Is there ANYTHING on line that shows the panels? People were filming like mad and when I asked one of the reps if there would be a DVD of the panels, they said, "No. But, there should be."

What the hell? I heard some of the coolest shit in my life in the last 6 days. ... but also ...

CURSES!!!!


(Until I get hired somewhere. Then I'll come over to that side.) Shit, man! That's the night I got dibs on the Sideshow Lobster Johnson statue. Would you deny any person that doesn't have relatives in the industry or rich parents the chance at that???

That's close to fascism. Deal with the shambling mounds, but don't deny them their fun.

You can find a lot of stuff on YouTube...

My apologies for any misunderstanding. I was referring to the Con's film program, not to new flicks being promoted by the studios. You used to be able to see films almost 24 hours a day and at a couple of different places. I don't have my shedule at hand, but it seemed like they weren't showing more than six or seven films a day.

Yeah, it's called ComicCon, but regular attendees of the past 20 years know ComicCon just as much for movies, animation, etc., as for comics. In fact, it's probably more widely known for promoting pop culture in general than for comics. It just happens to still be called ComicCon.

I agree. If I remember correctly (and I'll admit I may not) ComicCon used to mail badges back in the early '90s. I seem to recall that's how I got my badge when I went to my first one in '92.

One idea would be to automatically email members (who register online) a barcoded, digital version (PDF) of their badge that can be printed out at home. Like some online concern tickets. This would prevent the "my badges didn't arrive" rip off. The badge gets scanned when you enter and anyone showing up with a duplicate badge doesn't get in.

Another idea, but along the lines of a cost cutting measure, would be to give the ComicCon souvenir and guide books only to four day attendees. What does a one day attendee need with a four day guide book? Give them the same one day schedule that's at the entries to the exhibit hall each day. It's more up-to-date than the guide book anyway. If they want a souvenir book, print some extras to sell for a nominal 1 or 2 bucks. I'm a publisher (non-comic variety) and I know printing the souvenir and guide books are a tremendous expense.

But this is how you convert people to comic book buyers and garner interest. I don't think you should do away with single day tickets. I doubt casual fans would pay the $65 for a 4 day pass, so how would you get them in the door? The comic book industry is still reeling from diminished sales. This may be the one chance for them to hook someone on a book and have them become a collector or a serious reader. Make Joe Schmoe stand in line, but reward those that buy 4 day passes with earlier entry? Or a souvenir book like you suggested. I don't think you want to alienate anyone. The con just needs a better system of making things available to everyone.

Every year it gets bigger and every year it gets more crowded. The first year they did preveiw night was a blast as the floor was almost empty and it was a great day to pick things up.

1) hall H should be dispersed out more. Saturday is a joke how crowded it is. They try to put all the "big stuff" on Saturday it seems. You could possibly show some of those panels twice. Is it realy that big of a deal for some of those guys to be there twice in a three day period. Say Thursday and Saturday? I know the studios want as much exposure as possible but every day is getting so full would it even be that big of a deal.

2) Extend the length. have check in on Tuesday night and make Wednesday a whole day as some of suggested.

3) Figure out better ways of dispersing hard to get auotgraphs, etc. just five years ago it was not that hard to get most of the "big names" and now lines start in the early AM and sometimes even if you are waiting in a line you still dont luck out and get the wristband. Remeber the Jolie fiasco a few years ago Last year the Lost panel and Screaming Brain signings where handled much better. Similar to how some of the bigger exclusive toys where done that last few years. You get tickets throughout the con and check for the right to get an autograph , or the right to buy the exclusive. those are easy to do and save a lot of money.

Con exclusives have become a joke. Look online for any con exclusive and you'll see that 90% of them only ever sell for an average of 10-15 more than what they were paid for at the show. You only get those couple of exclusives that are so beyond tough to get that anyone who is going to the show would have a tough time getting them even then.

Hell, this year Neca and Mezco were empty every time I went by them. Con exclusives are over hyped and really aren't worth the time and trouble for the most part. They need to come up with an easy laid back way to go about in getting those. Sideshow has done it well in the years past and this year included. Make them ordered online and only picked up at the show.

Also, Hall H should have some run off room. "Just want to see the screen? Go to room ____" and see all the Hall H camera stuff from that room.

I've never ordered from them through this method but it would seem, in theory, to be a very good way to work things. There's no hurry to pick it up and you're item is waiting for you.

I was in line at the Hasbro booth for about 40 mins when they ran out of their quota for the Nemesis Prime trucks. I was just a few people away from getting it. I wasn't happy. Next day, I got there earlier so there was no problem. When I got up to the front I talked to a rep and asked why they didn't give a raincheck for the next day for those that were already in line and had to leave. She said that was a good idea and she was gonna bring it up to the powers that be.

I went to ComicCon this year. It was the first time I went to one of these and I did have a blast. I didn't even try to get into the Sony Panel. I did managed to get an autograph from Jennifer Love Hewitt though. How do you find out about the signings like Spiderman? I didn't see it listed on the schedule.

It's all about being in the right place at the right time and a little luck added in.

I see. I am still trying to decide if I want to go back next year. I picked up the pre-sale thing so it will cost a little less for the 4-day pass, but I am still unsure. If I do go back what would you suggest to be at the right time and more lucky?

Get in the main badged line before they bring the line inside... usually 8am but it was 7:30am on Saturday. That line had a chance at Snoop Dogg and Spidey3. You still gotta get lucky to pull the right ticket.

I also got the wristband to get an autograph from Alfonso Cuarón (HP3 and his new one The Children of Men). That was given out up in the autograph area around 10ish. Again, you had to be lucky to be there when they handed 'em out.

Also the autograph area is where they handed out autograph tickets for Rosario Dawson. The info for her was posted at the area she was going to sign. It said "Rosario Dawson raffle will be held at 12:00. Go to autograph booth for ticket". I didn't see the sign until 12:30 but I got a ticket and found out it was not a raffle but each ticket was good since she was signing for 2 hours.

So the lesson is, ditch plans to be in the panels and follow TomOpus around.

Unless you really want upfront seats and are in a group of 2 or more, then camping out at Hall H doesn't seem like a good idea anymore.

I was able to jump into Hall H for QT/RR and get decent seats up close without much problem. Just need to jump in when it's a slow panel or move up during those panels.

I pulled the wrong ticket for Spidey 3 and cried for hours. My wife however pulled the right ticket for the Wayans brothers signings...and we cried for hours.

We ended up giving the ticket to someone who actually wanted their autographs.

Only if you're one of these:



Just kidding... sorta

At Dragon Con, they've been clearing the rooms between panels, so you can't just camp out in the panel beforehand for the heavily attended panels and get good seats. I am not that into getting autographs anymore (haven't for about a decade, got just 2 at Heroes Con: JMS and Travis Charest, otherwise I'm more of the shutterbug nowadays).

I'm not sure what I'd do at Comicon nowadays if I did go. Maybe the free schwag would be something to concentrate on, plus the exhibitor booths on the dealer section, but I guess it would then be the panels (but not the autographs) that I would focus on, but it seems to be a madhouse for panels in terms of good seats.

TomOpus - Was that the signing area upstairs where you pick up your badge? I do wonder why they dont have all the signings upstairs. When you have it at a booth is crowds the whole area and makes walking around a pain.

I only got one autograph and I am fine with that. I would agree with Patman that sitting in the panels was the best part for me. I didn't have a problem getting into any panel I attended and I did make it for "Snakes on a Plane." I didn't even try to get into the Sony one with Spidey 3.

Just for nostalgia's sake, I re-read my reports from both the 1996 and 1997 San Diego Comicon, and I guess that "Comicon" atmosphere doesn't exist anymore.

San Diego Comicon 1996 report

San Diego Comicon 1997 report

These were posted when I had some net.friendships made from my Usenet posting days, mainly from the rec.art.comics.* newsgroups.

Again, I disagree. I don't think the kind of people I'm talking about can be converted. They are what, in the SF fan community, used to call "mundanes" and, yes, it is an insult. They have absolutely no interest, so they shouldn't be there.

Well, that is the problem, as the more serious fans consider the "casual fans" to be the souce of the overcrowding. If someone is really a big fan who can only attend for one day, then $65 isn't that much more. Just don't come with the "significant other(s)" who don't really want to go anyway. Someone dragging along a spouse and child or two would actually save money going alone.

Again, I doubt disinterested parties can be converted. The very few who might possibly be aren't going to help the comicbook industry slump.

The real issue is space. There isn't just enough room for "making things available to everyone." Maybe another city's convention facilities are the answer. I don't know, but allowing more attendees sure isn't the answer.

Yes, the autograph area is in the badge pickup area. The Spidey3 and Alfonso Cuarón signings were in room 28d/e. I think that room offers better security for the signers (and no stampedes) since it's away from the general crowds

Rosario Dawson was in the regular autograph area. Hillary Swank was on the floor at the Sony setup next to G4.

I don't care where the signings are as long as they're organized to where it becomes a free-for-all.

Back when I used to attend the LA SciFi/ComicBook conventions every month (late 80's/early 90's), my girlfriend came along with me. She wasn't into it but I asked if she wanted to come along. I showed her some booths with comics and I think that was the very first Batman (Burton) panel. For some reason or another, without my prodding, she became interested in the books, especially the artwork. I bought her a 1st printing of Killing Joke and she pretty much took it from there.

I'm not saying this will happen in all instances, but at least Comic Con has more things to offer than our smaller local con to possibly get new people interested in buying books. Heck, look at me. I don't collect anymore, I buy exclusives to sell on eBay, I sit in the industry panels and see and talk to the pretty people. By your standards, I don't belong there either.

For the longest time, I haven't had a gaming system, yet I've attended every E₃ since the first (with the exception of the 2 in Atlanta). Only this year did I get a PSP and a PS2.

You know what I think might work, moving it to April or May. Less kids and it gives the movie industry the chance to showcase stuff coming out for summer. In July, we're almost halfway thru the summer movie season and most of the big stuff have already come out.

Especially next year. All the major summer films will have already been released by then. Spider-man 3, Pirates 3, Fantastic Four 2 will be out by the time con comes out and then what is left? They do need to bump it up a little.

Most of all, making someone pay $65 for one ticket regardless if it's a one day or four day is not going to happen. Even if you bring a friend, that one day pass for both would be under the price of the four day for one person and not worth it to just go for one day.

I did get a an autograph for Gerald Butler star of 300. from going to Hall H. There was onll 75 for the star and 75 for Frank Miler. It was completely random. I couldn't find any large 300 poster to buy to have him sign. so he signed the 8x10. Before the signing, in line, there was a second line of ladies with no tickets, despeatly wanting to meet him. i yelled "ticket for sell" Ladies started shouting , "10 , 30 50 80" then Warner Bros lady started get upset and security came. They watched me until the sigining.