ABSTRACT
This chapter proceeds to a discussion and case studies of key global events, focusing on dedicated academic events, wider academic events with comics strands, and finally the emergence of academic comics strands within public and fan-based events. Of course, it would be impossible to give a comprehensive account of all the comics events occurring internationally, so the selection below is chosen to give a flavor of the variety and diversity of activities. The vastly increased crossover between fan conventions and academic study is probably one of the most distinctive elements of Comics Studies. The challenges facing traditional academic events within the bigger landscape of congresses, conventions, and festivals are many. Based on this very brief survey, it seems that for academic comics conferences to survive they must carefully consider notions of ownership and support, with many taking place under the aegis of wider societies, journals, or other bodies.
