Comic-Con International: San Diego Review of 2003 Recently other pricey conventions have reared their flashy heads, but none could surpass the 34 years of history boasted by Comic-Con International in San Diego. Like every year since I was 16, I went to Comic-Con. The sites & sounds. Seeing old friends. Getting things that I can't get at my local comic book store. All of these things make CCI worth while to me. I enjoyed it as always. My husband and I took the kids on Sunday (Kids day) and we had a wonderful time. There were comic book panels and a Fairly Oddparents panel. Also, Teen Titans and Duck Dodgers. My kids received Looney Tunes Hot Wheels cars which they are still playing with. The rest of the week, we (adults) just attempted to keep our heads above the rushing tide of human beings. This was Comic-Con international's 34th year and it was a VERY popular place to be.
One of the highlights for us was Steve Jackson of Steve Jackson games. He was a Special Guest of CCI this year. He received an Inkpot Award at his Spotlight panel. He also had a booth on the floor, which he casually sat at talking with people. And being a genuinely nice guy! He signed our Space Munchkin box. My husband is extremely happy about that!
The experience now is almost totally different from back then. I am old enough to understand how much work it takes to make a great show GREAT. Anyone who has held down a job for a while should understand this principle. I have never been an autograph seeker. So this year when Halle Berry, Angelina Jolie & Hugh Jackman attended the show in a huge room upstairs, I stayed away...mostly. I was surprised to hear the thundering hordes rushing to her panel upstairs. Well, maybe not surprised, but I don't understand why all the big fuss, I came to see my friends and hang out as much as possible. People were upset that THEY did not get to see so-and-so or that THEY did not get an autograph. As if THEY were owed the priviledge. As if it were THEIR right. As if THEY were the only ones in the midst of 60-70 thousand people. To them I say GROW UP! I know that is a harsh thing to say when I myself still read comic books, but let's try to get a grip on reality...atleast some of the time.
Soooo other than these few fools my family and I had a wonderful time. There were great costumes worn in the Halls, mostly on Saturday. The Masquerade was Saturday evening. The big booths like DC, SciFi & Lord of the Rings had costumed actors or elaborate statues. There were lots of photo opportunities to be had all over the place. It was a good time had by all, if you just tried a little bit and went with the flow.
The Comic-Con website is jam packed with information. To view that please go to http://www.comic-con.org/
Mary, marysgarage@hotmail.com