ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈoːɹ, wˌaɪl stˈɪl ɐ ɡɹˈædʒuːət stˈuːdənt, ɹˈiːd lˈɑːntʃt ðə kˈɪŋ kˈɑːn kˈɑːmɪk ænd fˈæntəsi kənvˈɛnʃən, ɐn ˈænjuːəl ᵻvˈɛnt sˈɛləbɹˌeɪɾɪŋ kˈɑːmɪks ænd pˈɑːp kˈʌltʃɚ.
In 1984, while still a graduate student, Reed launched the King Kon Comic & Fantasy Convention, an annual event celebrating comics and pop culture.