Geek History

Geek Culture has emerged in recent years as a genuine culture, and has even developed its own beliefs, myths, and traditions. Geek Culture also has a history that has inevitably shaped it, from the introduction of science fiction pulp magazines in the 1930s to comic books in the 1940s, the premiers of Star Trek and Star Wars to the evolution of fan conventions. And just like with any culture, understanding the history of Geek Culture offers a better understanding of the diverse communities that encompass it.

1964 New York Comicon

The first comic book convention featured the one-and-only con appearance by legendary artist Steve Ditko and set the stage for similar events across the country, including San Diego.

Birth of Superman

Cleveland residents Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster created the first comic book superhero, using nothing more than their imagination and various influences from 1930s popular culture.

Birth of the Living Dead

The 2013 documentary examines the classic Pittsburgh zombie film Night of the Living Dead and contains many anecdotes from director George A. Romero regarding the production.

Bjo Trimble and the Good Ship Enterprise

The legendary Star Trek fan played a significant role in the early days of the sci-fi franchise, including organizing a “Save Star Trek” campaign during the 1960s.

First College Course on Comic Books

Indiana University student Michael Uslan successfully proposed a course on comic books in 1972, the first solely centered on the medium, that generated publicity across the country.

Grover Krantz: In Search of Bigfoot

The Washington State University anthropologist was a firm believer in Bigfoot and devoted his life to scientifically proving the creature’s existence despite derision from his fellow academics.

Harry: A History of Pottermania

Melissa Anelli of the Leaky Cauldron had a front-row seat during the formation of Harry Potter fandom in the early 2000s and tells the story of its evolution in her book Harry: A History.

Jackie Ormes and African American Comic Strips

The first African American female cartoonist was born in the Steel City and created two successful comic strips, Patty-Jo ’n’ Ginger and Torchy in Heartbeats, for the national Pittsburgh Courier.

Kenneth Arnold and the First Flying Saucer

Kenneth Arnold reported the first documented UFO sighting on June 24, 1947, while traveling past Mount Rainier near Seattle, giving rise to the phrase “flying saucers” in the process.

Magic: The Gathering

The popular trading card game began as a tale of two cities on opposite ends of the country, with Richard Garfield designing the game in Philadelphia and a Seattle-based company producing it.

Nellie Bly’s Race Around the World

In 1889, the Pittsburgh-bred female journalist embarked on a solo journey around the world to break the fictional record set by Jules Verne’s Phileas Fogg in Around the World in Eighty Days.

Secret History of Wonder Woman

In her 2014 biography, historian Jill Lepore chronicles the life of psychiatrist William Moulton Marston, and how his beliefs and experiences influenced the creation of Wonder Woman.

The Early Days of Buffy Fandom

In her book Will the Vampire People Please Leave the Lobby?, Allyson Beatrice offers insights into the early years of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fandom and the community that formed online.

The Rise of Science Fiction Rock and Roll

The late 1960s and early 1970s witnessed the emergence of science fiction rock music, a hybrid that combined the two mediums and genres into a form of literature and musical entertainment.

The Robots of Westinghouse

The Pittsburgh-based company was at the forefront of robotic design and creation during the first half of the twentieth century, beginning with Herbert Televox and including Elektro the Moto-Man.