Comic-Con International, the “super hero” of pop culture celebrations, once again turned San Diego and its world-class convention center into a “super destination” during its annual four-day run in July.

For the first time ever, all four days of the show were completely sold out ahead of time with total attendance soaring past 124,000.

So after starting out nearly four decades ago as a small comic book convention with 300 attendees in the basement of San Diego’s historic U.S. Grant Hotel, Comic-Con has metamorphosed into a full-facility user, filling every meeting room and exhibit hall of the city’s 2.6 million-square-foot bayside convention center.

But despite repeated attempts by larger venues, including Los Angeles and Anaheim, to woo them away, San Diego’s 37-year-old, homegrown comic book convention is booked into the San Diego Convention Center through 2012.

“It’s a beautiful city, we were born here and we’d love to stay,” said David Glanzer, Comic-Con’s longtime director of marketing and public relations.  “Obviously we’re maxed out on space, but hopefully those things can be addressed.”

The SDCCC is working with venues surrounding the convention center to accomodate Comic-Con's growing attendance. "And we continue to look at ways to expand the exhibition areas of our building," said Steven Johnson, SDCCC Vice President, Public Affairs.

The annual gathering of devoted comic book and sci-fi fans is now attracting intense interest from Hollywood studios eager to promote films and TV shows with celebrity panel discussions and advanced screenings. Among the top draws this year were appearances by the entire cast of the hit TV series “Heroes,”a live video feed of Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford and Karen Allen from the set of “Indiana Jones IV”, and a panel featuring Steve Carrell, Anne Hathaway and other cast members from the upcoming film “Get Smart.”

But all the old favorites were there, including: Artists Alley – the largest gathering of artists in the nation, Masquerade – an elaborate costume competition that drew an audience of 4,000 people, autograph signing sessions with such icons as Stan Lee (Spider-Man’s creator), Ray Bradbury (Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451) and Matt Groening (The Simpsons creator), the Anime Film Festival, plus the largest display of exhibits yet, spanning more than 460,000 square feet.

Because Comic-Con appeals to so many different audiences, it attracts not only one of the largest, but also one of the Convention Center’s most diverse crowds. Fans of every age, gender and ethnicity arrive early and spend an entire day - or days - in our building and in downtown San Diego. Thanks to our city’s safe, pedestrian friendly streets, easily accessible trolley service and wide array of restaurants and hotels not to mention incredible weather, it has become the perfect summer entertainment package for both new and returning attendees.