The first ICON Comic & Games Convention was held in 1992 in the Paterson Park Recreation Centre in Norwood. The first event ran over two days and drew a small but intensely passionate attendance, ensuring that it had to be repeated.

Since then, ICON has had three more homes with Jabula Recreation Centre in Sandringham  hosting the event from 2002. There are certain things about ICON that haven’t changed, however: each year, ICON has carried a theme – be it steampunk, the zombie apocalypse or an attack of the 80’s TV shows. The theme adorned mugs and t-shirts each and every year, which have become collector’s items for the avid attendees.

From as early as 1995, ICON has played host to national tournaments for various game systems including Magic: The Gathering, Settlers of Catan, Ticket To Ride and a plethora more. ICON soon established itself as the staple event for geeks and gamers of all types from around the country, often becoming the only inter-provincial trip of the year for fans outside Gauteng.