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Published: July 21st 2013
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So what the bejeezus is Comic Con? Well dear reader, it all started in the seventies in a small San Diego hotel called El Cortez where a number of like minded souls got together to talk comic books, buy and sell etc. Nowadays with so many comic characters moving into films and television, it has become a convention for Sci-fi nerds, geeks and normal folk like the Davis family to meet people from tv, film, animation and comics. Rooms are assigned from 10am to 7pm for different panels to show you how to draw a cartoon, voice characters, or tv/film actors and directors just turn up and meet their adoring (and in many cases "stalker" like fans).
It is manic. Diane and Aidan attended Thursday while I lazed by the pool writing blog day 6 in the morning and then after lunch went to pick up my tickets for the Friday and Saturday. Aidan had a moment of fame on the big screen in one room as he asked Doctor Who (Matt Smith) a question, cue lots of "aahs" from the large crowd. Of course being my son he milked the attention for all it was worth, good lad.
I had picked up my passes and was generally milling around the convention centre and Petco Park (San Diego baseball ground, and scene for a zombie escape game). What became clear to me are the types of people you see and meet at these gatherings, so I've attempted to group them together;
• the corporate sell, people paid to be in costume to flog merchandise or bring attention to a new film or tv show
• the hardened fans who work long and hard (and spend a lot of $$$) on a costume, and are more than happy to pose for pictures
• the lame - those trying to be a fan by dressing as their favourite character but failing epicly, these guys are to coin an americanism "awesome"
• geeks and nerds who don't dress up, have never courted let alone spoken to anyone of the opposite sex, and just talk fervently about their particular thing or genre - yawn
• normal folk, just interested in a few things and taking in some new experiences and meeting some like minded interesting people. I myself had a very good conversation with a guy from Dreamworks who does the storyboarding. (By the way Dreamworks
use Oracle, but he didn't seem to know too much about who I should contact regarding a possible R12 upgrade
There are a few pictures of the characters we've encountered, in and around the blog.
Clearly in large conventions in the US, you are bound to encounter many an American. Before this holiday, those who know me won't be surprised to hear about my loathing for certain words and phrases currently blighting our beautiful language, and naturally these were magnified infinitely, so please I call for a complete ban on "whatever", "so" and "like". On top of that anyone who manages to spew the phrase " I was sooooo like, whatever!!" should be rounded up and shot - vote Davis for senator of California. Aidan and I met a family while queuing for a cartoon panel, the two sons were twins and mid twenties and every time they spoke it was followed by a huh, huh. For those old enough to remember Beavis and Butthead, they are alive and well, and I got to thinking if they were a bit "special", until I heard the Dad speak, then realised
it was genetic - what a bummer dude.
One thing I didn't expect to see at Comic Con was the number of bible bashers. Apparently liking sci-fi or comics means you are in the league with the devil and ones soul needs saving. So there they are with their loud speakers, telling everyone they are heathens and are going to hell, much to the delight of many!! The Jesus preachers even started on a poor chap dressed as Harry Potter (Richard Hunter, you're going to hades), much to his bemusement. Apparently a man will pray for me, just because I shook my head at him. Standing next to the God Squad were the opposition, as all is fair in a democratic society, one dressed in combat gear with gas mask on and a sign reading "Satan loves you more", and another with a sign saying "Screw These Guys" and an arrow pointing at preacher man - quality.
Finally, as far as star spotting goes, I've only seen Jonathan Ross and Max Brooks (son of Mel Brooks and author of World War Z and the
Zombie Survival Guide), but Simon Pegg will be around somewhere I'm sure.
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