Posted on: July 31st, 2010 Con Artist: Comic-Con International San Diego 2010
Well now, the granddaddy of them all has come and gone. You no doubt were barraged with nonstop updates and tweets from all things SDCC. Perhaps a couple of news reports. Let’s see how the convention itself faired this year, shall we?
Few things you might want to know going into this: Ratings are on a scale of 5 fanboys. I don’t rent a car, so most things are done within walking distance. I don’t particularly care to eat AT the convention; I typically eat at surrounding restaurants. I’m usually with my brother, so most of what I do is good for two people. We’re panel people, I don’t really understand autographs and I like to buy toys and statues. Keep that in mind when you read these write-ups; since there’s a bunch of ways to do a con.
Comic-Con International-San Diego (SDCC)
July 21-25, 2010
San Diego Convention Center
111 West Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA
Single-Day Pass*: Varies on day purchased
4-Day Pass with Preview Night*: $100.00
*Passes only available online. No badges issued at doors.
Notable Guests:
Enough to make you soil yourself
Overview:
This is the event that should be on every geek’s bucket list. It is the Mecca of all things awesome. It doesn’t matter if your passion is films or toys, comic books or video games-this weekend has something for everybody. And I mean that. Everybody. It’s one thing to just sit back on the couch and watch G4’s condescending coverage of SDCC, it’s another thing entirely to be there. Since this is such a monstrous event, ironically the con’s weakness is it’s size. There’s just too much. You’ve got to know your priorities and you have to recognize the fact that you will not see everything you hope to. It can’t be done. In order to see that film footage in Hall H, chances are you’ll have to squat through at least one panel to insure you get a seat. It’s a bummer; so much so that there have been talks of moving the con out of San Diego. The lease of the convention center ends in 2012. There’s been no decision in the matter as of yet.
Panels: 5 Fanboys 
Somebody told Hollywood that people like comic book material and they just went to town. Between Thor, Captain America, Green Lantern and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, the entire convention was packed with footage, trailers, screenings and just photo opportunities with celebrities. Television, although not as huge as film, also got some big plugs-we’re talking Walking Dead, The Cape, No Ordinary Family, and some other not-so-new shows. It is, however, safe to say that comic books themselves took a back seat this year. We’re basically out of event season and consequently, there aren’t as many reveals and surprises in the world of comics. At any rate, the amount of big-name writers, artists, actors and directors made for some serious fan-favorite panels.
Vendors: 4 Fanboys 
I’ll give the vendors one thing, they sure do bring a lot. Of course, this year most sellers seemed to go home with a lot as well. There didn’t seem to be much traffic in the way of the smaller vendors. Most bags I saw were full of the big toy brands’ Comic-Con exclusives. I’m chalking up the inactivity of the market to the high prices. Sunday didn’t even bring the sales. What you used to see for 50% off on the last day now have signs for 25% off or “Taking Reasonable Offers”. Probably not the best way to move your products.
If you’re going for the big merchandisers exclusives, be prepared to wait in line. Don’t plan on doing much else. You’ll have to stand in line to get a voucher that allows you to stand in another line to buy something. Mattel had the decency to offer a pre-sale voucher system this year in which you could go to the neighboring Marriot hotel, show them your printed email, your SDCC badge, your I.D. and your credit card used to make the purchase and they would smile and hand you your toys. There were still lines but at least you were guaranteed that you would get the toys. That doesn’t always happen at the con.
If you’re looking for reading materials, it’s a great place to find some bargains. If you’re looking for one book in particular-good luck. It’s probably not going to happen. Outside of Mile High Comics, most stands have no organization. They try, it just doesn’t last after a group of readers pick over the boxes of trades like vultures on a dead animal’s carcass. Gross analogy but totally appropriate. If you’re diving in just to see what books you need, you can get a lot of trades 50% off on Sunday. Certain vendors offer discounts throughout the weekend if you’re buying more than 5 books.
Food: 5 Fanboys 
Inside the convention center you have your basic food jockeys. Crazy-ass expensive nachos, pretzels, cookies and limited Starbucks stands. Outside the convention center you’ve got a ridiculously huge variety to choose from. Walk 10 minutes any which way from the convention center and you’ll find plenty to choose from. Anything from your standard fast food joints to made-from-scratch menus. Personally, I’m crazy about sea food and buddy, San Diego’s got their fair share of sea food. I probably do just as much research about the food around SDCC as I do checking over the events, panels and guests. It’s definitely one of my favorite parts about the con.
Convention Center: 4 Fanboys 
I can see that a lot of people get overwhelmed at the size of the center. They’re the ones looking at the map in the Events Guide. Once you get the hang of how the rooms are laid out and where the escalators are, it’s fairly easy to navigate. You can try asking a volunteer for help but most of the time, they have no idea what you’re talking about. They’re glorified babysitters-you’re better off asking the guy in the leisure suit and Boba Fett helmet. He’s there every year. He’ll know.
I get that it is in the interest of crowd control. I understand that it would be very difficult to monitor who was first when lining up for panels. But damnit, I hate the fact that I can only enter a large room through one door. I just left one room that’s right next to the room I need to go in next, but I have to walk all the way around to the other side to enter through the right door. That makes me sound lazy. I am. But it’s more the weaving in and out of people that makes it a challenge because inevitably I’ll have to stop in the middle of the hallway because some dude wants to take a picture of a scantily clad cosplay chick or another Stormtrooper. That’s fine. Take your picture and do whatever it is you do with them. Just take the photo away from the flow of traffic.
I would like to say thank you to the fine convention organizers that thought it was a good idea to put up tents outside of Hall H. Every year we end up waiting in the sun for a couple hours. It probably took hundreds of cases of heatstroke, but this year you guys got your act together. Don’t think it went unnoticed.
Extracurriculars: 5 Fanboys 
If you have a free night at SDCC, you’re doing something wrong. Between the bars, parties, concerts, comedy, and even the organized movie screenings, you should have plenty to do. I get concert emails about San Diego from Livenation.com (which does me no good 11 months out of the year) and they help me out a lot in planning the trip. This year I was able to see MC Frontalot and MC Lars in concert and see Patton Oswalt’s stand-up show. Could you take the gamble and buy the tickets once you’re there? Sure but don’t think you’ll be guaranteed to get in. If you haven’t caught on that a lot of people come to this thing, you haven’t been paying attention. Worst case scenario: you could always look at the movies showing in the neighboring hotel ballrooms and go there. You’ll meet up with a bunch of people that have the same taste in movies as you. Isn’t that nice?
Total Score: 5 Fanboys 
You can’t go wrong with SDCC. It’s a blast. There’s so much to do that you will have fun even if you try to be a stick in the mud. You need to go to this convention at least once in your life. And say hi to me. I will most likely be there.
Next up is looking like PAX in September. Have a great con story or dissuasive warning for another con? Let me know!
A lot of love goes out to Ben Rankel for my wicked Con Artist art. He’s a friend to GKS and a friend to humanity. For more of Ben’s artwork pop on over to the now-retired webcomic Three Panel Opera. Everything the man touches turns to talent.
One Response to “Con Artist: Comic-Con International San Diego 2010”
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Ben Rankel Says:
August 1st, 2010 at 10:39 amGreat article.
Thanks for the awesome compliment.
You’re too kind.