Washington DC, [USA] Nov 11: The president of Comic-Con International, John Rogers, has passed away on Saturday after battling brain cancer.

The news of his demise was announced by the event's organisers on their Facebook page. "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of John Rogers, President of Comic-Con. John died on Saturday, November 10, 2018, as a result of complications from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer," the convention authorities wrote.

Rogers died hours after the badges for next year's convention were sold out, reported Deadline. The next convention will be held from July 18 to July 21, 2019. Rogers was elected as the President of the convention back in 1986 and was re-elected each time ever since. It made him the longest-serving president of Comic-Con.

"As our longest serving president, first elected in 1986 and re-elected every year since John's tenure saw Comic-Con grow from a select gathering of fans to the largest and most prestigious convention of its kind in the world," the authorities pointed out.

Before becoming the President, he worked as a Technical Coordinator and Films Coordinator for Comic-Con, after getting involved with it back in 1978.

Comic-Con officials further announced that in honour of Rogers, donations would be made to The American Brain Tumor Association or the American Civil Liberties Union, instead of offering flowers at his memorial.

Comic-Con Convention had a humble beginning from the basement of US Grant Hotel back in 1970.