Wizard World Pulls Out of Winnipeg Comic Con? [Update 3]

WRITTEN BY Mike Haynes   Posted on 22 June 2011   Comic Convention, WWC4 2011

Winnipeg fans hoping to meet guests such as Ethan Van Sciver, Greg Horn and Raphael Albuquerque might be a little disappointed to learn that Wizard World has apparently pulled out from the annual convention that was scheduled to take place later this year in the Manitoba capital presumably taking a number (if not all) of the announced guests with them.

Late last year, shortly after the 2010 convention, Wizard announced that they had acquired the show and added it to its stable of events that run all over North America making todays disappearance of the con’s official Wizard World page all the more strange. Further investigation of the Wizard World homepage shows that the show is no longer listed at all on the site.

I’ve reached out to former show organizer Michael Paille for details and will update this story as information becomes available. In the meantime, according to members of the Facebook group page, there are plans to run the show regardless so don’t go making any new plans around the end of October.

Update 1: Winnipeg based shop Raven Collectables, run by C4 organizer Michael Paille, has announced plans to continue the show with the proper support from fans. Be sure to visit their website for details on what you can do to help make it happen.

Update 2: From C4′s new website at c4con.com:

You may have heard that Wizard World will no longer be holding a comic convention in Winnipeg in the fall. This is true, and Wizard World has pulled its involvement with the event.

However, the great team from River City Conventions will be holding the Central Canada Comic Con in their place, and it will take place on its previously announced dates: October 28th, 29th, and 30th, 2011 at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

Update 3: The following is the official statement from Raven Comics:

Wizard World will not be running the 2011 Central Canada Comic Con, but Michael Paille, previous owner of Central Canada Comic Con has stepped up and is taking the con back to the fan run organization it always was. Fans around the world can look forward to the same caliber of fun in Winnipeg from celebrity guests, artists, costume contests, medieval duals, retro 80′s arcade, exhibitors from across North America, video game tournaments, anime rooms and much more! Be sure to make Winnipeg a destination for you and your family in October!

  • Truthin

    What do you expect. 
    When an organizer posts that he gets 20,000 visitors to the con and it is actually 3,000-5,000.
    Once wizard gauged response to the con and found it wanting and pulled out.

    • Amanda

      Are these numbers accurate? Where are they from?

    • Anonymous

      Truthin' is full of it.  I've exhibited at the con for the last three years and his totals are waaaaay low.  The truth as to why Wizard World pulled out was issues to do with Ticketmaster, not the attendance of the event.  Nice try troll.