Sheldon Dorf, founder of Comic-con, is dead.

The Something Awful Forums > Main > General Bullshit > Sheldon Dorf, founder of Comic-con, is dead.

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The Steak Justice: Jul 16, 2009; You are amongst friends.

Source

quote:

Sheldon Dorf, the founder of Comic-Con, an annual comic book, science fiction and fantasy festival held in San Diego, died of complications related to diabetes Wednesday. Dorf, who was 76, was also a freelance writer and a letterist, but was best known for founding the convention -- the largest such event in the Western Hemisphere, bested only by France's Angoulême International Comics Festival.
...
At the time that Dorf stepped into the scene, comic books, science fiction and horror were located on the outer edges of popular culture, and were largely perceived as the province of adolescent boys. Still, as Dorf's first Comic-Con event showed, there was a groundswell for the genre. While the original 300 attendees pale beside this year's massive 125,000-person turnout, it was impressive for what was, at the time, a regional event.

While it's not as surprising as many this year, it's a pity nonetheless. Rest in peace, Mr. Dorf.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 01:16

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# ? Nov 21, 2009 03:49

Basketofpancakes: Sep 26, 2005

Rest well, dude I've never heard of until now.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 01:18

runupon cracker: Jan 13, 2006

I can think of no name nerdier than "Sheldon Dorf". And deservingly so. Goonspeed, Mr. Dorf.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 01:19

Shazzner: Feb 09, 2004; HAPPY GAMES ONLY

More like Sheldon Dork.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 01:24

Phobophilia: Apr 26, 2008; i u big boi

Ahahaha I knew it was diabetes before I even clicked the thread.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 01:26

Ken Levine Fan Club: Feb 22, 2008; Eat me before I rot.

My condolences to dem dorfs

# ? Nov 07, 2009 01:27

Sup Bro: Nov 01, 2008

someone posted:

While the original 300 attendees pale beside this year's massive 125,000-person turnout, it was impressive for what was, at the time, a regional event.

I'd like to think their use of the word "pale" is a pun referring to the pastiness of the nerds' skin.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 01:42

moss piglet: Jun 16, 2008; The water around Elephantine Isle is blue.

Looking forward to Dorf On the Afterlife

# ? Nov 07, 2009 01:56

FAH Q: Aug 19, 2007; If playground rules are not in effect, well, then this is anarchy!

I can't say I'm in any way surprised. Complications of diabetes sounds a lot like he drank too much Mt. Dew.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 01:58

slowdave: Jun 18, 2008

He was also 76.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 02:04

Dusseldorf: Mar 29, 2005

Well at least the celebrity death count isn't increasing anymore.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 02:05

waesa: Aug 06, 2002

Dusseldorf posted:

Well at least the celebrity death count isn't increasing anymore.

Dusseldorf, should be Insensitivedoft

# ? Nov 07, 2009 02:07

Dusseldorf: Mar 29, 2005

waesa posted:

Dusseldorf, should be Insensitivedoft

So will there be a fifteen hour line to get into his funeral?

Edit: But the line will be 95% twilight fans that want to get into Robert Pattinson's funeral early which is scheduled next.

Dusseldorf fucked around with this message at Nov 07, 2009 around 02:24

# ? Nov 07, 2009 02:10

Flash Gordon Ramsay: Sep 28, 2004

I thought he was the father of internal bushings.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 02:21

Fart of Presto: Feb 09, 2001

quote:

the largest such event in the Western Hemisphere, bested only by France's Angoulême International Comics Festival.

So it's the second largest. Why don't they just write that or is France not part of the Western Hemisphere?

# ? Nov 07, 2009 03:23

Primeous: Aug 23, 2009; God hates gay penguins

Fart of Presto posted:

So it's the second largest. Why don't they just write that or is France not part of the Western Hemisphere?

About 3/4 of France is in fact not in the Western Hemisphere. If you were unaware of this fact you need to open a book more than once a decade.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 03:26

Dusseldorf: Mar 29, 2005

Fart of Presto posted:

Why don't they just write that or is France not part of the Western Hemisphere?

France is part of the Eastern Hemisphere (at least where the festival is).

# ? Nov 07, 2009 03:27

Chair In A Basket: Aug 06, 2005; Only one round and Rokie's already tired!

Michael Dorn is still ok though.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 03:42

Chilly McFreeze: Mar 04, 2007; Or perhaps Ice Dagger.

Comic-con is where people go dressed up as comic books, right?

# ? Nov 07, 2009 03:43

Fart of Presto: Feb 09, 2001

Primeous posted:

About 3/4 of France is in fact not in the Western Hemisphere. If you were unaware of this fact you need to open a book more than once a decade.

Thanks for the fact check.
I'll hold on to the idea of opening a book until I've become a robot.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 04:05

FishBulb: Mar 29, 2003; Disrespectful to Gurkhas

Chilly McFreeze posted:

Comic-con is where people go dressed up as comic books, right?

No, its where they show trailers to movies that people line up for hours to see and people dress up as anime.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 04:07

Fart of Presto: Feb 09, 2001

Christ, while it's sad that a dude died, this whole thread screams for jokes of fat nerds in sailor suits dying of obesity.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 04:11

zeroprime: Mar 25, 2006; Words go here.

moss piglet posted:

Looking forward to Dorf On the Afterlife

Just need to dig a pair of leg holes into some clouds (or maybe brimstone).

# ? Nov 07, 2009 04:18

Ghrengis Khan: Jul 05, 2007; _~*^4 Ur Health^*~_

He also inspired at least one 'moving picture'

# ? Nov 07, 2009 06:50

CPL593H: Oct 28, 2009

I'd come suspecting he died because he saw one of those Comic Con picture threads and he killed himself.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 06:55

Jervas Dudley: Feb 18, 2007; I married a tiger!
(no furry)

Ghrengis Khan posted:

He also inspired at least one 'moving picture'

Whoa, wait. He was friends with Vincent Schiavelli? Awesome.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 07:00

MrDorf: Apr 28, 2006; if we can take these manufacturers with us we could make expendable sexy space crewwomen anytime

Didn't really know much about him, but I feel bad by default.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 07:04

Foodahn: Oct 05, 2006; I AM A SEXUALLY INDIGNANT ANDROID HERE ARE MY EQUATIONS

GOD drat YOU 2009! TAKING All of the cool.... people? maybe?

# ? Nov 07, 2009 07:08

Broken Loose: Dec 25, 2002; CODEX: SHEDINJA CULTS

my condorfences go out to his family

# ? Nov 07, 2009 07:15

Blazing Ownager: Jun 02, 2007

Chair In A Basket posted:

Michael Dorn is still ok though.

So is Stephen Dorff, who I first read the title as.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 07:19

Herv: Mar 24, 2005

Pourin out a 40 (Mt. Dew) for Mr. Borf Dorfenberger. Not sure how Comics are going to survive without the early Giants, the big guys, like Dorf.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 10:38

Colonel Aureliano: Feb 17, 2009

Primeous posted:

About 3/4 of France is in fact not in the Western Hemisphere. If you were unaware of this fact you need to open a book more than once a decade.

The Western Hemisphere has a different (but equally valid) meaning in geopolitics.

Perhaps you should also open a book sometime.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 11:43

Dusseldorf: Mar 29, 2005

Colonel Aureliano posted:

The Western Hemisphere has a different (but equally valid) meaning in geopolitics.

Yes, but the article clearly wasn't referring to the western hemisphere as the western world.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 12:02

RevKrule: Jul 09, 2001; Thrilling the forums since 2001

FishBulb posted:

No, its where they show trailers to movies that people line up for hours to see and people dress up as anime.

You're missing the best part. Standing in line for 10 hours for a toy that comes with a red gun instead of a blue gun because in 50 years it'll be worth a fortune because it was an "exclusive."

Also, they celebrated his death by selling out all 4 day passes....for next year.....which takes place in July.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 12:07

Iron Crowned: May 06, 2003; Stained sweatpants. Bad facial hair. Shrill voice. Spergin rules knowledge. Casino dice. CHECK. Games Day, here I come!

slowdave posted:

He was also 76.

I didn't realize Comic-Con was that old... I figured dude would be 26 and it would involve one or more hookers.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 13:54

El Jackalope: Sep 11, 2001; Ein Vulcan, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer!

I met him a couple times years ago and he was a really nice guy and had a lot of influence on comic fandom back in the day. Last SD Comic Con I went to was over 20 years ago though.

Oh well, thanks for the fun, Sheldon.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 14:07

FishBulb: Mar 29, 2003; Disrespectful to Gurkhas

RevKrule posted:

You're missing the best part. Standing in line for 10 hours for a toy that comes with a red gun instead of a blue gun because in 50 years it'll be worth a fortune because it was an "exclusive."

Hey man I didn't want to write whole paragraphs or nothing.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 14:24

GnatKingCoal: Dec 17, 2008

First Gygax and now Dorf.

I am heartbraked.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 21:06

Svengali G: Jan 26, 2009

Relax, they're going to bring him back next month.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 21:48

vanbags: Dec 06, 2003; An ape.

Herv posted:

Pourin out a 40 (Mt. Dew) for Mr. Borf Dorfenberger. Not sure how Comics are going to survive without the early Giants, the big guys, like Dorf.

FAH Q posted:

I can't say I'm in any way surprised. Complications of diabetes sounds a lot like he drank too much Mt. Dew.

What's the deal with Mountain Dew and nerds? I've seen this comparison around for ages, but I've never made the connection. I know WoW apparently had a promotion with them, but this joke pre-dates that.

I like Mountain Dew, damnit. And oddly enough I've rarely seen a nerd drink it. They're usually holding a Starbucks cup or a big gulp from the gas station.

# ? Nov 07, 2009 22:05

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The Something Awful Forums > Main > General Bullshit > Sheldon Dorf, founder of Comic-con, is dead.

Pages (2): 12 Next ›

quote:

HAPPY GAMES ONLY

someone posted:

Dusseldorf posted:

waesa posted:

quote:

Fart of Presto posted:

Fart of Presto posted:

Primeous posted:

Chilly McFreeze posted:

moss piglet posted:

Ghrengis Khan posted:

Chair In A Basket posted:

Primeous posted:

Colonel Aureliano posted:

FishBulb posted:

slowdave posted:

RevKrule posted:

Herv posted:

FAH Q posted: