Originally showcasing comic books and related popular arts, the convention has expanded over the years to include a larger range of pop culture elements, such as professional wrestling, science fiction/fantasy, film and television, horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels.

She ran the show, which featured movie screenings,[4] as well as dealers from as far as Los Angeles, Atlanta,[5] Buffalo, New York, and Oklahoma City.

[7] In 1975, Warner approached local comic book store owner Joe Sarno[8] and his associate Mike Gold to produce the show.

In 1977, the Chicago Comicon moved back to the Pick-Congress Hotel, on 520 S. Michigan Avenue (the location of the 1973 show), where it remained until 1983.

Show organizers hosted a "Chicago Minicon" on April 26–27, 1980, at the usual location of the Pick-Congress Hotel; guests included John Byrne, Max Allan Collins, Tim Conrad, Mike Grell, Paul Kupperberg, and Marv Wolfman.

[11] He returned in 1982 as the guest of honor, which was the same year that the Chicago Comicon merged with Panopticon West, a Doctor Who convention.

"[11] The Comicon was expanding, and in 1983 the show moved to the larger venue, the Ramada O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois, a northern suburb.

It also featured a panel on underground comics that included Harvey Pekar, Jay Lynch, Skip Williamson, and S. Clay Wilson.

[20] By then, the convention ownership included Charet,[12] while the main show organizer was Moondog Comics owner Gary Colabuono.

In 1996, the Chicago Comicon became the new home of the Wizard World Fan Awards, which were presented at the show every year until their discontinuation in 2006.

Disgraced former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich made an appearance at the 2010 Wizard World Chicago, conversing with and taking pictures with attendants.

Comic fandom website bleedingcool.com reported that Blagojevich was met with a mostly positive reception, while Time Out Chicago described it as mixed.

In addition, local dealers resented the show's location outside of Chicago's city limits and its high exhibition prices.