Comic-Con San Diego through the years

Mike Towry, 15, a Kearny High sophomore and comic book entrepreneur at San Diego’s first Comic-Con in the U.S. Grant Hotel on Aug. 2, 1970.

An original Comic-Con poster from the first year of the convention in San Diego.

Kirk Alyn, left, who portrayed the Daily Planet’s Ace reporter in the 1948 movie “Superman” and in 1950’s “Atom Man vs Superman” was a guest of honor at the second annual Golden State Comic-Con held at UC San Diego’s Muir College in 1971. One man who got Alyn’s autograph was Forrest J. Ackerman, editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine.

Shel Dorf, founder of Comic-Con, with the Fantastic Four and other fabulous superheroes in 1971.

A poster from the second year of Comic-Con in San Diego.

A poster from Comic-Con’s third year.

Dave Grisez sets up old movie posters for San Diego Comic-Con at the Sheraton Inn-Airport on Aug. 15, 1973.

Liz Day displays a collection of comic books as San Diego Comic-Con opens at the Sheraton in 1973.

Comic fans in costume at the El Cortez Hotel.

Captain Sticky signs autographs at the San Diego Comic-Con in the El Cortez Hotel.

Dr. Curtis W. Fisher and his son, John, get a look and a laugh from one of the comic books at the San Diego Comic-Con in the El Cortez Hotel in 1975.

Bill Lund shows a Flash Gordon book to little Harry Knowles, 3-1/2, of Austin, Texas, at the San Diego Comic-Con in the El Cortez Hotel. Knowles would go on to found the website Ain’t It Cool News.

Hisao Kato scans some of his favorite Japanese comics at the El Cortez Hotel. Kato bought American comics for the Japanese market, in addition to collecting them.

Comic book fans Freddie Lewis, 12, left, and Marshall Beck, 12, both of Normal Heights, set aside superhero comics to check out a copy of “Howard the Duck” in 1976.

The annual San Diego Comic-Con drew thousands of fans to the El Cortez hotel July 20-24, 1977.

Joe Jones of Las Vegas paints an image of Spider-Man at the 1977 San Diego Comic-Con held at the El Cortez hotel.

Robert Heinlein, the dean of science fiction writers, appears at the 1977 Comic-Con. Heinlein, 72, and his wife of 35 years, Virginia, paid their own way to the San Diego convention. Robert Heinlein holds a depiction of the character Rhysling, painted by artist Roger Stine, from Heinlein’s book “The Green Hills of Earth.”

Shel Dorf, president of Comic-Con, at his home in San Diego.

David Davis dressed as a Gorean warrior checks out a Darth Vader helmet at the San Diego Comic-Con in the El Cortez Hotel.

Arnie Scheiman of New York shows some of his wares to Doug Sulipa of Winnipeg, Canada, at the San Diego Comic-Con in Golden Hall Convention Center.

Comic fans in costume check in at Comic-Con.

“Security robot” Russell Leuck stands guard at the 1981 San Diego Comic Convention at the El Cortez Hotel.

Comic-book dealers display wares for collectors at the El Cortez Hotel in San Diego in 1981.

An inflatable Spiderman hovers above the crowd in 1992 at the San Diego Convention Center.

Dressed as Captain America, Jeff Holland of Meridian, Miss., walks through the art showcase at the San Diego Convention Center in 1994.

People try their hand at a virtual game at the San Diego Convention Center in 1994.

Brian Prey shows friend Joe Hodson (both from Encinitas) an illustration from “Evil Ernie - #1 - Resurection” as they take a break from the crowded main hall of San Diego Comic Con at the San Diego Convention Center in 1995.

Old comic books are displayed at the San Diego Comic-Con in 1995.

Billy Cheng, 5, left, and his brother, Sunny, 6, of San Francisco watch as Ron Lim of Marvel Comics sketches Batman in 1996.

Monte M. Moore paints Wonder Woman at Comic-Con in 1997.

Armando Creeper in costume at Comic-Con International in 1997.

Vernon Lingley, left, Patrick Connors and Lance Tabor check out a video of “Space Bunnies” (which is also a comic book) at Comic-Con in 1998.

Kevin Smith, director and cartoonist, talks with a “Clerks” fan while signing autographs at Comic-Con in 2000.

Chad Williams (in the “Cal” hat) instructs David Ortega, left, of Riverside how to play the “Lord of the Rings” trading card game in 2002.

Matthew Rios, 18, of San Diego, walks through a crowded San Diego Convention Center in his homemade Superman costume in 2002.

Vegetius, a character from the Kaiju action book series and DVD “Kaiju Big Battel,” waves to Crystial Graham, a model representing the film “Species III Sexy Alien.”

A crowded convention floor in 2005.

Samuel L. Jackson takes a fan’s question during a preview of his film “Snakes on a Plane” at Comic-Con in 2006.

Director J.J. Abrams reveals his first casting for the “Star Trek” reboot at Comic-Con in 2007.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. greet the audience before a panel discussion and clips from the Marvel film “Iron Man.”

John Welch of Hollywood walks around around the floor at Comic-Con 2010 as Master Chief from “Halo.”

Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield talk about “The Amazing Spiderman” at Comic-Con in 2011.

The Batmobile from the Adam West “Batman” TV show makes an appearance in 2012 to help promote the Warner Bros. film “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Thomas Willeford of Harrisonburg, Pa., comes dressed as Steampunk Iron Man circa 1889 for the 2014 Comic-Con preview night.

San Diego friends Elizabeth Walsh, left, and Traci Haze clown around with a model of “The Hobbit’s” Gollum at Comic-Con in 2014.