The Big Show
San Diego Comic-Con. For genre fans, it's the holy grail of cons. I was returning after exactly a decade of absence, this time as a comics industry professional. Did it make my heart grow fonder?
The crush of humanity is not quite completely represented here, but you get a taste. Photo credit: Rob Inderrieden
When I first went to SDCC in 2005, I was already irritated by how un-comic-book-centric the con was. I anticipated even more Hollywood mission creep and that the whole thing would be unbearably INDUSTRY.
Every square inch of the Gaslamp District covered in geek.
Because my work at the con started on Wednesday morning, I was unable to take advantage of the Exhibitor badge I had. Exhibitor badges allow you to cruise the Exhibition Hall before and AFTER public hours. Wednesday night was Preview Night. And it. Was. A. Madhouse.
"Preview" night
I went in fully anticipating to have my wallet emptied within minutes. Instead, I was confronted with a snarling cacophany of visual information and audio noise that immediately shut down every capitalist synapse in my brain. It was just TOO MUCH. How to choose? I had no game plan, and I wasn't rabid about the SDCC Exclusives that a vast majority of attendees were clamoring for. They had plans of attacks and ebay listings just aching to be filled. I wandered around, looking at what seemed like single digit percentages of what was on display and marveling at the humanity.
Sharknado 3 promotion team
Over the course of five days, I saw San Diego bursting at the seams with marketing ploys. Sharknado 3 enlisted the weird and silly element that is clearly their schtick. Colony, a new postapocalyptic show on USA Network, endeared itself to potential fans with free Uber rides in black Suburbans driven by paramiliteristic young men (maybe some women, too, but it was pretty dude-heavy), thus also bringing an intimidation factor into the mix. We found out Heroes is coming back with Heroes: Reborn. I know I can't be the only fan that was over the moon in love with the first season and then potentially betrayed beyond repair by the subsequent seasons. It was a CIRCUS, sponsored by ______ [fill in the blank], and it was GLORIOUS.
Because this isn't creepy or anything.
The sheer absurdity of the whole thing only cemented the glee of the 130,000 (attendance is capped) attendees of SDCC. Despite all the ruthless marketing and spectacle, it was the energy of the fans that really surprised me. They were not jaded, not "over it," and not made of even predominantly industry types: they were ECSTATIC and engaged and nerdy as fuck. As I walked by the Lionsgate booth on the floor, a young woman spying Natalie Dormer LOST HER SHIT and literally screamed. The panel for the relaunch of INVADER ZIM (Oni Press) was standing room only in a HUGE room and the audience gleefully threw out the obscurest references upon request. This is a show that hasn't been aired since 2003 (though can be seen on Nicktoons).
The INVADER ZIM panel which went delightfully off-script.
It's easy to get blasé about how comics are all big business now, and that they've lost their soul. And even while the materialistic element of SDCC is the overarching theme here, the beating heart of Comic-Con is still comprised of rabid, gleeful fans. Fans who are totally stoked to be at The Big Show. Fans who are catered to not only in big ways (Hi, Star Wars panel!) but in small ways, too. Attendees to Thursday's second annual NASA panel were treated to a live transmission from the International Space Station, as well as a first look at The Martian trailer (seriously, check it out - Ridley Scott, all star cast and the phrase "I'm going to have to science the shit out of this."). Even after all this time and all the hype, this is still, at its heart, a con. That was the real surprise.
So while I was girding myself for an onslaught of douchebaggery (and don't worry, there were plenty of Hollywood-in-San-Diego parties providing that), I was overjoyed to see that the spirit of Comic-Con was alive and well. And, dare I say it, in full swing.
Fan-girling with THIEF OF THIEVES artist Shawn Martinbrough, and why yes, Kelly Sue DeConnick DID sign my sling, thank you for noticing.
No doubt making an emphatic point on the Prism Comics' SDCC Panel. Photo credit: Rob Inderrieden
PS - Geeks OUT was overjoyed to represent our community on the Prism Comics' LGBTQ Geek Year in Review, and because I was on the panel, and it feels weird to recap myself, I leave that job to our friends over at Bleeding Cool.
Queer geeks united. From L to R: P. Kristen Enos (Prism Comics, WEB OF LIVES); Diane Anderson-Minshall (Editor at Large, The Advocate and author of Queerly Beloved); Sean-Z Maker (Bent Con; Rated Z Studios); me, Amber Garza (Geeks OUT, Flame Con); Matt Kane (Programs Director, Entertainment Media, GLAAD); and Chelsea Steiner (AfterEllen.com) Photo credit: Rob Inderrieden
Obligatory chingonas shot taken at the Image Booth, in front of SEX CRIMINALS and SOUTHERN BASTARDS, with Aurora Lady.
