The San Diego Comic Fest (October 19-21, 2012) is proud to pay tribute to Ken Krueger (1926-2009). A member of science-fiction’s First Fandom, as a teenage fan Ken attended the first World Science Fiction Convention in 1939. In succeeding decades he played a significant role in fandom, was a pioneering small-press publisher, and a mail-order dealer and bookstore owner.
Along the way, he found time to mentor and encourage many young fans who were aspiring to become professionals in comics and science fiction. Among those who became professionals with his encouragement are science-fiction author Greg Bear, and comic creators John Pound, Scott Shaw!, and Jim Valentino.
Ken also played an important role in making sure that the San Diego Comic-Con got off to a good start by serving as the Chairman of its first multi-day convention in August, 1970, and he continued to help keep Comic-Con running smoothly and successfully in subsequent years. And, of course, Comic-Con has played a significant role in the launching of a huge number of professional careers over the years.
In gratitude for what Ken did for fandom in general, and for Comic-Con and the aspiring professionals he mentored and encouraged in particular, the San Diego Comic Fest will be presenting “pay-it-forward” Q&A sessions to help aspiring writers and artists succeed as professionals. The first two friends of Ken who have generously volunteered to show their gratitude to him by conducting Q&A sessions are Image Comics’ Jim Valentino and comics creator and animator Scott Shaw!.
In addition to the Q&A sessions, you can expect to enjoy other Ken-related programming at the San Diego Comic Fest. We hope you’ll join us in San Diego over the October 19-21, 2012 weekend for what should prove to be a memorable experience.
For more information, please visit www.sdcomicfest.org.
Ken Krueger caricature by Milton Caniff