In fact, those outsiders now flock to this five-day gathering, some even daring to leave the safety of their safari vehicles to take a closer look at the beautiful Nerd in its native environment.
They're late to the party. This marks my 14th straight Comic-Con (that's me on the left, dressed as Spider-Man, riding Robot Chickenwriter Hugh Sterbakov back in 2002), and it's always like coming home again.
Over the years, the craziest thing I've experienced has been my transition from attendee to professional. My friends and I used to wait in long lines to sit in a huge room full of equally stoked fans just to catch a fleeting glimpse of the next big flick, or hear Eastman and Laird explain how the Ninja Turtles aren't selling out by saying "cowabunga." Now I'm a part of those panels, explaining to a room of our supportive fans how we're the same as them and we're making stuff we love.
The best part of Comic-Con is that it presents an opportunity to hang out with like-minded passionate and articulate people. The local bars are full of writers and artists, pros and hopefuls, discussing craft and spitballing new, amazing ideas. We'll get into debates over which movie sucked the hardest (that'd be Catwoman), or who delivered the most iconic performance (Heath as the Joker currently leads that pack). It's weird watching studio types and agents in suits at the con — the only guys in suits on the show floor used to be Men In Black fans — but I don't begrudge anyone the opportunity to witness this spectacle.
Me? I keep coming back every year because I love it, and I'm happy we — Geek Nation — are dragging so many others into our domain. Spider-Man met Barack Obama…what a wonderful world we live in.
(Robot Chicken Season 4.5 premieres on July 26 on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Buy it, y'all. The first one was funny as hell. For more info and updates, go to www.adultswimpresents.com.)
Thanks for the post, and particularly for the great pic of you and Hugh. Made my day.
Thanks, Seth, for your thoughts on Comic-Con!
For those folks who live too far away from San Diego and Comic Con, y’all should check out Dragon*Con in Atlanta, GA during Labor Day weekend each year (this year, September 4 – September 7, 2009).
http://dragoncon.org/
Dragon*Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the US.
Last year, over 44,000 people descended on downtown Atlanta for the four day convention, including the 2,000+ people in the Dragon*Con parade marching down Peachtree in downtown Atlanta.
Dragon*Con is very family friendly, and has over 400 celebrities coming this year, including Leonard Nimoy, Patrick Stewart, Mary McDonnell, James Edward Olmos, Michael Shanks, Karen Allen, Tobe Hooper, Kate Mulgrew, George Romero, and many many more.
My family is going back for the third time this year, and we have loved the past two years.
I also meant to add that you, Seth, feel about Comic-Con the way I feel about Dragon*Con:
“the last true safe haven for nerds and geeks to commune in their natural habitat without fear of persecution from judgmental outsiders.”
AND
“it presents an opportunity to hang out with like-minded passionate and articulate people.”
Like I tell my kids, if you are ever feeling like you are the ONLY person who is into “this”, remember your weekends at Dragon*Con and know that you are not alone.
Hey Seth! I’m a comic book geek from your hometown of Philly! The Convention Center in SD is a great place for Comic-Con, enjoy your time there this weekend. Haha Do U still get dressed up as comic book characters at the event!?
I saw you on The Soup this weekend. Funny, but were you wear ‘guyliner’?
You forgot to mention that the death of the movie industry is also one of the outcomes of this geek nation with crap film after crap film based on comic books premiering month after month. A lot of us are waiting for real movies again. Was a pleasure to see Drama kick your ass.
Apparently Ike has some issues. I’m sure a rude comment on this article will turn things around for him.
Well said, Seth! Getting to Comic Con is one my goals in life. Sometimes it sucks being a poor grad student! From one geek to another…have a BLAST.
But even with the con now selling out months in advance – thus capping attendance – it still hit too big at least five years back. It’s amazing and wonderful and A-list and all now, but it’s a bit less fun than it used to be too. Ah well…
i will be there….murrrrr!!! but i dont know what i am going to wear. i cant afford a cool outfit this time..
uh…hey! i just wrote my comment! i said i will be there this year, then i said murrr cuz i heard my cat murrr, and then i said, although i do not know what i am going to wear…i cant afford a cool outfit this year.
ok i am going to hit submit comment instead of continue
Seth, remember you said you would owe me a couple of Burger King tacos? I am not sure why you have not paid up yet. I guess I will have to buy Robot Chicken Episode II so you can afford to pay op on those tacos.
thanks for the post and the picture ! very interesting !
i love those movies very much
i love those movies very muchi love those movies very much