It's survival in the city...
When you live from day to day...
City streets don't have much pity...
When yer down that's where you staaaaaay...
Sorry CRAZIES, but this year's Comic Con splash just really put me in a Joe Walsh kind of mood! The big day is upon us folks! Well, it's actually on Wednesday, but given that the chaos of the Con will be kicking in sometime around 1pm that day, I figured it'd be wise to post early so folks will have a chance to relive and relearn.
But yes! This week is in fact the kickoff of Comic Con 2019! We've waited all year for the show of shows and now we can finally let our fan instincts off the leash! As I post pics today, I'll offer handy tips as I have in the past whenever relevant. To distinguish, a bold TIP: icon will appear in its own paragraph. Well, now that that's been said, tighten the caps on those Code Red Mountain Dew bottles, polish up those vintage GI Joe action figures and hold on to your Batman Underoos because the CRAZY Comic Con Countdown 2019 is locked, loaded and heading back to Comic Con 2017! Enjoy...
The Mattel booth! 2017 saw it get a major upgrade in terms of layout and appearance. Although it's displays are now much bigger and very impressive, the original booth was much more open and easier to navigate. Still, they had a great slate of toys ready for the coming fall and winter movies they were promoting.
TIP: Mattel and Hasbro are among Comic Con's most demoralizing lines after Hall H and Ballroom 20. However, if you're patient and don't have hopes too high, there is one way to get in without getting one of those coveted raffle tickets. By Friday evening, most of the really big ticket items sell out and because of that, the lines practically disappear. In Mattel's case, I've even walked in on Thursday evening and had luck! Point is, keep a close eye out every afternoon between 4pm-7pm. You just might get in and you just might get the exclusive you want.
Where's the Dude and Walter when you need them?
Hello there children! South Park just hasn't been the same without Chef.
After a down year in 2016, the Petco Park Interactive Zone returned with a purpose in 2017 and delivered big! The Ice Cream Citadel was a pretty amazing experience. Not only did they give us free ice cream, they even gave us a few minutes to stand inside the near-freezing citadel for a minutes and escape the blazing temperatures outside!
TIP: As I've said many times over the years, you don't need a pass to enjoy Comic Con. There's PLENTY of free events going on outside that can easily lead into an entire week's worth of entertainment for anyone! The Petco Park Interactive Zone is the biggest of these free events and is also a great spot to see some cosplay!
Hotels aren't the only ones that get in on the wraparound act. The trolleys do too! And this year, Conan took total control!
TIP: Conan O'Brien is coming back this year! While the tickets are free, it's a raffle system similar to how you get Comic Con badges, so, don't get your hopes up!
ROCKOOOOOOOO!!! All-time favorite Nicktoon!
The Alien Covenant booth. I was setting up the Hasbro Booth while the Fox crew set this one up. They left the doors open while testing things and scared the hell out of a few poor cleaning ladies that were walking by and didn't know the monitors were on!
TIP: Many booths offer walk-through experiences like the one above. Some lines are longer than others, depending on how cool the experience actually is. It should also be noted that not all these experiences are age appropriate! Though the folks at Fox had no trouble letting six-year-olds into the trailer, their parents sure weren't too thrilled when they walked out with screaming kids afterwords. Moral of the story? Use common sense before getting in a line. This isn't Disneyland, there aren't warning signs!
The Kong: Skull Island offsite! At least the Monsterverse had one decent movie in it!
The infamous Amazon offsite. Packed, poorly run and frustrating beyond belief. Fans AND The Tick deserved better!
TIP: Offsites in recent years have seen a bit of a down turn in proper handling. Lines have gotten longer so be aware that you could be waiting in a line for an entire day and still not get to experience what it was you were hoping to do.
The Master would approve, Torgo!
Aaaaaaaaalrighty then!
TIP: Cosplay is a fun way to meet folks and break ice. For those looking to try it for the first time, don't be afraid to give an obscure character a try! Those tend to get a LOT of attention! Also, always ask first before taking a picture. Yes, it's a given that merely showing up to Comic Con pretty much means permission is granted, but it's still a polite thing to do.
Given that no one is allowed on the top of the Entertainment Earth booth, there's a decent chance that might actually be Paul Stanley.
TIP: Plenty of celebrities roam the floor in street clothes and without security entourages. If you come across one, don't call attention to them. They're just fans like the rest of us trying to have fun and would probably still be happy to take a selfie with you, possibly even more so because you treated them normally!
What're you lookin' at, butthead?!?
Pepsi really sheered out a lot to make the Petco Park Interactive Zone THE event of the Con! The one thing they didn't spend money on? A permit to sell food! They got busted on the fist day and could only give out sodas and ice cream for the rest of the weekend!
TIP: Despite Pepsi's folly, plenty of other food trucks in the Interactive Zone DO have their paperwork in order and can sell food! The prices are fairly reasonable and there's a good variety of choices. Some of them, like the Hello Kitty truck, even offer exclusives!
Justice League had many pros and cons, but I do feel that Ezra Miller made a great Flash!
TIP: It gets insanely hot in San Diego during Comic Con. If you're gonna dress up, really make an effort to use lightweight materials. Some cosplayers even work in tubing systems that allow cold water to be poured in and control the temperature!
Doofus Rick!
Amen brother!
The Adult Swim Carnival! Provided it's back this year, I hope to FINALLY get to check it out!
With NerdHQ gone, the SyFy Channel has really stepped up in bringing the fun to the streets for all to enjoy! In addition to the Trivia Trolley, they also do a double decker Karaoke Bus!
TIP: With 5th Avenue shut down for several blocks, the streets are open for all sorts of activities. If you're looking to score some great swag or get cosplay pics, hang around 5th Ave between Harbor and G Street and you won't be disappointed. The SyFy crew is always on the prowl!
David the Gnome Cosplay! Maybe this year we'll finally get some Pinwheel costumes!
And that was Comic Con 2017! It was a pretty insane week! So much went down, it really is hard to keep track of everything! It was another one that was hard on the feet, but I pulled through and really had some great experiences. Also a phenomenal year for cosplay too! Just gets me even more excited for Wednesday!
Well, that's all for now, but before we go, here's a few final tips:
TIP: Drink LOTS of water and bring a refillable water bottle. All the Convention Center and hotel meeting rooms have have water coolers and are constantly being refilled. They are there for your benefit so take advantage!
TIP: Where sunblock and re-block every few hours, especially if you're doing the offsites. It gets hot and sunburns aren't fun!
TIP: Wear REAL shoes with good arch support! You're gonna be doing a LOT of walking and standing over the weekend! There are also over 100,000 people coming to this event. Feet are going to get stepped on, it can't be helped! Sandals, high heels, slippers... You may as well just let a car run over your foot in advance!
TIP: Bring cash! Not all booths accept credit cards and even the ones that do don't often have very reliable internet due to the Convention Center's spotty WiFi. And speaking of tech, bring a portable charger. Your phone's gonna need it!
TIP: Be hygienic! Shower ever day and use deodorant! Seriously, it only takes a few moments and your fellow attendees will appreciate it!
TIP: Finally, be courteous to others. It's hot, it's crowded, things we wanna do we likely won't get to. It's easy for tempers to flair. But if we all just keep calm, be understanding and let cooler heads prevail, there's no reason we can't all have a good time. And if someone is causing trouble, just report them! Believe me, security at Comic Con is VERY overzealous and itching for action! No jerk is worth losing your badge over!
And with that, I'll see y'all there! With any luck, I'll have phone service in the building, so keep an eye on my Twitter (@JonsCrazyTweets) for updates! Until then, have a fun, happy and safe Comic Con and I'll catch y'all later!
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