Six years before I attended my first comic book convention, 44 other fans attended the first comic book convention. And as part of an article recapping the 2014 New York Comic Con panel “Survivors of the First Comiccon,” Alter Ego #137 reprinted a list of those who attended that July 27, 1964 gathering at Manhattan’s Workmen’s Circle Building.

Check out the first name on the roster published immediately after the event by Bernie Bubnis. It should be one you recognize.

And if you were reading Blastr back when I was editing that site, you’d already know he was also the first person to purchase a ticket to the con.

(Note that according to the caption accompanying this image, Jerry Bails didn’t actually attend that first con, while Pat Yanchus did, but was left off the list.)

To find out more, and read reminiscences from Len Wein, Howard Rogofsky, and others, why not order a copy of Alter Ego #137?