IT'S HERE!!! IT'S HERE!!! COMIC CON 2025 IS FINALLY HERE!!! Okay, okay, I know. Gotta keep calm. After all, I am a Professional here. Wait a tic, I'm a professional cartoonist! We're the most immature kids in class! IT'S HERE!!! IT'S HERE!!! IT'S HERE!!! Okay, now that I got it out of system, I think we can continue!
You may have noticed we're posting a bit earlier this week than usual. As is tradition here at the CRAZYVERSE, we're posting ahead of our usual Wednesday time slot so as not to conflict with everybody's busy Comic Con schedules, including mine! Believe, I ain't promoting crap this week! I won't have time to! As we go through today's post, we'll also be highlighting a few tips and pointers throughout, which will be marked as so:
"TIP:"
And now, without further interruption, let us cap up our Code Red Mountain Dews, toss out our empty bags of Doritos and put on a fresh pair Batman Underoos, because the CRAZY Comic Con Countdown has launched! Enjoy...
Recess is out!
The unbridled joy of launching foam hotdogs at people riding a giant, mechanical hotdog cannot be accurately described in a single sentence!
TIP: This particular activity takes place at the Adult Swim Carnival behind the Convention Center near the bay. It is free to attend, HOWEVER, only 18 and up are allowed in. Also, as of this writing, it has yet to be confirmed to be returning, but it's almost a lock at this point, so prepare accordingly.
The Lego booth has really stepped it up in recent years as opposed to the old booth which was literally just a video wall, a table full of Legos and a small shop in the back. Now they do full-on themes and in 2023, they gave us all a nostalgic gut punch with a booth themed like an old Blockbuster Video store!
Blizzard Entertainment always delivered big when it came to their booth as 2023 proved to be their final year (To date) at SDCC. With all the turmoil surrounding their sale, it's hard to say what the future holds for them as even their huge show up in Anaheim, Blizzcon, has been postponed indefinitely. Guess we'll see how it goes eventually.
Nothing like wasting money on a huge campaign for the anniversary of a (Sadly) tainted TV show on a network that doesn't even air in San Diego anymore. When the Project Manager of this offsite overheard me tell one of the volunteers that LaffTV had left San Diego airwaves nearly three years prior, he just about had a heart attack. This would be akin to promoting a Baltimore Ravens convention in Cleveland.
TIP: MANY offsites and activations line the sidewalks and grassy knolls between Petco Park and the Gaslamp Quarter Trolley stop. Some are simple, some are quite sophisticated. These spots also tend to be hotbeds for swag and photo ops. Research accordingly which ones may be worthwhile.
Garner Holt is a pretty cool animatronics company responsible for many theme park installations that don't have Disney-size budgets but at least have Disney-size dreams! You can count Knott's Berry Farm among their satisfied customers!
They paid their dues and the check's in the mail!
ARRRRRGH MATEY!!! It be the Voodoo Ranger Pirate Ship! For two years now they've set sail for Comic Con and plundered many a drunken sailor!
TIP: As of this writing, the Voodoo Ranger has not been confirmed, but it is highly likely they will be back for a third go around in the bay. Because alcohol is served, all attendees must be 21 and up and this is NOT a free outing. I don't recall the price, but it wasn't expensive. I also don't know if beverages are included in the price.
Plenty of adventures to be found when a boy teams up with his tiger...
I wouldn't pick up THAT hitchhiker!
Hulu's Animayhem offsite! A truly massive experience and a truly massive pain in the ass! Some of it was cool, but to wait so long for photo ops you could simply walk up to... It just made no sense! I will say though, the mini backpacks and pin sets they gave us were pretty cool at least. It was like a consolation prize for taking up half of our day and giving us heat stroke!
TIP: Another one that has yet to be confirmed as of this writing (They are seriously lagging on major announcements here with less than a month to go as I type this!), but also a likely returner here as it's success can't be argued with. However, the lines for this one are NOT quick and it is not a well shaded or even air conditioned area. If you plan on doing this one, plan accordingly!
He's got a golden ticket! Sadly, that didn't count with the badge registration people!
The big deal at the Nickelodeon booth that year was Good Burger 2... Does anyone even remember that it had a sequel? Does anybody even remember the first one at this point?!? All I remember is the dance number at the insane asylum!
Nothing sadder than an abandoned Morty...
We were all Toys 'R' Kids once and largely still are to a degree, even though nostalgia probably paints a better picture of it than it really was. Seriously, the two closest to my house always looked like a tornado tore through them!
The Pinball Lounge at the Marriott Marquee is truly one of SDCC's hidden gems! I highly recommend the Godzilla and 60's Batman machines!
TIP: The Pinball Lounge is located in the Pacific Ballroom on the first floor of Marriott Hall, a large exhibit space added to the hotel several years ago that replaced the old Marriott Hall. The Pinball Lounge is FREE and requires NO badge at all! The Marriott is also home to the SDCC Film Festival, Anime Rooms, (Some) After Hours Movies, SDCC Gift Shop and Con Hospitality Suite. The latter five DO require badges, though some of the Anime Rooms have been known to be generous towards those without badges, depending on how empty the rooms are. Always ask first!
TIP: The Marriott Marquee is also home to the Dragonball Experience offsite. As of this writing, it too has yet to be confirmed, but a 6th go around is highly believed to be happening given the many DB projects still in the pipeline and the fact that its distributor, Crunchy Roll, also has a massive offsite planned for Embarcadero South near the Rady Shell concert venue.
The awesome Shogun activation at the FX Zone thrilled con-goers with its martial arts displays and staged battles! It was one of the real highlights that year!
TIP: The FX Zone is located at the lawn adjacent to the Hilton Bayfront Hotel. As of this writing, it hasn't been confirmed yet (I know folks. Lotta question marks here, but I can only work with the info available as I type this. I promise I have SOME confirmations coming!), but it is highly likely to return. It is a FREE event for all to attend, but it IS outdoors and unshaded, so sunblock, water and proper shoes are a must!
The Peanuts Museum was themed to Camp Snoopy that year and offered a few fun activities for all to enjoy, including a few unaired episodes of the new series and plenty of photo ops.
The Peanuts Museum WILL return this year at its usual spot across the street from the Gaslamp Quarter near the Hilton Gaslamp. It is FREE for ALL to attend! No badges needed! See? Told y'all there were SOME things confirmed!
PL-PL-PL-PLEASE EDDIE!!! Put Roger down! He may not be able to feel it, but toons still have feelings ya know!
We'll end today's loaded post with these attendees doing what I'm about ready to do right now: HAUL ASS TOWARDS THE EXHIBIT HALL!!!
And that was Comic Con 2023! A rather bizarre year actually that saw a good chunk of the panels get cancelled due to strikes from both the Writers and Screen Actors Guilds, which led to the Producers and Directors Guilds also bowing out in solidarity of the writers and actors. It was actually kinda nice to see comics and art be the primary focus of SDCC once again, but it also led to some of the most insane exhibit hall crowds I've ever witnessed in over 20 years of attending! It's a year I certainly won't forget anytime soon for sure!
And now, here's a few more pointers for a more enjoyable con before signing off. Most of these tips are pretty much common sense, but you'd be amazed how quickly that flies out the window once Comic Con starts, and I am no exception in that regard either! Anyhoo...
TIP: Wear proper shoes! No wing tips, no sandals, no boots! You're gonna be doing a LOT of walking on concrete, and no, it doesn't look likely that the Convention Center is gonna be bringing the aisle carpeting back anytime soon, but we can always hope, right?
TIP: Bring water and sunscreen! It gets VERY hot during the show and a lot of time WILL be spent outdoors doing the offsites. And even indoors, with so many people crammed inside, air conditioning isn't always noticeable, so stay hydrated and try to wear lightweight/light colored clothes if you can. Also, water coolers at the Convention Center are pretty much gone unless the client pays for them. If they won't foot the bill for carpet, they ain't gonna foot the bill for water either! Luckily, all the participating hotels have water coolers, so take advantage of refills when you can.
TIP: The San Diego Convention Center is a cashless facility; credit and debit only. HOWEVER, that is merely for Convention Center services like concession stands and Starbucks. Most of the booths still take cash and often prefer it. Some exhibitors even offer discounts when paying with cash, so be sure to ask around.
TIP: WiFi at the Convention Center is absolute garbage and most cell services fall flat in the building too with so many inside trying to use their phones. Just know you'll be lucky to get text messages off. Also, consider investing in a portable phone charger if you don't already have one.
TIP: Restaurants in Downtown are gonna be packed, especially in the immediate blocks. As a result, many don't do reservations because the demand is too great. There are periods though, usually between 11am and 1pm, where the action is focused on the Convention Center, so take advantage of the down periods and grab a bite. Also, if you don't mind the walk, about four or five blocks out, the crowds lighten up a bit and there are some solid eats around Market and G Streets.
TIP: Many offsites are walk up and wait while others, like the Paramount Lounge, require reservations. Some are easier to get into than others. Just know that even with a reserved spot, the waits can still be very long. Do you due diligence when picking events!
TIP: News CONSTANTLY changes surrounding every aspect of the show. Luckily, there are numerous social media accounts across numerous platforms that are always on the case, with the SDCC Unofficial Blog being among the most reliable.
TIP: If cosplaying, try to make your costume out of lightweight material and have a handler to help out with things. Also, take bathroom breaks into account. The call of nature and a cumbersome costume are a bad mix!
TIP: Finally, be cordial! It's hot, it's crowded and things aren't always gonna go as planned. As easy as it is for tempers to flare, it's even easier to simply walk away. Nothing is ever worth going to jail for or even getting banned from a show for, it just isn't. And if someone is causing trouble, there are HUNDREDS of overzealous security guards that are more than happy to try and impress the dozens of police officers hidden and not-so-hidden within the exhibit hall! We're all fans and we're all in this together, so let's be kind and respectful of each other. It goes a long way.
And now for something REALLY exciting! For the first time ever, I will be BEHIND the table at Comic Con, sketching for the Cartoon Art Museum out of San Francisco! That's right folks, CRAZY is now a featured guest! If you'd told me back in 2002, the first time I ever set foot at SDCC, that I'd be a guest at a booth someday, I would've asked what you were smoking! But here we are, 23 years later, and I'm at a table! I'm very honored to be there and very humbled as well. For those attending and interested, you can find me at the Cartoon Art Museum Booth #1634, around Hall B on Thursday, July 24 from 1-2pm PST! Because it's only an hour, the sketches will be simple black and white, pen and ink sketches. As much as I'd love to add colors, it's a slow process for me and these gotta be done quick. I should also mention that all proceeds help fund the museum, so it's all for a good cause! I hope to see y'all there!
Well CRAZIES, it's time to head out, but I'll be back next week with more past Comic Con fun to keep our Con withdrawals from setting in! If you are going please be safe and have a wonderful time and come say hi if you see me! Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll see y'all at COMIC CON 20205!!!
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