This weekend, more than 130,000 fans will head to San Diego for the latest edition of Comic-Con International, the country's most high-profile comic book convention. The four-day event will see wacky stunts, public fan experiences, and over-the-top parties from big-name brands in the worlds of comics, television, movies, and games.
Even if you can't make it to San Diego, comic books offer a wealth of fun ideas for event themes. Here's a look at some recent events that evoked comics and superheroes, including sales conferences, flower shows, and fund-raisers. These colorful ideas are a great way to celebrate a team, incorporate fun activities, or just encourage guests to embrace their inner child.
At last year’s Comic-Con International, held in San Diego in July 2017, BuzzFeed & the CW joined forces to host a superhero-theme party. Guests donned colorful capes branded with the CW logo, and a photo booth had superhero-theme props.
Photo: Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images for BuzzFeed/The CW
For a 40th birthday party in Napa Valley in March, Glow Events gave the superhero theme a black-tie makeover. To create a grand entrance for the client, the event firm worked with Los Angeles-based Star Car Central to secure the Batmobile from the 1989 Batman film. Inside the venue, a wine cave was transformed into the "Batcave" with moody lighting, leather-accented table linens, tall candelabras, and trailing ivy.
Photo: Andrew Weeks
Pretty Please Bakeshop designed an on-theme cake for the event.
Photo: Andrew Weeks
A custom lucite bat logo—which incorporated the client's initials—served as the guest book for the evening; guests wrote their birthday wishes with metallic-hued pens.
Photo: Andrew Weeks
Each of the 60 guests received a gift showcasing their own "superpower" that the client had selected for them.
Photo: Andrew Weeks
Paula LeDuc Fine Catering served popcorn in paper containers made from comic books.
Photo: Andrew Weeks
For a three-day sales conference for Evian, held in Los Angeles in January, Vibe Agency created a superhero-inspired theme of "Conquering New Galaxies of Growth." Session leaders at the conference dressed up as their favorite superheroes, and tied the theme to their presentations.
Photo: Courtesy of Vibe Agency
Tables at the conference also adopted the theme, with comics-style lettering and masks for attendees to wear. Each table was named after a different superhero.
Photo: Courtesy of Vibe Agency
This weekend, Searsucker San Diego in the Gaslamp District is offering cocktails inspired by superheroes. Drinks include: the "Star-Lord," made with Pimm’s #1, basil, pressed lemon, and Pickled Carrot Extra Special Sipsmith Gin; the "Black Panther," made with Maker’s Mark Bourbon, blackberries, mint, and lemon; the "Wasp," made with El Silencio Mezcal, peach, lime, and terragon; and the "Black Widow," made with house-infused red wine, peach schnapps, Triple Sec, and fresh fruit.
Photo: Tim Nguyen
Santa Monica-based venture capital firm Upfront Ventures hosted its annual tech conference in February at Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles. The after-party, produced by RG Live, featured a superhero theme that included on-theme props and comic book-style signage. The Batman logo was projected above seating areas.
Photo: Courtesy of Upfront Summit
A larger-then-life statue of Superman was a centerpiece to the party.
Photo: Courtesy of Upfront Summit
At the St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School’s annual spring auction, held in Washington in March 2017, Events by André Wells created superhero decor to match the event’s “Be A Hero” theme. A city skyline with silhouettes of superheroes flying above decorated the walls, and Pop Art signs identified each of the auction categories. Masks and other superhero props decorated the tables.
Photo: Ben Droz
At a premiere party for Amazon’s series The Tick, held in New York in August 2017, custom props and decor incorporated superhero and comic-book nuances in a playful way. A photo booth activation by OM Digital served as a DMV: Guests could input their own hero name and superpowers and receive an identification card as well as a GIF.
Photo: Aaron Morris
Event producers MKG altered familiar street signs with messages related to the world of comics. At a pharmacy window, attendees were offered X-ray vision exams, Kryptonite vaccines, and cape rash cream.
Photo: Aaron Morris
For Comic-Con International in July 2016, Campbell's Soup created a Spider-Man-inspired installation at the San Diego Airport. The display was constructed using 1,089 of brand's limited-edition Spider-Man soup cans, and was designed by Abel McCallister Designs.
Photo: Courtesy of Abel McCallister Designs
The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International’s 61st annual Adrian Awards took place in February in New York. The event had a superhero theme, which was integrated in the programs and stage backdrop. Sequence Events produced the award show.
Photo: Dani Maczynski/HSMAI
As part of a new partnership with the new Deadpool 2 movie, Mike's Harder hosted pop-up bars in New York and Los Angeles in May that were inspired by the Marvel anti-hero. Produced by the Mike’s Harder team along with Henry Agency, the bars had activities and decor inspired by the film—including actors dressed as mercenaries, a painting of Deadpool and villain Cable, and themed snacks and games.
Photo: Courtesy of Mike's Harder
At the Macy’s Spring Flower Show, held in Chicago in April 2015, a Pop Art garden featured moss and plants that spelled out the words "bloom" and "flower" in comics-like signage.
Photo: Sebastian Biedron
