San Diego Comic Con International announced this weekend the dates for its first in-person convention since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with Comic-Con Special Edition set to run over the Thanksgiving weekend from November 26 to November 28. Now, organizers are having to defend those dates to fans disappointed that they have to choose between family and a convention this fall.

Comic-Con Special Edition is a three-day event, one day shorter than a full-size Comic-Con, and quite a bit later than its usual July dates. Fans decried the announcement on social media, and convention organizers have now released a statement in hopes of appeasing those conflicted con-goers.

"As conventions and events have had to cancel their in-person shows or have converted to virtual formats during the pandemic, some have been postponed to later years while others have been rescheduled to the later part of 2021, resulting in a very packed Convention Center calendar," said convention organizers in an official statement. "When reviewing dates for an in-person event, it was clear that available meeting and exhibit space would limit our options. Of the dates presented with the fewest restrictions, Friday through Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend seemed to be the best balance of available space and our envisioned event. As longtime fans ourselves, we have attended many conventions over that holiday weekend, opting to spend Thanksgiving day with family and the rest of the weekend with friends and our families of choice. While this is not unusual in the convention trade, we understand this choice is not optimal for everyone."