“I am never going to one of these things again.”
– Amy,
May 2010 at the Motor City Comic Con
We booked the hotel for the San Diego Comic Con relatively late (as in two months ago) and hence had to pack two kids, Amy, myself, and cousin Kevin in a tiny one bed, single room at the (Dis)Comfort Inn. But like the superhero saying goes: With great awesomeness, comes a lot of shit.
COMIC CON TIP #1: Buy your convention tickets early, like within a month that they go on sale.
COMIC CON TIP #2: Make reservations for your hotel and plane tickets the month you buy the convention tickets.
The first half day before the San Diego Comic Con opened, we went to Sea World (only 8 miles from the convention center – thanks for the suggestion, A). The kids loved it.
(Click pics to enlarge. Hover mouse over pic for invaluable commentary.)
After Sea World, it was off to Comic Con. The line for our badges was short. The line to get into the actual convention area was three hours in a large but stuffy hall. My underrated superpower, Diminished Sense of Smell, was incredibly useful here. (Amy’s superpower, Ajumma Rage, continued to charge exponentially though.)
When we finally entered the main area of the convention (the Exhibit Hall), I was greatly relieved to find the crowd surprisingly sparse for the first half hour. But after that it was like cramming through the “popular crowd” congested hallways in high school all over again, if the popular crowd was ruled by geeks and cosplayers that is.
COMIC CON TIP #3: If you want to get in the con as soon as the doors open, you will be waiting in lines. If you want to get in AFTER the doors open, almost no lines and almost no difference.
COMIC CON TIP #4: For the inevitable lines (for big celeb/movie panels), bring something to read, a laptop, or mini-gaming device. Food is good too.
COMIC CON TIP #5: Wear your most comfortable shoes ever.
I found some great Justice League Unlimited figures that I’ve been missing. I walked right by Blair Butler from G4 (who looks better in person) doing an interview. Amy found some cute hats for the kids. O0seung got caught by the Ugly Doll area. Sun 5u got tractor beamed into the Lego area (and snagged a passcode into the Lego MMO beta, although I doubt I’ll let him play an MMO). Over the next several hours and days, I got caught up in the costumed fans and booth babes, exhibits 1-100 below.
(Click pics to enlarge. Hover mouse over pic for invaluable commentary and boob jokes.)
The elf girl costume above reminds me of
COMIC CON TIP #6: If you are a pretty female in a revealing costume, expect to get pictures taken of you, every minute, hour, and day of Comic Con. Consider bringing an overcoat (a.k.a. magical Elven Cloak of Invisibility) when you really want to get somewhere without being interrupted by cameras. (If you’re nasty looking, don’t worry about it, life rules still apply.)
COMIC CON TIP #7: Bring a better digital camera than your iPhone. Higher resolution and a little zoom would be nice too. (This is a reminder for myself.)
COMIC CON TIP #8: Do not assume the super obese guy in front of you is dressed as The Blob (from X-Men).
COMIC CON TIP #9: Do not assume the bald guy in the wheelchair is dressed as Professor X from the X-Men either.
COMIC CON TIP #10: Do not assume redheads in wheelchairs are dressed as Oracle (Barbara Gordon).
COMIC CON TIP #11: If you need a quick costume, you can always go Steampunk. Just use 2 or more of the following: goggles, overcoat, random metal plating, pocket watch, and lameness.
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CONVENTIONAL HEROES
At one point, Kevin and I stopped to rest and eat (the last thing on your mind at the Con until you’re about to faint, seriously) in the table area. A familiar yellow and black masked man asked us,
“Are these seats open?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
The Wolverine costumer and his friend Saw plopped into the chairs.
“Man, my face feels like hamburger from this thing,” he said as he removed the mask revealing an otherwise normal looking guy. Saw guy just nodded quietly and enigmatically behind his.
“Great costume,” Kevin said to Wolvie, “How’d you make it?”
“I got the pieces from all over,” Wolvie began his friendly tale, seeming relieved at having a normal conversation out of character. Afterwards he excused himself to get some food.
Saw guy just sat there, eventually taking off his mask too, revealing a brown-skinned bald young man. He seemed exhausted, sunk in his chair with a thousand yard stare towards the floor. I didn’t pester these anonymous celebrities (not such an oxymoron in this case); they’re the best part of these conventions. Walking around in a T-shirt gets hot and tiring as is. Wearing their gear and posing for pics all day must be a lot harder.
The unmasked Saw fell asleep in his chair within a minute. I saw his head jerk up twice as he seemed surprised he’d fallen asleep. Eventually, his friend Wolvie came back.
“I am so tired,” Wolvie said to Saw in low tones, assuming no one else could hear, “Maybe it’s time we take these off and actually enjoy the convention like everyone else. We’ve been at this for eight hours already. That’s good enough, ya think?”
I didn’t actually hear his buddy Saw say anything. Wolvie rubbed his face in his hands.
“Yeah, ya’ right,” Wolvie sighed, “We came all this way. And people are really digging us. Just a few more hours.”
His plasti-mantium claws picked up the tight-fitting face mask and put it back on, as his friend did the same. Then with a final sigh, said almost to himself,
“It’s … showtime.”
Almost instantly, a camera popped in front of them which they enthusiastically posed for. Then another one as they walked back toward the crowds. And another.
Poor guys. They were great.
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COMIC CON TIP #12: There are a lot of great panel discussions to go to. Look through the schedule the night before, circle them and plan accordingly.
COMIC CON TIP #13: There’s actually a babysitting/child care area ($9/hour) which is good for those long lines or panel discussions. Superheroes have kids too.
COMIC CON TIP #14: Have fun (but take your significant other back to the hotel if she gets bored out of her mind).
I still have a few more pictures and things to say about Comic Con (the panel discussions and seeing Bill Willingham, Matt Sturges, and other acclaimed writers). To be continued in the next entry.
