Great Eastern Conventions

Great Eastern Conventions, Inc. was an entertainment company which produced comic book conventions, most actively during the years 1987-1996. In New York City, the Great Eastern shows filled the gap between the mid-1980s demise of the annual Comic Art Convention and Creation Conventions, and the establishment of promoter Michael Carbonaro's annual Big Apple Comic Con in 1996. From 1993–1995, Great Eastern hosted two New York City shows annually at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Great Eastern also ran shows in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Oregon, Minnesota, and Texas.

Great Eastern was founded in 1977 by New Jersey-based promoter Frederic Greenberg.

Greenberg, a comic book fan himself, began hosting conventions in 1977 after he discovered that there weren't regular shows in his area.

From 1983–1987, Great Eastern hosted monthly conventions in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, routinely drawing between 150 and 175 people. Originally based in Boonton, New Jersey, by 1989 the company had moved its offices to Ringoes, New Jersey.

Great Eastern hosted comic book conventions in South Florida from 1990-1994. Venues included the Howard Johnson Hotel—North Miami Beach, the Marriott Hotel—Coral Gables, and the Marriott Hotel—Hialeah Gardens. Featured guests varied based on availability, such as Stan Lee, Todd McFarlane, George Pérez, Rob Liefeld, Jim Starlin, John Beatty, Pat Broderick, Martin Nodell, Joe Staton, Mike Zeck, Dick Giordano. Great Eastern pulled out of South Florida after 1994 as a result of after-effects from Hurricane Andrew's impact in August 1992.

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