Another Comic-Con has come and gone, and every year I’m amazed when people that I know would love it, tell me they’ve never gone. If you’re one of these people, I suggest you stop listening to your agoraphobic, pseudo hipster, nerd poser, fun impaired excuse for a friend and make the trek. Comic-Con is a blast, especially if you’re attending for the first time, and it should be on every self-respecting fanboy or fangirl’s bucket list. Granted, having a successful Comic-Con adventure can be a bit of an undertaking, so here are some answers to the most common “Con”questions I’ve heard over the years.
Another Comic-Con has come and gone, and every year I’m amazed when people that I know would love it, tell me they’ve never gone. If you’re one of these people, I suggest you stop listening to your agoraphobic, pseudo hipster, nerd poser, fun impaired excuse for a friend and make the trek. Comic-Con is a blast, especially if you’re attending for the first time, and it should be on every self-respecting fanboy or fangirl’s bucket list. Granted, having a successful Comic-Con adventure can be a bit of an undertaking, so here are some answers to the most common “Con”questions I’ve heard over the years.
1. How do I get tickets? – Comic-Con passes are available on their website. These days, passes sell out almost immediately, so prepare to be ready the minute they’re available online. If you happen to work in the entertainment or comic book industry, it may be possible to get a free pass by applying for a Professional Pass. Again, this is done through their website. You’ll be asked to prove your professional status by mailing/emailing them some sort of proof. This proof can really be anything that you think will make your case: Your IMDB page, a check stub, your credits in a comic book, etc… In addition to a free pass, industry professionals who are approved are allowed a guest pass as well, but be warned, these passes usually run out in mere minutes after pro registration begins. Of course, you could try sneaking in by wearing a Bryan Cranston mask but I think they’re on to that one.
2. How hard is it to get a hotel room? – Comic-Con offers some pretty good deals on hotels through their website, but again, they sell out in a matter of minutes. I suggest staying at a hotel farther away from the convention center and taking a shuttle in. The rooms are cheaper, the parking is usually free, and you don’t have to be subjected to the overcrowded mayhem of San Diego’s Gaslamp District… an area of town that apparently hosts the year round International Douche Convention.
3. Should I wear a costume? – Coming from a purely selfish point of view, I would have to say yes. Probably my favorite part of Comic-Con is the costumes. When I see a group of all 12 Doctors (even the eyesore jacketed Colin Baker Doctor!), and a hot girl dressed in a Tardis skirt, it genuinely makes me feel good to be alive. And by the way, where were all the hot Doctor Who fans who like to wear Tardis skirts when I was single? But seriously, wearing a costume (especially a great one or a really inspired bad one) is a serious commitment. Prepare to be repeatedly stopped, photographed, and potentially groped by all manner of nerd. I don’t think I’ve ever dressed up but I think next year, I will. I’ve got an Ultraman costume that’s only been used to get out of jury duty.
4. Why is that overweight person dressed as a character that is not overweight? – Don’t judge. In Comic-Con world, a slave girl Leia comes in all shapes and sizes.
5. Speaking of dressing up, is the Costume Masquerade worth going to? – Yes! There’s a super long line to get in as well, but it’s one of the few worth waiting in. It’s an age old Comic Con tradition that’s inspiring, absurd, and hilarious.
6. Forget about attending The Masquerade, should I take part in it? – Go for it! But FYI, for the most part you’re going to be up against some pretty stiff competition. A lot of the contestants are professional costumers who work meticulously all year on their creations. If you’re not at this caliber, aim towards humor. A lot of contestants perform skits where they lip sync to pre-recorded tape. Be warned though that if your bit goes on too long, the crowd will turn on you faster than an M. Night Shyamalan film loses money.
7. How do I get the really cool Comic-Con exclusives for a good price? – You can’t, so just forget about it. The vendors usually buy up all the exclusives before anyone else can get their hands on them, then mark them up substantially. Sure, I suppose if you camped out overnight and waited for the Con to open, you might be able to snag a premium exclusive. But then you have to ask yourself, “Do I like what I’ve become?”
8. How do I get the good free stuff? – Honestly, it’s just a matter of timing. You’ll be walking by a booth and suddenly, someone’s throwing a t-shirt at you. Some years I’ve walked out with a ton of great swag and other years (like this one) I end up with a bag of shitty free comics and a handful of State Farm key chains. Seriously, why were they there?
9. How long do I have to wait in line to get into a panel? – If you really need to get into a panel to feel you’ve had the complete Comic-Con experience (and I’m talking about a high profile panel like True Blood or Game of Thrones, not “Spotlight on Christian Comics” or “Remembering Seaquest DSV”), I would just get in line now. But if your panel of choice is The Big Bang Theory know now that you are dead to me.
10. Why are there panels for things that have nothing to do with comics or sci-fi? – Because Comic-Con is now really more of an entertainment industry tradeshow that leans toward the comic book genre. Yes, there are Glee and How I Met Your Mother panels, and yes, lots of people go to them. But we don’t associate with those…ahem…people.
11. How hard is it to get autographs of the attending celebrities? – “A” list? Almost impossible. “D” List? Just wave a $20 bill. They’ll find you.
12. Should I go all five days? – If you can swing it, yes. The weekdays are great for picking up stuff before it sells out and Sunday is great for scoring a deal. Over the years, I’ve obtained many treasures for a great price by haggling one minute before the Con closes. “C’mon man, do you really want to lug that Zuni Fetish Doll from the 1970’s TV horror film Trilogy of Terror all the way back home? I’m the only one here who even knows what it is?!”
13. How much money should I bring? – How much do you got? Because you know what? It’s not enough!
14. What’s that smell? – Don’t ask.
15. Can attending Comic-Con actually help me break into the comic book industry? – Oh right, comics, I remember them! The good news is yes! First of all, with the sheer number of people that attend every year, you can’t help but end up networking with someone in the building. And second, even though other elements of showbiz have tended to overshadow the comic book part of Comic-Con over the years, there are still plenty of industry professionals who will look over your portfolio and give you feedback. Although, before you approach one these professionals, I would suggest removing your “Deadpool” costume.
16. Anything I should be wary of? – Grumpy security guards, overpriced t-shirts, the snack bar pizza, drunk furries, cranky nerds with pencils, and Christian protestors yelling at you with bullhorns and carrying signs that read, “Don’t Get ‘Conned’ By Comic-Con.” I’m not making this up.
17. Why do you go every year? – Mainly for the spectacle of it all. To see that many people who are also into the kind of stuff I am is pretty great, and most of the big companies do up their booths with impressive sets, props, and crazy photo ops. My wife and I took the picture for our last Christmas card at The Walking Dead booth. It read, “It was the night before Christmas and as we hung up our stockings…little did we know, the dead started walking.”
The other reason I go is because of my friends. Every year, my buddies and I end up at the end of a night in someone’s room, drinking and arguing about nerd stuff. It’s so much fun and has become such a tradition that we decided to turn the experience in to a YouTube show (and upcoming podcast) called, “Monster Party.” If you want to experience the nerdy debauchery for yourself, go to Monsterpartytv on YouTube. “Destroy All Cocktails!”
Now that you are armed with this important information, you have your work cut out for you. Begin socking away that disposable income, invest in a pair of comfortable shoes, up your level of personal hygiene, and start hot gluing the cardboard together for that low rent Galactus costume you’ve always dreamed of. Just remember to stay strong. Although jumping through all the hoops of the Comic-Con experience can be overwhelming and at times, quite annoying…it’s only what you bring to it. Again, may I suggest a Tardis skirt?
Matt Weinhold