bernthal, Michael Rooker, Ming-Na Wen, and director Robert Rodriguez.
Cultural Impact
In 2014, director Alejandro Cabrera documented ACCC and its surrounding community in the film Syfytonians (2015). The documentary was well received locally and credited with increasing interest in the 2015 convention.
Guest Highlights
Over the years, ACCC has hosted numerous high-profile guests, including:
- Comic Book Icons: Stan Lee, Rob Liefeld, Neal Adams
- Actors from The Walking Dead: Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Chandler Riggs, Scott Wilson, Michael Rooker, Jon Bernthal
- Superhero Franchise Stars: Clark Gregg (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Ming-Na Wen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)
- Hollywood Legends: Danny Trejo, Sean Astin, Adam West, Burt Ward
- Sons of Anarchy Cast Reunion: Ron Perlman, Kim Coates, Tommy Flanagan, Mark Boone Junior, Ryan Hurst, Emilio Rivera, Michael Ornstein
- Film Industry Icons: Director Robert Rodriguez
Attendance Growth
| Year | Attendance | Notable Guests |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 34,000+ | Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danny Trejo, Rob Liefeld, Neal Adams |
| 2014 | 73,000+ | Stan Lee, Clark Gregg, Scott Wilson, Chandler Riggs, Emily Kinney |
| 2015 | 78,000+ | Stan Lee, Jon Bernthal, Michael Rooker, Ming-Na Wen, Sons of Anarchy cast |
Legacy and Influence
Alamo City Comic Con has grown into one of the largest and most respected pop culture events in Texas, bringing together fans, artists, actors, and creators. It continues to serve as a major platform for comic book culture and entertainment industry fandom in the southern United States.