Pop quiz

Test your knowledge of Comic-Cons of the past

<strong><a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/images/090719popquiz.pdf" target="_blank">CLICK FOR .PDF</a></strong>

When Comic-Con International opens Thursday, it will turn 40. That means the pop culture extravaganza is now middle-aged – and probably can't remember where it parked its X-34 Land Speeder.

But how's your memory?

How well do you recall the Cons of years past?

1. The Con often hosts Lucasfilm and Atom.com's annual “Star Wars Fan Movie Challenge.” Which is not among this year's nominees:

a. “Emperor Palpatine and the Attack of the Copyright Infringement”

b. “The Empire Strikes Out Swinging”

c. “No Love for Wampa”

d. “Star Fury!”

2. Comic-Con is a moving, and movable, convention. Which venue has not hosted this event?

a. Golden Hall


c. Sports Arena

d. El Cortez

3. San Diegans talk about the Con, but there are others. Which cities have hosted similar but smaller Cons?

a. San Juan, Puerto Rico

b. Las Vegas

c. Spokane, Wash.

d. Detroit

e. New York City

f. Tampa, Fla.

g. Seattle

4. Shel Dorf, one of the Con's founders, is a collector and student of which comic book character:

a. Dick Tracy

b. Prince Valiant

c. Batman

d. Wonder Woman

5. True or false:

Comic-Con's original name was “California Comic Book Convention.”

6. Comic-Con is Cannes with Klingons, A-listers mingling with costumed X-Men. Which celebrity has never appeared at the Con?

a. Angelina Jolie

b. Tom Hanks

c. Bill Nighy

d. Hallie Berry

e. Paris Hilton

e. Ian McKellan

7. The annual masquerade is one of most talked-about Con events. When was it inaugurated?





8. In 1996 the Con convened in early July, because the convention center needed weeks to prepare for an August event. What was this high-profile, high-maintenance, gathering?

a. WrestleMania XII

b. The Republican National Convention

c. The Democratic National Convention

d. The Grammys

9. This week, hotel rooms are at a premium. What's the going rate for a bay-view room at the convention center's neighbor, the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, on Con Saturday?

a. $199

b. $240

c. $389

d. $475

10. The same room, a week later?

a. $199

b. $240

c. $389

d. $474

Answers: 1. b; 2. c; 3. all of the above; 4. a; 5. False. The Con was first known as the “Golden State Comic Book Convention”; 6. b; 7. a; 8. b; 9. d; 10. b


