Though it primarily focuses on comic books, the convention features a large range of pop culture elements, such as graphic novels, cinema, science fiction/fantasy, television, animation, anime, manga, toys, horror, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels.

Changes in the industry, popular culture, and the resurgent city itself since the troubled 1960s and '70s made large-scale comic-book conventions difficult to hold profitably.

"[8] On February 29, 1996, just two days before it was to start, Fred Greenberg cancelled[9] what had been advertised as a larger-than-usual Great Eastern show, scheduled for March 2–3 at the New York Coliseum, which the fan press had suggested[10] might herald a successor to the 1968–1983 Comic Art Convention.

[11] On the spur of the moment, comic book retailers Michael Carbonaro, Vince Gulla,[11] and Vincent Zurzuolo,[12] all of whom had planned to sell their wares at the Great Eastern show,[9] mounted a substitute convention in the basement of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle.

[22] In 2009, the Big Apple Comic Con was purchased by Gareb Shamus of Wizard Entertainment; Michael Carbonaro was retained as a senior adviser.

[31] In 2009, Michael Carbonaro established his own independent one-day convention known as the New York Comic Book Marketplace which ran annually through 2014.

[12][32] The guest of honor was Stan Lee; other guests included George Pérez, Joe Sinnott, Dick Ayers, Carmine Infantino, Jim Steranko, Irwin Hasen, Mike Royer, Arthur Suydam, Bob McLeod, Rich Buckler, and Johnny Brennan, and Captain Zorikh's costume contest.

[34] Mr. Carbonaro, as front person for the newly formed Big Apple CC Corp reacquired the convention from Wizard in 2014.

The first show after regaining the BACC name, dubbed the "20th Anniversary Return of the Big Apple Convention," was held March 7, 2015, at the Penn Plaza Pavilion.

[36][a] With the holiday-themed December 2019 iteration of the show, the Big Apple Comic Con moved locations to the New Yorker Hotel.

[39] On July, 17th 2021 the BACC "25th Anniversary Prequel" was the first in-person comic convention held in New York City as it reopened after the pandemic, and September 25–26, the Big Apple Comic Con held its Silver Anniversary show; [40][41] Since post Covid 2012, now a fixture of the New Yorker Hotel, the BACC has hosted 5 events beginning March 26, 2022, an annual "Christmas Con" in December (in 2024 called "Holiday Con"), and (along with promoter Laz Rivero) the first Big Apple Trading Card Show, held on January 29, 2022, at the New Yorker Hotel.

[16] He singled out the November 2008 show in particular as "the worst convention I've ever had the displeasure to sit through", for the lackluster celebrity guests, the lack of floor plan guides for attendees, inconsistently-functioning restrooms, elevator, and escalators, the poorly performing volunteer staff, and an overall seedy, flea market atmosphere of rude dealers, creators inattentive to fans, and attendees who were disproportionately male.

[43] Similarly, journalist Heidi MacDonald criticized the Penn Plaza Pavilion location as "eight pounds of sh-t in a five-pound bag."

Fans positive response to the BACC, offers a good idea of the excitement, fun, and intimate atmosphere of a comic convention that caters to contact and really having time to meet the guests.

Roland Edwards writing on the BACC Facebook page in 2019: "I was impressed by how well big name guests like William Shatner and Kathleen Turner were treated...The venue is intimate and conveniently located near mass transit.