Ithaca
NY
14850
US
The Comic Book Club of Ithaca (CBCI) is the oldest active comic book fan club in the United States, founded on February 18, 1975 in Ithaca, New York. For fifty years the club has served as a gathering point for comic book readers, collectors, and professionals in the Ithaca area, meeting on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Tompkins County Public Library. Meetings are free and open to all. The club publishes The Panel, a members newsletter with issues dating back to the club's early years, archived editions of which are being digitized and made publicly available. CBCI is also the organizer of ITHACON — one of the longest-running comic book conventions in the northeastern United States, held annually at Ithaca College. As of 2026, 48 ITHACON conventions have been held since the club's founding, with ITHACON 49 scheduled for April 25–26, 2026 and ITHACON 50 planned for April 24–25, 2027. A virtual edition, ITHACON@Home, was held in April 2021 with a full YouTube playlist of sessions available for public viewing. The club celebrated its 50th anniversary at its February 18, 2025 meeting — marking half a century of continuous operation as an independent, community-run fan organization.
February 18, 1975: Founded in Ithaca, New York — first meeting held at the Ithaca Youth Bureau building, the 'Tin Can,' a former U.S. Navy Quonset hut at the entrance to Stewart Park; 1975 onward: ITHACON annual convention launched and held continuously; April 24, 2021: ITHACON@Home virtual convention held; February 18, 2025: 50th anniversary meeting; April 5–6, 2025: ITHACON 48 held at Ithaca College; April 25–26, 2026: ITHACON 49 scheduled at Ithaca College; April 24–25, 2027: ITHACON 50 scheduled at Ithaca College
Oldest active comic book fan club in the United States (founded February 18, 1975); 48+ consecutive ITHACON conventions held
