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Hey Robbo. If I catch you does that mean you owe me a beer?
In the 40 years since the first San Diego Comic Con, the event has grown from a 145-person convention held at the U.S. Grant Hotel to an event that garners 125,000 fans and sells out weeks in advance. Passes are scalped on eBay for exorbitant prices and what was formerly Geek Mecca has simply become the place to be for fans of comic books, science fiction, video games and other genre related media. There are a lot of reasons to go to the San Diego Comic Con this year, but here are the top ten.
Scarlett Johansson will be there!
Hollywood has dominated the Con in recent years and this year their presence will be bigger than ever. If you want to get a first look at the hottest upcoming films, you have to be in San Diego. Among the notable names will be James Cameron debuting footage from his much-buzzed-about 3D sci-fi epic Avatar as well as Peter Jackson (making his first appearance!), who will be there to promote District 9.
If that’s not enough to whet your whistle, how about previews of comic book properties like Kick Ass, Iron Man 2 and Jonah Hex? Did we mention Ninja Assassin and Tron? If you want to get a glimpse of the sweetest genre flicks coming out of tinseltown, you’ll definitely want to be at the San Diego Comic Con.
David Tennant will be there!
Just because SDCC is all about Hollywood these days doesn’t mean they don’t have any love for the small screen. There’s going to be plenty of panels featuring the big guns of genre TV including the first appearance of the all-new Dr. Who, David Tennant. Now’s your big chance to either have him autograph your chest or throw as many tomatoes at him as you can before security hauls you away!
If you’re scratching your head and asking Dr. Who?, don’t worry; there will be plenty of good old American programming to check out this year including a screening of the pilot episode of the new V series as well as a panel focusing on the Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica. Want to get a look at The Plan, the Edward James Olmos-directed film that shows the war from the Cylons point of view? You’ll see it first in San Diego.
If you enjoy having questions dodged, you’ll want to check out the Lost panel during which the executive producers of the show (and a surprise guest) will avoid telling you anything you want to know about a show that doesn’t make sense anyway. Fans of Joss Whedon’s Dollhouse series who pre-ordered will be able to pick up their copies of season one while they’re at the con and catch a screening of “Epitaph One”, the episode that never aired.
Fans of HBO’s True Blood series can sink their teeth into a panel featuring the cast of the hit series and vampire lovers who only have basic cable will have to settle for the CW’s Vampire Diaries, which will also be represented. This is but a small taste of the joys of television that will be represented at the San Diego Comic Con!
Exclusive Mezco Friday the 13th figures will be there!
Are you dying for a Jason Vorhees bust with a removable hockey mask? Do you feel you’d be more frugal if you could save money in a Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man bank? Want a Hal Jordan figure in red, blue, yellow and orange as well as green? How about a smiling Luke Skywalker action figure that comes with a ladder so he can climb into his X-Wing (not that you’ll ever take it out of the package)? All of this and more can be found at the Con this year.
Exclusive collectables are a great way to show off and prove to your friends that you weren’t one of the poor saps who got turned away at the door when passes sold out. They’re also a handy item that can be placed on eBay when the IRS comes calling after you’ve maxed out your credit cards and gone hopelessly into debt buying every collectable toy that comes your way.
For a more in-depth look the exclusives being offered this year, check out the SDCC website!
Geoff Johns will be there!
Hollywood might dominate the con these days, but lest ye forget what it’s all about, check out a few of the names on this list: Mike Allred, Geoff Johns, Fabio Moon, Stan Sakai, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bryan Lee O’Malley, Gail Simone, Bill Willingham, Leinil Yu, Sergio Aragones and Gene Colan. And that’s not even half of the complete list of writers, artists and inkers who will be in attendance. If none of these names sound familiar to you… please don’t come. Stop reading this right now and get thee to a comic shop!
Now is your chance to get autographs, sketches and original artwork from some of the best in the business. Meet your idols! Blubber like an idiot while telling Gene Colan how much he meant to you as a kid! Argue with Bill Willingham about politics! Celebrate comics!
The Eisner Awards happen there every year!
Speaking of celebrating comics, it doesn’t get any bigger or better than the Eisner Awards. Imagine if the Oscars actually mattered or if you cared about the Grammys. That’s the Eisner Awards, in which the top talents in the comic book industry are recognized for their achievements in the field.
The ceremony will feature 26 categories and a number of celebrity presenters. They’ll be held at the swanky Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel. It’s time to get that powder-blue tux with the ruffles on the sleeves drycleaned and roll out the red carpet for the Eisners!
Lots of Robins, Catwomen and Baronesses will be there!
What would a comic con be without cosplay? SDCC is the biggest con of ‘em all and the same holds true for the 35th annual Masquerade. Why is it called Masquerade as opposed to simply being referred to as a costume contest? Because it’s anything but a simple costume contest!
Drama, humor, simulated battles and even a little song and dance combine to create a unique spectacle that has to be seen to be believed. Trophies are given out in a variety of different categories and you might even get a chance to get your picture taken with that Stormtrooper Elvis guy!
Fans will see GREEN LANTERN: FIRST FLIGHT there!
You didn’t think we forgot about the movies, did you? If you’re into animation, Warner Brothers and DC Comics will unveil what is sure to be their latest masterpiece, Green Lantern: First Flight. Fans of the legendary Hayao Miyazki will get their chance to screen his latest film, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (distributed in America simply as Ponyo).
But those aren’t the only films you’ll be able to see at Comic Con! Zack Snyder will be in attendance to screen the Watchmen Director’s Cut with on-the-spot commentary. Clive Barker will be unveiling the Book of Blood film and there’s also an Independent Film Festival going on all four days! Why sit at home on the couch and watch movies when you can do it with 150,000 other fans?
Fans will duel in Magic2010 Tournaments there!
You’ve been building up that Magic deck for years now and you’ve bested everyone at your LCS. It’s time to move up to the big leagues. You can’t have a convention without gaming and when you’re at the biggest con of them all, the stakes are that much higher.
Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Battlespirits… all this and more. The mezzanine level of the convention center will be devoted to gaming all four days of the event and if you’re looking for battle in the wee hours of the night, you’ll find it at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. Whether it’s cards, dice or video games that float your boat and get you in the competitive spirit, you’ll find it – and plenty of it – at the San Diego Comic Con.
Fans will see the WORST CARTOONS EVER there!
You’re likely familiar with the phrase “So bad it’s good”, but these cartoons take that expression to a whole new level. The annual event is hosted by animation expert Jerry Beck, who unearths buried treasure that has to be seen to be believed.
Unintentionally offensive, poorly animated and oftentimes just plain stupid, the Worst Cartoons Ever panel features cringe inducing and side-splittingly hilarious content. It is the absolute must-attend event of the con.
Mania will be there!
Representatives from your favorite website will be in attendance at the San Diego Comic Con bringing you all sorts of news, reviews and up-to-the minute information. Mania mainstays like Rob Worley, Rob Vaux, Bob Trate and Chad Derdowski will be bringing you live updates from the floor! Why watch the coverage on G4 when you can get all of your news here? We may not look like Olivia Munn, but with all the time spent in front of a computer screen, we’re starting to get man-boobs. That’s gotta count for something.
Top 6 Reasons to really go to Comic Con this year.
1. A
2. V
3. A
4. T
5. A
6. R
Blynd, you must catch me and utter the secret password "Mania Gratia Manias" and then I will owe you a prize from the unclaimed giveaway prize bin.
Damn, that's depressing. A list about the con (that's very accurate) and there's only one spot for the actual comic book representation.
Yes, I'm a hater, but that kinda stinks.
Now I'm gonna drag my old man self outside and maybe yell at the neighbor kids or shake my fist at some planes flying overhead.
hanso... I agree with your list with the exception of #5. I'm sorry, I just can't get behind another A no matter what people say. Two A's were awesome, but the third - that's just overkill.
Missing this con this year, but strangely enough I don't feel that I'll be *missing* it, if you know what I mean. As for the Snyder sing-a-long...er, watch-a-long....WB sent me an email for a contest where if you have the Blu-ray of Watchmen (and you're one of the 2000 winners), you can watch that event live through your Blu-ray live feature.
One of the best things about con is all the cheesy after-parties. Not that hard to get into, and some are actually more interesting than the con itself.
Besides all that, isn't it sort of pointless to advocate attendance to a sold out event? Sure I'll go if someone wants to give me their tickets.
Great...I'll probably sprain my tongue trying to say that but hey..anything for a chance at free stuff
and yes, I know you're pulling my leg
I live in San Diego but I'll be missing the Con this year... Not too happy about that, since I missed E3 this year, too.