Interview with San Diego Comic Fest's Matt Dunford

I’m talking today with Matt Dunford, one of the organizers of San Diego Comic Fest, a wonderful small convention that is reemerging at a new date and location after struggling to find their footing again after Covid. Everyone I’ve ever talked to who has been to this show says it’s one of their favorites all year, so we are excited about their return.

Kim: Hi Matt! I’m happy to see the return of Comic Fest! I love this show. The guests, programming, and exhibit floor are exceptional for a smaller show, and everyone is so relaxed and open to conversation. It’s at a different time in a new location this year. Could you talk about that?

Matt: The feel of San Diego Comic Fest has always been around a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. One where fans and professionals alike can meet in an environment to have a wonderful weekend getaway. We have upgraded our setting to the Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa this year. It is a very luxurious spot, and I am in disbelief that we could have San Diego Comic Fest. It is such a beautiful place. It is located in North County San Diego, right next to Legoland and has a stunning ocean view. 

Matt Dunford as seen on “Love on the spectrum.”

Kim: You have an impressive group of special guests this year. Please talk about them.

Matt: We always like to shake up the Special Guest list with new creators every year. We want fans to have the chance to meet these icons and learn about their work and as individuals. This year, our Guest of Honor is the legendary Rick Geary. Many people know him as the creator of the San Diego Comic-Con Toucan mascot, but there is so much more to him. He earned an Eisner Award for his work on Gumby and did the Treasure of XX Century Murder graphic novels, MAD, and National Lampoon. I grew up with his work in Disney Adventures. We also have Special Guest Jill Thompson, who was just inducted into the Eisner Hall of Fame. Fans worldwide know her as the creator of Scary Godmother and for working on comics such as Sandman, Beasts of Burden, Wonder Woman, and The Invisibles. I'm looking forward to seeing Special Guest Mark Russell, who I have become such a huge fan of in recent years. His work on comics such as Superman: Space Age, The Flintstones, Not All Robots, Batman: Dark Age and Billionaire Island have all been incredible stories. The thing I like most about San Diego Comic Fest is looking up to these creators as heroes on the show's first day, and by the end, you call them friends.

Kim: I saw Rick Geary at SDCC on the Gumby aniversary panel a few years ago and the entire audience sang the Gumby theme song at the end. It was awesome! It looks like there is a Twilight Zone theme this year. Are you going to decorate?

Matt: This year, we had a tough time deciding on a theme for the show. We were stuck between a giant of science fiction and a giant of cartooning. In the end, we decided that both of their contributions were too important to overshadow each other. For the 2024 San Diego Comic Fest, we are celebrating 100 Years of Rod Serling and 100 Years of Harvey Kurtzman. We will have plenty of decorations around the event to celebrate their work and legacies.

Special Guest and Kurtzman expert Michael Dooley checking out a giant at a previous SDCF.

Kim: I see you have added an educational track with instructions on how to use software to make comics. Who is teaching these sessions?

Matt: We want San Diego Comic Fest to be an opportunity to meet creators and learn from them. So, we offer digital arts workshops to anyone wanting to learn from industry professionals. These workshops offer a variety of classes, including photo editing, creating webcomics, and digital coloring. Some very decorated industry veterans are teaching these classes, including Tony Washington, who recently won an Eisner Award for his work on the All-Negro Comics 75th Anniversary Edition.

Kim: I’m happy to see many panels celebrating Harry Kurtzman, who was a giant in comics and such a huge influence on so many cartoonists.

Matt: I'm thrilled that we get to celebrate 100 years of Harvey Kurtzman. His cartoons redefined how we view satire, and many creators cite him as an inspiration for their work. The world mainly knows him as one of the founding fathers of MAD, but his creative reach spans far beyond the usual gang of idiots. Kurtzman did war comics and science fiction and spent 26 years at Playboy doing “Annie Fanny” cartoons. His styles are always funny, creative and entertaining. There is always something to learn about Harvey Kurtzman's life and career.

Kim: I am sorry to miss the tribute to Trina Robbins, who passed this year in April. I always looked forward to meeting her and Steve for breakfast, and we had many long conversations in the lobby. Trina loved your show, it was one of her favorites. Best of luck with the show Matt, I hope it’s a great success! Here’s a link to all SDCF information: https://www.sdcomicfest.org/