Unless you?ve been living under an avalanche of comics in your parents basement, (and some of you probably are) you would know that tomorrow is the beginning of the grand-daddy of all comic book conventions?The San Diego Comic-Con International! This is the biggest and most thorough comic convention in the world; everything a fanboy could want is under one gigantic roof. There are so many things to see and do that a newbie to the convention experience is likely to hyperventilate, pass out and die from the all out sensory assault, so I decided to put a list together that might help you along your kid-in-a-candy-store way.
1. Bring a List- There?s no way in krypton that you?re going to be able to see and do everything even if you?re staying for the full four-day event. I suggest you do some pre-con strategizing and make a list with your top priorities at the top and your low priorities at the bottom. Also make sure you get an advance copy of the map so you can find out where all the stuff you want to do is, and get there a lot quicker.
2. Bring a digital camera and a sketch pad with pencils and pens-There is absolutely nothing worse than standing in front of your favourite superstar artist or writer, or getting a kiss from a hot celebrity guest and not having a camera. Make sure you bring it and make sure it?s digital so you don?t have to worry about the film and you can see the results of your labour immediately. However, if by the time you read this, you don?t have a camera, make sure the guy behind you in line does, and he can take the picture. Also, if it?s digital, he can email the pic to you personally and if not, it?s snail mail for you buddy. There are times, during lulls at a particular guest?s table, that if you ask really nicely, he might give you a free sketch of anything of your choosing. During those times, wouldn?t it suck if you didn?t have paper or a pencil? so bring them, and never get caught in an awkward spot.
3. See Stan ?Da Man? Lee-He makes a cameo in Fantastic Four, but there?s nothing like seeing the father of Marvel live and in person, and you can at this year?s con. Seeing Stan is more important now, than it ever was because with Will Eisner gone, Stan is the last true father of comics left, and he isn?t getting any younger.
4. The Eisner Awards-This year is the first time the Oscars of the comics industry will be without their namesake, but that doesn?t mean it still isn?t a must see event. This year?s nominations are some of the toughest competition yet, with Brian K. Vaughn (Y the Last Man, Ex Deus Machina) cleaning up in the writing department and Frank Quitely (Bite Club, WE3) showing them how it?s done in the art department. There?s also a new category for best web comic. Deus Ex Machina and Astonishing X-Men have the most nominations of any book overall.
5. Wolfman & Perez reunite for New Teen Titans 25th Anniversary-The duo behind the most popular incarnation of the Teen Titans are back in business for one weekend only. It is their grouping of the Titans that is featured on the Teen Titans cartoon show, including, Cyborg, Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, Wondergirl, Kidflash and Superboy. When they first came together, DC was in a sales slump and now the titans have their own very strong title written by Geoff Johns and their own toyline. The titans have come along way, so pay your respects to the guys that gave them to us.
6. Free Exclusives-This year?s free swag includes, a Sin City ?Bloody Marv? action figure, Peanuts T-shirts, a ?Frosted Subzero? Mortal Kombat action figure and a Hellboy ?Tiki? mini-manquette. If they?re giving it away, make sure you?re taking it off their hands.
7. Go to the Panels and Demos-From how to set up your portfolio to the skinny on internet weblogs and the latest preview of what?s hot at your favourite comic book publishers. Hit as many of these as you can because they?re taught by the pros and you might learn something.
8. Bring an Empty Extra suitcase, Food, Medicine and Something to do While Waiting in line. Bring your own food because con food can be pretty scary most of the time. If you eat from the vendors, you?ll be using a lot of medicine, so guard against an upset stomach and also, make sure you?re properly hydrated. Get an empty suitcase to take home the remnants of a spending spree and play cards with your line-mates because chances are, you?re going to be with them for a while.
9. Hey, You Never Know!-Last year, the entire cast of Fantastic Four showed up to pimp the movie?s release, as well as, the cast of V for Vendetta. In the end, you can?t predict who?s going to show up at the Con and what they?re going to bring. There is a rumour that Tim Burton will be promoting Corpse Bride, so if you hear any strange announcement, get yourself over there as fast as you can.
10. Don?t Bring your Girlfriend-As much as we think thumbing through the racks with other sweaty geeks is fun, face it guys, most girls would rather hang themselves than spend time walking around with you at a Comic-Con and it doesn?t matter how many times you?ve tried to get her into comics. There is one exception to this rule, if your girl decides to enter the Masquerade Costume Contest, please for all mankind let her enter, how else are we supposed to see beautiful women in leather body suits with cat ears and star-spangled booty shorts?
In a weird twist of celebrity co-mingling, reality TV star Tila Tequila’s NFL boyfriend Shawn Merriman was arrested yesterday, according to TMZ.
