User:Mikeross22/Sandbox/Minneapolis Comic-Con

The Minneapolis Comic-Con was an annual comics convention held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1972 to 1983. It was founded by David Mruz, the founder of Minnesota Comics fandom (including the Minnesota Comics and Fantasy Association [MCFA]). Later shows were co-produced by Mruz and Joel Thingvall.

History
"Mruz produced the initial "milk and cookie" Union Hall conventions in 1972-1973, then major shows in 1974-75. Someone else did a show in 1976. Then Dave teamed with Joel Thingvall to produce shows in the Twins Cities from 1977 to 1983. (Mruz is also the editor of Mindrot/Animania (animation magazines).)" -- From Alan Light Flickr page

"It all started back in 1974 with a gathering of fans at a south Minneapolis Union Hall before graduating to big places like the Old Curtis Hotel and Leamington Hotels in downtown Minneapolis (because people rode buses then and ALL buses came downtown), all under the guidance of animation fan and comics historian David Mruz. But when growing up, kids, and the lack of getting hotel space died in 1983, the convention, then run by Dave and The Minnesota Comics and Fantasy organization, fell off the grid, until a new and younger crop of fans took the lead and brought the event back at the Maplewood Community Center, And the conventions have reamained a total celebration of comic books and comic art, giving free space to regional talent to tell others of their work, bringing in oldtime as well as new “fan fave” artists, and offering panels, in-the-aisle discussions, cosplaying and a general world of fun for like-minded folks." — Joel Thingvall http://twincitiesgeek.com/2016/05/for-comics-creators-and-fans-msp-comicon-is-unlike-any-other-con/

"Early in 1976, renowned comics historian/fandom sparkplug David Mruz hosted a meeting of the Minnesota Comics Collectors Association. Bona fide comics legend C.C. Beck happened to be in town, and he showed up to display and talk about the wonderful papier-mache rayguns and swords he was designing and creating. It was there at Dave's house that we (oblivious to each other, as is pretty much the case to this day,) first appeared together in the same room. The formal introductions were performed later that year at a Minneapolis comics convention, Microcon 3, by cartoonist/collector/bon vivant Larry Becker: "Steve...Rich. Rich...Steve. One or both of you may just want to turn around and walk away right now." http://mnstf.org/minicon40/Minicon_40_program_book/M40_programbook-ASCIIonly.txt

Minicon

Mruz & Charles Schulz http://www.citypages.com/news/sorry-charlie-6707579

Sources consulted

 * Light, Alan. "David Mruz, the founder of Minnesota comics fandom," Flickr. Retrieved May 9, 2020.