Comic Con is one of my favorite times of year and it has come and gone just like a dream, a great geek dream! It was a week ago this adventure ended and it's taken me a while to get this together to share the news, I guess it's part of the post comic con blues that I took so long, but I must share my fun!
Comic Con has always been a big summer getaway adventure where I dive into my Comic Book geekdom, indulge in my toy buying and revel in exciting movie news. It is a weekend for pop culture junkies and I enjoy every moment as much as I can.
This is the third year I've made it down for the preview night in what was my 11th Comic Con (yeah I think that's right, 11 Comic Cons!), and I managed to see most of the panels I wanted to see, geek out with my friends, take a TON of pictures, watch a few movies, grab a bunch of swag, buy comic books, toys, comic books and other treats and it was all 100% awesome.
What you'll read next is my break down of the things I saw each day and I hope you enjoy the story!
Driving down on Wednesday morning with my folks (my Dad attends Comic Con) and 2 of my fellow groovy fangirl pals, we were all giddy and anxious for Comic Con to begin.
There was a huge swell of people at the convention center by the time we arrived and getting badges picked up was fast and easy as regular attendees, but then we had to wait in a stuffy and sweaty hallway packed with anxious geeks counting down to when the show floor would officially open up.
Once on the show floor I stuck with my dad as we searched out the Comic Book vendors and began snagging freebies. Before the night was through we picked up 40+ comic books, mostly from $1.00 bins and I managed to get a ticket for the Mattel line the next day for some toys. I had scouted out a few other things, spotted the
Starro masks and was on a mission to find them come Thursday! So, yes indeed,
Comic Con was off to a fantastic start! This geek is easy to please.
On Thursday morning I made a big decision and that was to focus on walking the floor and getting some toys rather than see the
TRON panel. Yup, I missed out, but I knew a lot of my friends would be there and I would hear the scoops, besides I was more interested in tracking down
FLYNN'S Arcade and hanging out there!
At
MATTEL I got the Plastic Man figure for my friend, the LOBO figure and the Polly Pocket Super Heroes for myself. I was on a search for more Justice League Animated figures but never found any at a reasonable price. (That just meant I got more comic books.
)
The first panel I saw at Comic Con was for
BURN NOTICE and what a line there was to get seated into Ballroom 20!! I had to go down a flight of stairs, walk them back up and weave through a series of lines outside before even getting back inside the convention center.
WHEW! But what matters is that I made it just as it was all getting starting and I didn't miss a moment of my favorite actor,
BRUCE CAMPBELL, as he hit the stage. Bruce was lookin' pretty suave and up to his usual shtick handing out a few dollar bills to fans who shout out they love him, man if I was sitting closer one of those dollars could have been mine!
The big BURN NOTICE news was that Bruce Campbell is getting his own prequel movie on USA which will follow SAM AXE and his last mission before he wound up in Miami himself. Yup, that news makes me happy!! Actor, director Tim Matheson who also was on stage offered show creator Matt Nix a wad of $2 bills for the job of directing. As Bruce said; "USA finally got their shit together."
Another bonus to for the BURN NOTICE attendees was a CHUCK FINLEY t-shirt! Chuck Finley is Sam Axe's cover name and his face is on the shirt, it's pretty awesome and yes I have one!
Later that day I attended the
RADICAL PUBLISHING panel, moderated by
Harry Knowles. I didn't know much about RADICAL until the panel I attended last year and they really have a cool line of comics. Of their new books featured I was most interested in
EARP SAINTS FOR SINNERS which Sam Raimi is set to adapt and direct as a feature. (Yes, I go where Sam Raimi goes!) I'm really happy there's new companies like RADICAL out there continuing with Comic Book storytelling. RADICAL's line is pretty mature with lots of sci-fi and horror so check 'em out.
Next up THE MASTERS OF THE WEB panel began in the same room and featured many movie web journalists who all came together to discuss movie reviews, movie marketing, movie rumors, and running websites featuring such content. The best part of this panel was that they finally had a woman,
Jen Yamato (Cinematical.com/Hitfix.com), involved in the discussion. Jen held her own among the boys who included moderator John Campena, Edward Douglas (ComingSoon.net), Vic Holterman (Screenrant.com), Mike Sampson (joblo.com), George "El Guapo" Roush (LatinoReview.com), Erik Davis (Cinematical.com), and Devil Faraci (CHUD.com). Also on the panel there was Writer/Producer Roberto Orci and director Edgar Wright who fielded a few questions of their own about movie reviewers and their relationships to filmmakers. As a somewhat regular movie blogger myself I really enjoyed this panel but am frustrated by the boys club that it is, the female geek voice is still overshadowed in many ways. But that is a serious discussion for another day...
After this panel my friends and I joined the masses awaiting entry to HALL H to see
THE EXPENDABLES followed by SCOTT PILGRIM. We made it inside, with decent seats, as THE EXPENDABLES was underway. Harry Knowles was moderating SYLVESTER STALLONE, DOLPH LUNGREN, STEVE AUSTIN, RANDY COUTURE and TERRY CREWS. It was a fun discussion; they all loved talking about their injuries, Sly and Steve were going back and forth about Sly's broken neck, and Randy was being asked a lot of questions about his upcoming UFC match. Sly shared two scenes, the tunnel sequence was incredible and had everyone on the edge of their seats with it's it's bloody, brutal action! I'm pretty jazzed for the movie coming this August!
EDGAR WRIGHT took over for
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD and he introduced SCOTT PILGRIM creator BRYAN LEE O'MALLEY and the rest of his cast; Michael Cera (who was wearing a Captain America costume the whole time), Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ellen Wong, Mark Webber, Alison Pill, Johnny Simmons, Kieran Culkin, Satya Babha, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Mae Whitman, Anna Kendrick and Aubrey Plaza. Edgar had his own questions for each of the cast and they all played along. I was most excited to see JASON SCHWARTZMAN who was sporting a mustache!
Sadly I wasn't among the many who got the special 1UP button at the panel to see the movie that night, with Edgar leading the line to the theater and answering more questions at stop lights. Now how do I know Edgar did that? Well a fellow New Bev friend of mine made it in and told me later..., damn him, the lucky bastard.
My Thursday evening was spent in movie mode, I went to see the documentary SECRET ORIGIN: THE STORY OF DC COMICS in a packed room. I am a DC fangirl 100% and this doc is a must see for any comic book fan. It really packed a lot of info together quickly, but it featured a full history of the company and the start of the industry.
At 10 p.m. I made my way to the Hilton Bayfront Hotel to see the World Premiere of
LOST BOYS: THE THIRST. It was back in 2008 that I attended the screening of LOST BOYS: THE TRIBE at Comic Con where Cory Feldman and Jamison Newlander came out in character as the FROG BROTHERS and it was one of my favorite con moments though the movie was pretty bad. For THE THIRST Corey and Jamison returned but not in FROG mode. They were both very excited to share their new movie. Corey said he hoped the film delivers more of what the fans wanted after the disappointment of the last one and the crowd was definitely ready for it as many were sporting their Edgar bandannas and glow sticks.
The fun of the film was the comic book store setting, Edgar's comic book collecting ways and some new vampire weapons but honestly it was pretty lame. If only they could restart it with just Edgar and Alan on the hunt, the two of them on their own it could be amazing.
Now onto Friday!
THE WALKING DEAD panel started the day off after a long, long, long line! By the time my friends and I made it inside the panel had begun, but the best part was we didn't miss the new trailer which was screened twice and both times I got chills. I have read the series, though I still need to finish volume 11 and snag 12, and it's amazing, scary and feels very real. I love it!
Frank Darabont and the rest of the cast are all having a lot of fun filming the show and Greg Nicotero's zombies look fantastic. One of the big bits of news was that Battlestar Galactica composer Bear McCreary is now on board the WALKING DEAD! October can't get here soon enough! The trailer played continuously at the WALKING DEAD booth the rest of the weekend and I couldn't help but watch it again and again whenever I passed on by.
The panel adventure continued back in HALL H where SUPER hit the stage.
James Gunn directed
SUPER and it stars Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, Ellen Page, Nathan Fillion and Michael Rooker. Gunn's does love his super heroes, remember his film
THE SPECIALS? I really did enjoy that one and actually I was at the Comic Con panel for it way back when! But I digress, SUPER has Rainn as the Crimson Bolt and he's trying to save his new bride, played by Liv Tyler, from the clutches of a drug ring. A scene shared featured the Crimson Bolt standing up against a guy trying to butt in line. It involved a wrench! (YIKES!) The film has a very dark sensibility and seems quite funny. I'm gonna watch it, how could I miss a film with Nathan Fillion as a super hero named THE HOLY AVENGER!?! Right?
Venturing outside the convention center my friends and I made our way to the SCOTT PILGRIM EXPERIENCE where we got some free garlic bread while we waited in line trying for some silk screened t-shirts. Sadly they closed out the shirt line early but we did get flip books made and we played the new video game.
After more wandering back on the show floor and a meal with my friends I ended the night with another movie. I caught the encore screening of
BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD. Judd Winick wrote this story where a new hooded vigilante is trying to take over Gotham and Batman is left to face some regrets from his own past. I was happy to learn that Jensen Ackles was in the film and a video intro from Jensen was shown before it started.
DC Universe continues to deliver fine animated films and it's a blast watching them with a geeky cheering comic book crowd! They also had a trailer for SUPERMAN/BATMAN APOCALYPSE which comes out in September and Tim Daly and Tim Conroy return as Superman and Batman, respectively. I really can't wait for that one!
I spent most of Saturday wandering the halls strolling artist alley, and the small press aisles and when my guy Dave made it to the convention center we made our way down to
FLYNN'S which was on 6th street. FLYNN'S was one of my favorite things at the COMIC CON last year and this year it was just as cool.
We got FLYNN'S coin pouches with special game coins, there were a bunch of old arcade machines on free play and they were demoing the new TRON game coming out later this year.
After the arcade section you go down a hallway to see a replica of Flynn's lab and the lights were flickering. Beyond that, through a blue lit tunnel we entered a lounge which Dave described as a "matrix cafe" and bottles of Coke Zero were being given out. The room was bathed in a blue light with couches and video screens which eventually played the new TRON: LEGACY trailer. It was a fun spectacle to behold.
After FLYNN'S we got some free pizza and a soda thanks to Cartoon Network who took over a small pizza joint. It really is cool how Comic Con extends beyond the convention center and while on the streets we managed to nab almost a complete set of big bags for the show
MYTHBUSTERS.
Later on that afternoon I wandered through Brett Reid's Garage where the Green Hornet girls were cruising in Black Beauty and giving Comic Con-ers rides and I eventually found the
ROCKET POPPETEERS ice cream truck and snagged a t-shirt and buttons.
There really is so much to see at Comic Con and you ultimately have to make your choice of walking hallways, strolling the Gaslamp district or parking it in Hall H, I do what I can to mix it all up.
Saturday night my friends and I had a meal at SyFy's Carpe Diem cafe and I got the scoop on the incident that went down at HALL H with the
eye stabbing as my friend was there when it went down. It's still hard to believe that actually happened. CRAZY!!
After eats we all tried to get into FLYNN'S one more time but it was closed up early and being torn down! BOO!! At least we got the security guards to give us each a coin pouch! Polite manners do a geek good!
Sunday was bittersweet as it was the last day of the show! I got on the floor just after 9 a.m. and made my way to the Ballroom 20 line to see
SUPERNATURAL and maybe
SMALLVILLE which I didn't get to see because the line was insanely long. I'd say it was the longest line I stood in all convention weekend as it winded down next to the marina and almost discouraged me from my goal! But you can't keep a real fangirl from her destination and I was in the Ballroom for every moment of SUPERNATURAL making it all worthwhile.
Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki were on stage with fellow actors Jim Beaver and Misha Collins, series creator Eric Kripke, and writers Sera Gamble and Ben Edlund. Sera and Ben are now taking over the show as executive producers. They started things off with a teaser of the next season and I honestly can't wait for it to start back up since it really is my favorite show these days.
Jensen directed this seasons first episode and Jim Beaver poked some fun at that, the cast really does like making fun of each other. With the apocalypse story wrapped up this next season is promising more monsters of the week, and guest star appearance from Mitch Pileggi of X-Files fame and the MYTHBUSTERS. Kripke talked a bit about the SUPERNATURAL Anime coming from Japan but sadly won't be available here so they encouraged us all to make a demand for it. One of the highlights was Jensen talking about killing vampires this next season making a jab at the other pale vamps currently on screen. The Ballroom cheered!
The panel wrapped up as it has the last few years with a look at the Gag Reel coming up on the next DVD! It was hilarious as always! OH how I love the Winchester Boys! And that was my last panel of Comic Con!
I spent the rest of my afternoon wandering the show floor, finding a few friends, looking for some more comic books and toys. By that time we left my feet were pretty tired.
Thanks to my dad and his comic buying help we came home with 225 comic books, all back issues for various series we collect. I'm happy to report that I finally completed my run of
HOWARD THE DUCK after finding issue #33.
Swag wise I had one hell of a haul! I nabbed 16 t-shirts and 20 giant bags and a load of random nick knacks. What will I do with it all? I don't know yet but I think I need more wall space or something!
Now, the countdown to COMIC CON 2011 has begun! I am excited just thinking about what will be the next big thing while I relieve my memories with all the pictures I took. OH, I really can't wait till next year!
And now it's all done! It really is like a dream as I'm back to my L.A. days and getting back to my movie going ways, but comic books are my still very much a part of my life and Comic Con is a big help to my collecting completest ways! So, THANKS again COMIC CON and see you next year!! YUP!
I love Super Heroes. It's a simple and true fact about me, being the geek that I am. My Super Hero love likely started with 
It turned out that one of THE ROCKETEER screenwriters was in the audience and he came on down to chat too! 
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