By. Lorrie M. Thomas
Hi geeks! Here is a quick how to guide on making it through the hardest and most intense experience of your life. It’s called surviving San Diego Comic-Con 2010. As a past attendee to this event I have five surefire tips that will make your trip a good one. So please take a few minutes to read the tips and prepare to get your geek on in style this year.
1. Make sure you have all your ducks in a row. This means that you have your plane tickets, hotel reservations and most important con passes ready. Do not show up at the con without spending money, they DO NOT take checks and very few are set up for debit cards unless it is for high-end purchases. Also, a quick note the ATMs at comic-con have very high fees to use them. If you want to pull out money do it before your arrive at the con. Have your con schedule ready and printed out and in your pocket or backpack. I know we all have iPods and iPads but a trusty piece of paper will save you every time. Trust me I know.
2. Backpack or bust. Pack and take a backpack with the following items: socks, mints, water, gum, snack food (I take granola bars and nuts), sketchbook, iPod, cell phone charger, first aid kit, hand sanitizer, notebook and pen, highlighters, comics that you want signed at the con, light jacket, sunglasses and any other item that you might need for the day. The backpack is your home away from home and will save you a lot of time and trouble. Also, make sure your backpack is light enough to carry all day and night and will be able to withstand any punishment. I carry a few plastic bags and rubber bands in the side pockets for emergency uses. Again, the backpack is your friend at a con.
3. How to stand in line. Don’t laugh at me this is very useful at a con. The rules are simple, get there early and getcomfortable. Bring a buddy and swap bathrooms breaks when needed and do not get out of line unless a emergency has been announced. This is your chance at seeing one of the panels that you have been dying to get into for months or see that cast from a fave TV show. I once stood in line for six hours just to get into the panel for Sci-Fi night and barely got in! So, prepare to wait and wait for geeky goodness when you stand in line. Also, don’t be a noob and talk loud and be rude to others while waiting. Have your comics ready to be signed if you are waiting for an artist/writer and do not have twenty copies of the book, if you do then you are being selfish and do not deserve to get your books signed. If standing in line to get an autograph, do not look like a fool and try to bargain with the person for a discount. If the sign says $20.00 buck then pay your money and smile for the camera.
4. How to attend a panel. I go to panels to get info and not hear about a topic that can be discussed in a forum or a tweet. Do not ask one of the big two editors that bring back character X,Z and Y. Do not ask a big two crossover and most of all do not make a fool of yourself and your fellow geeks with stupid questions that make us look like idiots. This harsh, I know but it’s that truth and I mean every word. Please, I beg you to ask good questions that will be listened to and answered by the panel. Give your question is a clear voice and do take time to thank the panel for taking your questions and please do not argue when you are not happy worth the answer given. Lastly, be respectful of other asking questions and when asked not to spill the beans on a certain bit of news, then do it. The information given in panels is often meant for the fan to gain a better understanding of a topic in question.
5. Walking the floor. Get a map and figure out where you want to go and do a sweep of the outer floor to see where things are setup. This will save you time and your feet will thank you later. Make sure you know how to get from the artist alley (It’s usually in the back) to back bins. The more you know before going in the better you will be. The indy alley and the people hawking product are susually grouped together and will be a good place to start when starting your walk after you get the basics down. The big tickets booths for the main publishers will be in the middle/front of the con and will be very busy so try to hit them late afternoon to avid crowds. The booth babes are there to get you to buy product and will lure you away from the main walking tour. Have fun with that and keep on walking, next go to the amine section and the gaming sections to pick up some free swag. The entire con is one large fish bowl of ads and swag. You can walk the entire floor and end with bags, stickers, posters and all sorts of cool stuff to put into your poster tube to take home.
So, I hope that this helps with making this year’s San Diego Comic-con a good one and most of all haev fun.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Kirkham Enlists At DC For "Green Lantern Corps"
Sometimes when a publisher taps talent, they get as much use of them as they can and quick. And if his first wave of cover output is any indication, it appears DC Comics got Tyler Kirkham working fast when he came over to the company.
The publisher announced this morning via their blog The Source that the former Top Cow studio mate and penciler of such Marvel books as "Ultimate Fantastic Four" and "Amazing Spider-Man" would come to DC exclusively and pick up the art chores on "Green Lantern Corps" starting in October.
"Not only are there tons of great characters, but they are all fun to draw, because they are so Diverse," the artist said of his new book. "Also with the movie coming out soon it makes things even more exciting. I am having so much fun already and I'm only an issue in. The direction Tony is taking the story fits my art style very well. Also to be working with Batt again is a true pleasure. After all he is the best inker in the biz in my opinion. Plus to have Nei Ruffino coloring my work is amazing. I have worked with her on a couple small things in the past, but have always wanted to work with her on a bigger scale."
DC also unveiled a second Kirkham cover outside the one for "Green Lantern Corps" #53 – a group shot for something called "Untold Tales of the Black Lanterns" featuring Ragman – who just had his own one-shot announced – and Donna Troy amongst others. No other details were given on story specifics for this title, but the blog promied more details on this comic Monday.
You better buy this book People
The Return Of Static. And A Well Timed Announcement.
Submitted by Rich Johnston on July 17, 2010 – 7:00 am (0) comments
One of my criticisms of the reigning back of DC’s legacy characters over the past year or so, to earlier characters who held the title, was that DC was losing the richer ethnic mix that it had built up over the years as a result. While simultaneously sitting in the DC Universe was the Milestone line which could tackle that very problem if only DC would see it.
DC have now announced a new Milestone character series, Static, to be written by Felicia D Henderson, producer and writer on Fringe, Gossip Girl and Everyone Hates Chris, for next year.
And announcing it so early, but just in time for Con, should also make for a handy shield (along with the new Aqualad) to raise against some of the arrows that may be fired at panels about this very topic…
Although I’m still interested to hear Dwany McDuffie’s take.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Marc Guggenheim joins up with the JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA
This October, the Justice Society of America is getting a new chairman. And, by “chairman,” we mean a new writer: Marc Guggenheim. Guggenheim, who has a long list of film and comic book credits, will bring his fast-paced storytelling and refined eye to one of the DCU’s most legendary teams.
We’ll have more info on the new artist joining Guggenheim for his run, but we can announce superstar Shane Davis will be providing the lovely covers, like the powerful image above. What more can we say about the new direction? Well, take it away, Marc:
“For me, one of the advantages of working for “the Big Two” is getting to play with the biggest toys in the sandbox. The Justice Society so fits that category, my inner fanboy is squealing with delight. I was a huge fan of the JSA back when they were ensconced on Earth-2 and I was introduced to their exploits in the pages of Adventure Comics and the annual JLA/JSA crossovers. Our goal is to craft as JSA run for the ages and I think we’ve come up with something that’s revolutionary while still feeling uniquely “Justice Society.” Pay close attention to that second word. Big clue there.”
Monday, July 12, 2010
A great Loss
Today we lost a comic book legend: Harvey Pekar, writer of American Splendor has died. Thank you Good Sir and Rest in Peace.
Wikipedia:
He was married from 1960 to 1972 to his first wife Karen Delaney, a writer and educator who currently lives in Chicago. She was the (uncredited) photographer who took many of the pictures of Pekar that appeared in "The Quitter". He was married again twice more." [He lived] in Ohio with Brabner and their foster daughter Danielle.
