Comic-Con International, the largest comic book and popular arts convention in the Western Hemisphere, today announced the first round of winners in its comics sweepstakes for the 2010 show. In addition to the eight pairs of four-day passes (including Preview Night) already given away, eight more fans will win pairs of passes on Friday, July 9 and on Friday, July 16.

You must be 18 years old and a resident of the United States to eligible for the random drawing. Simply click on the promotion’s banner ad at one of the following four comics websites:

• ComicsReporter.com

• ComicsBeat.com

• ComicBookResources.com

• TCJ.com (The Comics Journal)

Comic-Con features more professionals, programming, and publishers from the comic book industry than any other convention. The show will be held July 22-25 at the San Diego Convention Center, kicking off with Preview Night on July 21. Badges have been sold out for months.

Below are the sweepstakes winners for the week of July 2:

Chris C. - Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Donald S. - Ottsville, Penn.

Greg N. - Billings, Mont.

Jake N. - Bloomington, Ind.

Lisette O. - Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Marc P. - St Augustine, Fla.

Orlando T. - Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Sandra P. - San Diego, Calif.

Complete rules are available at:

http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci10_more_comics_contest.php?ck=#rules

About Comic-Con International:

Comic-Con International is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to creating awareness of, and appreciation for, comics and related popular art forms, primarily through the presentation of conventions and events that celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture. In addition to its San Diego convention each summer, Comic-Con International organizes the San Francisco-based WonderCon each spring and the Alternative Press Expo each fall.