There are multiple comic book conventions that take place throughout the year, from MoCCA in the East Coast to APE in the West, but any true-blue comic book fan knows that when it comes to the con, you’re talking about unmistakably one: Comic-Con. Whether going by the name SDCC (San Diego Comic Con), CCI (Comic Con International), or just plain Comic-Con, this is the place to be.
Having grown from just being about comic books to featuring kid cartoons, hit TV series, and blockbuster movie previews, the con receives attendees from all over the world and reaches across demographics. And how. According to its website, last year saw a turn-out over 104,000 people crowd into the San Diego Convention Center over the course of four days: artists, actors, directors, exhibitors, and regulars alike. Comics will always be at Comic-Con’s very base and foundation, but really, if all you need is pure entertainment, head on down to the convention center every July for Comic-Con weekend.
Mind you, hotels fill up fast around these parts, and rooms don’t come cheap. When you consider that over 100,000 people attend the event, and that the organizers only hold at most a few hundred area hotel rooms at a discounted rate (with free shuttles to the con), you’re in for a fight if you attempt to look for a room close by a month before the con. Book months ahead of time where possible, and split the cost with friends. Whatever money you end up saving, spend it at the con—hey, you know it’s inevitable.
Don’t be afraid of looking for accommodations outside the main downtown area for a good rate—the trolley will be your good friend. Just make sure the place you choose is at least decent and reputable; safety comes first. You can find out more about the hotel in question through reviews from TripAdvisor and Expedia.
Speaking of transportation, where possible, use the city’s public transit system or walk. San Diego being a popular destination, most locations are usually within good reach of one another. If you happen to stay at a participating hotel, or within walking distance of one, you can get a free shuttle ride to the con just by wearing your Comic-Con badge. Avoid the stress of driving—even if parking fees don’t wind up gnawing insistently at your ankles, the traffic getting to the con center can be horrendous. Saturday is the peak day for such. I remember taking a shuttle regularly to the con last year — on Thursday, it was an easy 15-minute ride. On Saturday, it turned into a 45-minute wait due to the sheer volume of vehicles on the street.
This Thursday through Sunday is when hoardes of fans, artists, costumed folk, and the general public invade San Diego for this year’s ritual event. Whether this is their first time at Comic-Con or their seventh year straight, most have a rough checklist of what they want to see or get. A fresh Flight anthology, perhaps, or sitting in on a Stargate Q&A panel, or catching a sneak preview of an upcoming movie (viva le Stardust!).
If you’re going to Comic-Con, don’t forget this other checklist as well:
1. Hydrate your inner Hydra
Efficient air-conditioning at the convention center means you’re nice and cool even when it’s sweltering hot outdoors. Unfortunately, it also means you get dried out after hours of wandering from booth to booth. Do your eyes and skin a favor by rehydrating them every so often with eye-drops, moisturizer, and deep gulps of water. A jacket or light sweater isn’t a bad idea either, as you’ll soon grow chilly inside the center. Not to mention that despite its hot summer days, the temperature drops at night in San Diego.2. Avoid the sickies
No, I don’t mean those creepy guys who breathe funny and try to rub up against you, though those be given a wide berth as well. I’m talking about bugs of a biological nature, which you know are a-plenty of in crowds such as these. Have hand-sanitizers at the ready, or at the very least travel tissue packs, and wash your hands often (moisturizing them afterwards, of course).3. It’s the little things that count
Specifically, the small change. Have plenty of cash at hand, as ATM machines aren’t always readily available or in obvious locations. Small bills come in handy for buying the comics, toys, and souvenirs you will undoubtedly encounter and yearn for at the con. Some of the big booths won’t have a problem breaking a twenty; some of the popular small-press tables will run out of change. You may find yourself running off to withdraw cash and then returning, only to find the last item you’d wanted had been snapped up during the time you were gone. Whether you’re a regular attendee or exhibitor (this especially includes the latter), have lots of small bills ready! Don’t forget coins too, which you’ll need for the occasional trip to the vending machines.4. Feed the hungry beast
This would go in tandem with the “sickies” tip, in that you should nourish yourself regularly and maintain that healthy blood sugar level. Have lunch at nearby restaurants. Carry sustenance with you. Pack energy bars, a sandwich, juice, and/or water to keep you going. Food sold at the convention center generally isn’t good and vastly overpriced, so bring your own or duck out to eat when you can. No use starving for the sake of art, even if that art is the original artwork of the fifth page from the latest Batman issue.5. Refresh, rejuvenate
This may sound silly, but leave the convention center. Every once in a while, at intervals, go. Canned, recycled air eventually gets to a body, wearing one down and depriving your cells of genuine oxygen. Every so often, step outside of the building and take in some fresh air, warming up in the sun. Let the wind circulate around you and sustain you for another round for when you do go back inside.
Don’t worry that you’ll have to bring huge backpacks to tide you over when you go inside the con center. Remember, major companies like Tokyopop often provide tote-bags for free. It’s promotion for themselves, and an opportunity for you to be able to take home freebies and goods. So fret not that you’ll need something to carry your wares in. As long as you don’t mind using a bottomless tote that has a blatantly commercial logo emblazoned across it, you’re good to go.
However, if you’re planning to bring back comics and artwork — heck, even if you don’t plan on buying any, be ready anyway, because you very well might! — think about leaving a bit of space in your luggage when you’re first packing for the trip, and potential padding material to ensure the goods reach home safely. It doesn’t have to be yards of bubble-wrap or cardboard to sandwich them in, unless you already know you’re going to get an original 14“x20” signed Conan piece. Rolls of socks, a manila folder, and careful arrangement of carry-on contents are sometimes all you need.
You’ll be sure to find plenty of freebies, but I highly recommend buying minicomics and small-press items while you’re at it. Besides supporting small-press artists, you’ll sometimes find that for just a dollar or two, you can come away with amazing art and stories, such as those drawn by the über-talented Raina Telgemeier.
On the subject of artists and exhibitors, remember the golden rule. Most of the time, pros are happy to meet fans. Comic-Con gives them the opportunity to have direct contact with their readers, something not every creator gets. However, this does not mean they are one’s dance-monkey obligated to do the cha-cha on command. Treat everyone decently and courteously, with respect. And if they don’t happen to be as chatty as you expected, remember that it’s a bit exhausting for them too, to have to hawk their wares for four continuous days. They’re allowed their moments of downtime.
(Remember: if they truly hated one-on-one interaction, they would’ve chosen not to attend or opted to have their PR people take care of their product promotion. We’re talking about a convention center containing tens of thousands of people at any given moment—it’s the last place a true hermit would want to be.)
Also, try not to take offense if they appear to be abrupt with you or suddenly disappear. Some pros are on a tight schedule, getting whisked off by organizers from one panel to another. Confusion can occur in such a busy flurry. I know one artist, though at a separate con, who promised to meet and chat with a young fan, but was quickly shepherded from one room to another by organizers in order to talk at panels and sign autographs. By the time she finally got a breather and remembered the young fan, she couldn’t find her anymore. This artist was crushed, because she loves talking with readers and didn’t want the fan to think she’d stood her up.
Going to Comic-Con with friends, or meeting up with friends there, is much more fun and better than going at it alone, so the more the merrier! It also makes for pleasant company come meal-times. Speaking of which, sometimes a small get-together with pals for dinner grows into a huge group — in such a case, it’s best to call the restaurant you’re planning to go to and make reservations where possible. I remember our troop of seven ending up as a hefty group of 27 by the time the dinner hour arrived. We only realized just how many people were joining us by the time we dropped in on the restaurant (quite out of the blue, I might add), and it struck us that we could potentially be turned down for lack of space. After all, by the looks of it, the restaurant was quite popular, and the entire city’s business establishments were dealing with large flocks of attendees as it was.
We were fortunate to find an understanding management, who only kept us waiting 15 minutes (which we spent waiting for the rest of the party anyway), and made space for us with marvelous service to boot. We made sure to supply a healthy tip for their efforts. Not everyone might be as lucky as we were that night, though, so be prepared!
It’s not just about comics anymore; Comic-Con has increasingly become the place to be for star sightings, exclusive previews, and lavish promotions by the entertainment industry. It steals your life every July for one long weekend, and really, you wind up being glad it does. For those of you attending, have a merry, geeky time!
Planning to go to Comic-Con? Been there and want to share your experience? Let us know!
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