After last year’s unexpected cancellation due to COVID-19, organizers announced last night the event will return as the San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition this year on Thanksgiving weekend, causing fans to complaint via social networks.
Though organizers hope to be allowed for “large public gatherings,” the chosen dates have disappointed many fans, specially at a time when families plan to spend time together after many months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Organizers also expect to “generate much needed revenue” for local businesses, the community and the organization itself.
This Special Edition is supposed to be a smaller version of the typical, annual convention.
Star Wars comic-book writer Charles Soule stated on Twitter: “So they scheduled #SDCC on the same weekend as the first chance most families will (hopefully) be fully able to celebrate Thanksgiving in two years. See you in 2022!”
So they scheduled #SDCC on the same weekend as the first chance most families will (hopefully) be fully able to celebrate Thanksgiving in two years.
See you in 2022! https://t.co/5TUS26rOsQ
— Charles Soule (@CharlesSoule) March 28, 2021
Meanwhile, Marvel Comics writer Dan Slott sees being with family during Thanksgiving weekend is more important than attending a convention. “My family missed Thanksgiving last year because of the pandemic. This year, we’ll all be vaccinated. There’s no way I’d be attending any event instead of spending that time with them. Even if everything were magically back to normal. I can’t imagine others feeling differently.”
https://twitter.com/DanSlott/status/1376051596237406216
Last year, many companies (such as Walmart, Target, Aldi, Apple, GameStop and many more) closed their stores on Thanksgiving Day 2020. If Comic-Con organizers keep that holiday for this year, many families won’t be together on that meaningful holiday and the following days.
The “Comic-Con Special Edition,” scheduled for the weekend of November 26-28, will be the first in-person convention since the cancellation of Comic-Con 2020.
“While we have been able to pivot from in-person gatherings to limited online events, the loss of revenue has had an acute impact on the organization as it has with many small businesses, necessitating reduced work schedules and reduction in pay for employees, among other issues,” said Comic-con spokesperson David Glanzer. “Hopefully this event will shore up our financial reserves and mark a slow return to larger in-person gatherings in 2022.”
Is it more important for fans, celebrities, public relation representatives and others to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends, or attending a convention? This year’s Thanksgiving may be the first time for many families to be together once more, after many have lost a loved one or more.
Kung Fu TV series writer Linda Ge wrote on Twitter: “Does Comic-Con realize that most people didn’t get to spend last Thanksgiving with their families because of the pandemic? #SDCC.”
Does Comic-Con realize that most people didn't get to spend last Thanksgiving with their families because of the pandemic? #SDCC
— Linda Ge (@lindazge) March 28, 2021
Check out many of the comments under each of the tweets above.
[Sources]: Comic-Con: Comic-Con announces dates for November Convention – [Archive]. CNBC: San Diego Comic-Con sets sights on Thanksgiving weekend, sparking backlash from fans and talent. Rolling Stone: San Diego Comic-Con Announces Thanksgiving Weekend In-Person Event.
[Archives – Twitter]: @CharlesSoule: So they scheduled #SDCC on the same weekend as the first chance most families will (hopefully) be fully able to celebrate Thanksgiving in two years. See you in 2022!. @DanSlott: My family missed Thanksgiving last year because of the pandemic. This year, we’ll all be vaccinated….
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