In 1993, Capital City Distribution was the second-largest Direct Market comic distributor, with a market share in the low to mid-thirties (percent). The year was a peak in the Direct Market to that point, and for a long time to come. Interest in comics as collectibles was surging, and Marvel Comics and DC Comics, as well as newcomers like Image Comics and Valiant Comics, were pumping out comics to meet the demand. DC’s “Death of Superman” storyline had been a huge success late the previous year, and the entire industry was riding a massive wave of higher sales, even as signs of underlying problems were beginning to be seen. In that environment, Capital City invited its suppliers and retailers to its annual gathering in early May.
Capital City’s Sales Conference that year (May 2-5) was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the MECCA (Milwaukee Exposition, Convention Center and Arena), with the biggest attendance to date for the event. We share here a gallery to show the people and vibe of the time, from photos taken by the photographer hired to record the event, and by Capital employees.
This article is part of ICv2’s Comics Direct Market 50th Anniversary celebration; for more, see “Comics Direct Market 50th Anniversary.”
Click Gallery below!
Source: ICv2
