COMIC CON 2022: THE RETURN!!!

WELCOME BACK CRAZIES!!!  TWO!!!  TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM COMIC CON!!!  AH HA HA!!!  Alright, alright, we all gotta settle down here.  We are officially into crunch time as announcements are getting more frequent!  Some big names and panels have already been announced as have some of the offsites!  It's all so exciting, isn't it?  But, we still got a wait ahead of us, so why not enjoy some past Comic Con fun to tie us over until the big day comes?

We're heading back to the year 2022, a real crossroads for SDCC as the world was only just starting to return to normal after the horrible pandemic.  It was the first time since 2019 that the con had been held and people were eager to hit the aisles again!  So, cap up those Code Red Mountain Dews and hold on tight because the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN is coming fast!  Enjoy..

This Vulture cosplayer found a unique way to follow the Convention Center's mask policy that weekend: Work the mask into his costume!

Hey hey!  It's Uncle Murph cosplay!  A whole generation of kids grew up with this guy on XETV Channel 6, then the local FOX affiliate in San Diego.  From 1990-1998, he was a fixture of local TV and when we heard that famous battle cry "CHANEL SIX-A-ROONIE!!!', we all knew it was time for cartoons and Power Rangers to start!

Offsites weren't a very big part of Comic Con in 2022.  Though outbreaks had slowed significantly and were practically nonexistent by the holidays, Covid was still very much a threat during the summer, so many of the producers of the popular offsite activations either scaled down or skipped the show altogether.  However, that just meant an uptick in building advertisements!  Many of which I've come to learn are illegally placed but the buildings put them up anyway due to the fines being mere pocket change to them considering the publicity they're getting!

The Fox/Disney booth!  My new home away from home during Comic Con load-in!  For many years, I had a pretty solid gig doing lights and monitors for the Hasbro booths, but they've cut down a LOT since Comic Con returned.  Luckily, in 2019 I made such a good impression on the dudes at the Fox booth that they inquired if I had survived the pandemic!  When my boss alerted them that I had, they brought me back!  And it's been happy times ever since setting up their video walls!  For three years now, they've claimed the booth is gonna get redesigned.  We'll see in a couple of weeks if they make good on that promise this year!

It just wouldn't be Comic Con without the Trolleys getting wrapped up!

Does this show even come on still?

One of the biggest shockers going into SDCC 2022 was the rather sudden announcement that the legendary Sideshow Collectibles booth wasn't coming back.  A true staple of the con, many fans were heartbroken over the news.  Boom Studios, who always bordered Sideshow, expanded their booth, but were hardly a replacement.  It's gonna be very interesting in a couple of weeks when Sideshow returns after a seven year hiatus!  Will they have their old spot back?  Is Boom getting shafted?  We'll find out in a couple of weeks!

As I said earlier, the offsites were not a big part of the show in 2022, but some still did happen, albeit on a much smaller scale, like the Petco Park Interactive Zone.  Sadly, the Zone has continued shrinking every year since.

Sorry Angelica.  I don't think that Cynthia doll is mint condition.

I have no clue what this was for, but it had a long line and folks seemed to enjoy it.  One of the few offsites that seemed to throw caution to the wind that year, along with the awesome Dungeons & Dragons tavern!

FX was all too happy to return and give folks nightmares with their giant advertisement for American Horror Story!  And if you think that sign is creepy, you should've seen the maze they set up!

So thankful that America's Ass was out on patrol that weekend!

Nintendo spared no expense building a giant Lego statue of Bowser for their booth!

Lastly, we'll end this week's post with this insanely movie-accurate cosplay of the Penguin from Batman Returns!  This poor soul could not have been comfortable in that San Diego heat, but he totally crushed it as Oswald!

And that was Comic Con 2022.  As I stated earlier, a very unique year in the show's history.  Having already been sold out since 2019, it was actually not heavily attended.  People were still very wary about the pandemic, despite things having improved drastically.  It didn't help that Hollywood was having issues of its own at the time that would come to a head a year later, but that's a story for another time, particularly next week.  Despite the unease, it was still nice to get out and cruise the aisles again.  What made it all even better was that my nephew Lucas hung out with me for a couple of days, getting some quality bonding time in with my ride bud while he was still young enough to think I was cool!

Well, that's all for now, but as you well know, the CRAZY COMIC CON COUNTDOWN goes until we got pics from 2026 to post, and that's still a few weeks out!  So be sure to come back next week as we explore what Comic Con 2023 had to offer!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

COMIC CON 2025 IS HERE!!! NEXT WEEK!!!

ONE!!!  ONE MORE WEEK UNTIL COMIC CON!!!  Ah ha ha!!!  Okay, okay, gotta get a grip.  But how can I?  Comic Con is next week!  The very event my whole year revolves around is a mere seven days away!  If only I had a bunch of old pictures from past Comic Cons to tie me over until then?  What's that you say?  I do?!?  Well why are you only telling me this now?!?  Let's get to it!  We're heading back to 2022, a very different year in the history of SDCC, but one that got the ball rolling again.  Mask up and cap those Baja Blasts because the CRAZY Comic Con Countdown is a go!

All City Champs bro!

Oddly enough, the mask actually works with this TRON cosplay.

Not a big year for offsites as many either didn't come back or scaled down considerably (Adult Swim in particular took very creative approach to this).  Then there was the Dragonball Experience, which came back full blast and offered week's biggest fun! 

Wild to think that Howard the Duck used to be considered a stain on Marvel's lineage!

Even in show mode, things don't always work out with the tech.  It sucks when it has to be fixed in plain view of attendees, but as the old slogan goes: @$&% happens!  Oddly enough, modern LED wall tiles are far more finicky than older, clunkier first and second generation models.

A greatly scaled back Petco Park Interactive Zone with an even more scaled back Nintendo Lounge.  Not sure what happened with their longtime home at the Marriott, but a cramped tent probably wasn't much safer as far as social distancing went.  Not surprisingly, this was the final hurrah for the once great Nintendo Lounge.

Shred Head's got the ooze dudes!  He'll learn the secret!

Droids on parade...

Despite slowly coming out of the pandemic, the Fun was still Popping in the Gaslamp!

You know its a party when Ruby Rhod makes the scene!

It's Spinel!  Evil Spinel at that!  A truly sad thing about cons being canceled in 2020: We would've gotten a LOT of really cool Steven Universe cosplay.

Bandai's Tamashii Nations booth was a technological Marvel!  This isn't the whole booth, but as you can see, even just a portion of it was jaw-dropping.  Being in Hasbro's former Toy Shop space and directly across from Hasbro's main booth wasn't just coincidence by the way.  There's history there, but that's a tale for another day...

The pic's a bit blurry, but it's not hard to see why this Spaceball wins the award for most creative way to turn a negative into a positive!

And lastly, this sinfully wicked Haunted Mansion cosplay of the Bride and the Hatbox Ghost!  Next time Disney gets the urge to make another feature adaption, maybe they should just get cosplayers to pull it off because they seem to grasp the property better than actual filmmakers do!

And that was Comic Con 2022!  A very unique year all things considered.  Cautious reveling would be the best way to describe it.  Everyone was thrilled to be back but we all knew we weren't completely out of the woods yet with the pandemic.  Still, even with fewer offerings, the exhibitors, panelists and organizers put on the best show that they could pulled out a win!

And that's another week in the books!  We'll be coming in a little earlier next week as we'll all be far too busy to check out a post on Preview Night.  So drop in Monday for a HUGE Comic Con post with even MORE pics and some helpful hints and tips to make for a smoother experience on the floor!  Until then, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all later!

COMIC CON 2024 IS HERE!!!

 

IT'S HERE!!!  IT'S HERE!!!  COMIC CON 2024 IS FINALLY HERE!!!  Oh my I got so little to do and so much time to do it in...  Wait a minute.  That's totally the opposite if what needs to be done!  Regardless, we have reached the big week and I just want to get to the pics!  Long time readers know the drill by now.  Any tips or helpful hints will be noted as such:

Tip:

So, without any further interruptions, it's time to guzzle some Red Bulls and pre-wedgie those tighy-whities as we head back to 2022 because the CRAZY Comic Con Countdown is a go!  Enjoy...

Although it was a sellout, the first SDCC after Covid was a far more subdued event than it was in years past.  It may well have been the most cordial convention I've ever been to!

TIP: Crowds at SDCC are unavoidable.  It's always gonna be packed.  Best course of action is to just keep calm and be courteous.  And if someone is being that big of a problem, simply tell security.  Believe me those guys are itching for action.

Had to take a LOT of steps back to get this costume in full frame!

COOOOOOOKIE!!! INFLATABLE COOOOOKIE!!!

Johnny Bravo!  Man he's purty!

TIP: Although a badge pretty much grants permission for pictures, you should still always ask cosplayers if it's okay to take pics, especially if said cosplayers are kids.  And if a cosplayer is being mobbed by photographers, simply get in on the group effort!  They wanna see things too after all!

I loved Beavis & Butthead as a kid, but somethings just shouldn't be modernized.  They were very much mid-90's and the newer stuff just hasn't worked.

Employee of the Month right here! 

Did this show ever even premiere?  It was all over Downtown that year but I don't recall anything ever coming of it.

Al Borland at your service!  Though he's looking more like Wilson right now!

The FX Zone returned with a new setup in 2022, opting for a maze with activations hidden within as opposed one centralized starting point with activations surrounding.  It was a nice change.

TIP: The FX Zone WILL be back this year, though details of its theming are unknown at this point.  Last year saw it go back its more traditional approach and I can't see this year being any different.

Adult Swim opted not to return in 2022, but they did let us know in a very clever way that they were still thinking of us that year.

TIP: Adult Swim is expected to return this year.  However, children are NOT permitted, not even with adult supervision.  Everybody's gotta be 18, no exceptions!

The Dragonball Experience came back and proved once again to be one of the best offsites at SDCC!  It will be returning this year for its SIXTH run and will likely be a very poignant experience with the passing of creator Akira Toriyama back in March.

Funko Pops made there way to the Gaslamp Quarter and then had to make a mad dash when the collectors came calling!

TIP: Some of the best spots to find great cosplay photo ops is outdoors, especially on 5th Ave in the Gaslamp Quarter.  Offsites, the back steps and the Mezzanine Level of the Convention Center are also great spots for cosplay spotting!

The infamous House Of The Dragon offsite.  People waited as long as eight hours for this one and still never got in.  I'm sure it was cool, but it wasn't worth the wait.  No experience is worth wasting a whole day for.

TIP: Offsites are hit or miss.  Do your homework in advance to determine if they really are worth the wait.  Sometimes they are well-run.  Most aren't though.  Weigh the risks and rewards! 

NBC returned to their usual spot at Tin Fish Square, but toned things down considerably in 2022, offering simple photo ops instead of fully immersive experiences.  With the new LED Walls now taking up space, it'll be interesting to see how NBC fits things in this year.

There was no shortage of dropped jaws in the exhibit hall when Funko unveiled their massive experience! Dubbed, Funkoville, it took over most of Hall G and seemed more fitting as an offsite!

The Peanuts Museum returned to its usual spot at the Wine Cellar, with an exhibit honoring Franklin, the first black member of the cast and easily the most likable.  Seriously, Franklin was the only kid in the entire cast that treated Charlie Brown kindly!

With so many big companies skipping out on SDCC in 2022, Audible decided the swoop in and create their own beach along the MLK Promenade, complete with sand sculptures!

After three years away, it was nice to get back to work and add the Marvel LED Wall to my resume!  They totally stiffed me and my nephew on our pay, but at least it's another feather in my cap!

Amazon opted not to do any offsite activations in 2022, but Netflix decided to take advantage of the open space!  I'm not sure what is was, but they were making people sign liability waivers, so I decided not to tempt fate!

Finally, here's a shot of me giving my honest opinion of the Abbot Elementary offsite.  They gave out some pretty cool swag, admittedly, but it wasn't worth the three hour wait!

And that was Comic Con 2022!  A very subdued in many regards, but still a great return after two straight pandemic cancellations.  It's wild how easily we all fell back into the swing of things.  It felt like a high school reunion in some ways and a new beginning in others.  It was a nice way to ease back in.  It was also a special experience as I brought my nephew Lucas with me.  He'd been gone for a couple of years, so it was nice to reconnect. All in all, a good show.

And now, a few last tips:

TIP: Know the environment!  Bring plenty of water and sunblock and wear comfortable shoes, nothing open-toed.  The Convention Center no longer supplies water coolers in the rooms, but the Marriott does and that water is much safer than the lead pipe refill stations the Convention Center installed by some of their drinking fountains.  Sunblock is also a must, especially while doing offsites, so block up often!  If you value your feet then don't wear any sandals or Crocs!  You're going to be doing a LOT of walking and your feet WILL get stepped on.  It's just the nature of the beast.

TIP: Bring cash AND credit!  While almost all vendors still accept cash, all Convention Center concessions are credit only.

TIP: Bring a portable phone charger and be aware of the strength of your phone service.  With close to a million people in the surrounding area, it's going to affect your phone.  Again, it's the nature of the beast.

TIP: Use public transportation when you can.  The Trolley is cheap and very effective!

TIP: Not all restaurants accept reservations during SDCC due to high demand, so do your research on which ones do/don't.  Also, restaurants tend to be at their lightest between 11am-1pm when many of the big panels are happening.  The further out you go, the more available restaurants get, so don't be afraid to explore.

TIP: Finally, BATHE every night!  Seriously, it's not gonna kill you to miss an hour!  Hygiene is more important then ever now!  Easiest way to keep from getting sick is to simply be more clean!  Hand sanitizer and multivitamins are also a must!

And that's all she wrote for now, but we still got a couple more posts to go before wrapping this thing up for the year, so be sure to come back next week and check it out!  If you're going to SDCC, keep an eye out on my Twitter (@JonsCrazyTweets) and BlueSky (JonsCrazyBlues) feeds for updates on my whereabouts, though admittedly, I'm at the mercy of T-Mobile's 5G service, so we'll see how that goes.  I'm always Hppy to meet up with friends and fans!  Until next time, take care, stay safe and I'll catch y'all at Comic Con!