5. The 1990s

1990 was a watershed year for the event as it moved to its current home at the San Diego Convention Centre, where it has continued to grow.

The large new digs allowed for more than 15,000 attendees to chat with the likes of comics legends John Romita Jr, and Spirit creator Will Eisner (for whom the event's comic book awards were named).

And it also provided extra rooms for the various panels and discussions, not to mention a bigger Artists' Alley (where creators could interact with fans and sign/sell swag).

Comics creators and cartoonists continued to dominate, but the shift towards film and TV was gathering pace.

Through the 1990s, the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Ray Harryhausen, Leonard Nimoy, Tia Carrera, Paul Verhoeven and even Mr T would show up to pimp their various projects.

1998 was the year that TV began to have a major impact on the Con - with minor riots breaking out over access to the autograph tables for gene favourite Buffy The Vampire Slayer.

Also that year, the event hit an all time high, garnering 42,000 visitors.

In 2000, Bryan Singer brought a preview X-Men, and was faced with fan fury over cutting the character of beast from that first X-film.

Then, in 2001, everything changed. Hollywood arrived in force..

Next: 2001: A Hollywood Odyssey