Comic Con 2007

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There are no words to describe the 2007 San Diego Comic Con. Big just doesn't work, and neither does immense or gargantuan. Pictures hardly do it justice, the herds of geeks and nerds looking miniscule in simple digital photographs, but they come close. The only true way to understand the scope of this four-day pinnacle of popular culture is to stand in the middle of the crowds, surrounded on all sides by super-heroes, Final Fantasy characters, and lots and lots of Jedi, and allow yourself to be overwhelmed by it. At any moment, these cosplayers could snap and overthrow the city government, declaring what was once a beautiful California city as a new safe haven for fanboys and girls, a nation unto itself. No force on this earth could stop them. Not even deodorant.

What was once a simple convention for the comic industry and its loyal fanbase is now an international media launching pad, giving Hollywood the quick and easy path to the genre fans. Mere yards from a tiny booth manned by independent artists hoping to sell a few copies of their basement-pressed trade paperback is an ear-shattering monolith promoting ABC Family's new fall lineup, pressed up against Hasbro's impromptu warehouse of collectable G.I. Joe figures and ultra-rare Transformers playsets. On the opposite side of the floor are comic and collectable retailers, companies selling the perfect lightsaber replica for your rendition of what Anakin should have looked like, and racks of vintage comics as large as some town libraries.

Rob "Gaald" Borges and I found ourselves in the center of all this craziness, and the pictures in the gallery below are just a small taste of our experience. There was a lot of excitement for the various panels over the weekend, like the unveiling of Iron Man footage and Watchmen posters, but all our time was spent in the heart of the exhibition floor, getting a glimpse of the highs and lows of modern fandom. Many AA batteries died to bring you these photos. Enjoy.

Click here to see the gallery!

Comments

momgamer wrote:

This seems appropriate.

Man, I'm totally stealing The Flash costume in a wheelchair for this Halloween.

Demiurge wrote:

You can play without the PS3 as well. Hasbro people kept referring to it as Analog Play. It's a fully-functional TCG, with mana and rules and the whole thing. Why you'd want to play without the camera and the console is beyond me, but I was never into Magic or stuff like that.

Offline play = hobby shops might support it and host tournaments, and that large-scale tournaments are possible (otherwise they would require too many PS3s to be feasible). It also means that you can go over to a friend's house and play even if they don't own a PS3. Basically, it means you can play the game anywhere.

Edwin wrote:

I don't like the idea of buying cards. =

QFT. I've been to the depths of CCG addiction with Magic. Might be where my deconstructing questions are coming from - it might be motivated self-interest.

Have they got a system that prevents people from using color copiers on their cards, btw?

Have they got a system that prevents people from using color copiers on their cards, btw?

There are apparently security features in the way the card is printed to help prevent people from just color copying cards. We'll see how well that works.

The new Penny Arcade is all about Eye of Judgment, and while his description of the game does nothing for me, his enthusiasm is truly infectious. My interest in trying this at PAX is, if anything, bolstered.

Amusing chat I had last night with my wife:

Her: I want a puppy!
Me: /groan
Her: What?
Me: That's a lot of work and responsibility, and you want a sissy, carry-in-my-purse dog.
Her: Why are you being negative about this? Puppy!

At this point I realize that I'm not going to be able to win this one in the long run, and I at least ought to try to barter.

Me: Well, I want a new PS3.
Her: A PS3?!?!?
Me: Yeah. And, uh...a laptop!
Her: You don't need a PS3! And you HATE Sony! Now you want to sell out?
Me: Hey, I was always planning on selling out eventually...
Her: Puppy!

Shazam wrote:

The Kitana chick at the end doesn't look too bad...

That's what I was thinking too, until I read

Demiurge wrote:

Dude, she's 12. I knew I should have left my jail bait comment on the picture. :D

then I tried to claw my eyes out. Excuse me while I go out and throw myself in front of the nearest dump truck as a service to humanity.

Rallick wrote:
Shazam wrote:

The Kitana chick at the end doesn't look too bad...

That's what I was thinking too, until I read

Demiurge wrote:

Dude, she's 12. I knew I should have left my jail bait comment on the picture. :D

then I tried to claw my eyes out. Excuse me while I go out and throw myself in front of the nearest dump truck as a service to humanity.

A) Yeah, she looks pretty non-mature.
B) Not sure how I feel about girls that age dressing like that. Who was it who made the joke about girls clothes being like guys walking around in cop uniforms and refusing to help stop crimes?

wordsmythe wrote:

B) Not sure how I feel about girls that age dressing like that. Who was it who made the joke about girls clothes being like guys walking around in cop uniforms and refusing to help stop crimes?

Yep, I'm with you there. Some of the outfits that some parents let their kids walk around in would earn any mature woman the label 'cheap', 'slut' or 'whore'. What makes it suddenly ok for young teenagers? *shakes head*

Scientists do agree that society is to blame placing the acceptable age of pregnancy and procreation to that of 17 or 18 while the body is made to due so as soon as puberty hits. It's your modern psyche that tells you it's wrong and yet your hormones say otherwise. Alas is civilization nothing more than the forced control of human nature to stay within boundaries?

Or some sort of otherwise useless dialog that is some what on topic and yet really only eludes to a simple fact, "Damn she's hot, damn she's too young. Damn you society!" Those boom anime babes make you think the wrong thing.

Rallick wrote:
wordsmythe wrote:

B) Not sure how I feel about girls that age dressing like that. Who was it who made the joke about girls clothes being like guys walking around in cop uniforms and refusing to help stop crimes?

Yep, I'm with you there. Some of the outfits that some parents let their kids walk around in would earn any mature woman the label 'cheap', 'slut' or 'whore'. What makes it suddenly ok for young teenagers? *shakes head*

Because comic costumes are sexy and alluring 99% of the time and kids like comics and costumes. I think what makes it ok for kids is that the intention behind the costume is not what would be intended had an adult worn the costume. I mean, my god, look at Wonder Woman -- who is supposed to be some sort of positive figure for girls. Yikes.

Now, dressing your kid like Vampirella might be a bit much, however. (Unless she's hot and 18)

kilroy0097 wrote:

Scientists do agree that society is to blame placing the acceptable age of pregnancy and procreation to that of 17 or 18 while the body is made to due so as soon as puberty hits. It's your modern psyche that tells you it's wrong and yet your hormones say otherwise. Alas is civilization nothing more than the forced control of human nature to stay within boundaries?

Or some sort of otherwise useless dialog that is some what on topic and yet really only eludes to a simple fact, "Damn she's hot, damn she's too young. Damn you society!" Those boom anime babes make you think the wrong thing.

Actually, she doesn't look hot to me. Looks like a kid. I'm sure she's a very nice girl, but I'm not attracted to her.

wordsmythe wrote:

Actually, she doesn't look hot to me. Looks like a kid. I'm sure she's a very nice girl, but I'm not attracted to her.

Translation: "Double-D's or not interested."

Well, at least a full B.

*chuckles* Yea I have to say I'm a C to D preference man myself.
Which there were a quite a few to choose from when I was in High School.
Though I only got to sample that sort of thing once back then.
Why does that sounds like I'm talking about ice cream flavors?

kilroy0097 wrote:

Why does that sounds like I'm talking about ice cream flavors?

I want to try them all!

Dude that kitana chick is 20!

thats me

Check out my myspace

www.myspace.com/CelesteMc12

I go to USC and I also have a facebook.

My name is Celeste McWhorter

I'd still hit it. Er, you. Keep up the good work.

Well then let the comments begin.

IMAGE(http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/7638/579390331lfv2.jpg)

Any secretarial, librarian, corporate or otherwise work place sexual commentary?

CelesteMc12 wrote:

Dude that kitana chick is 20!

thats me

Check out my myspace

www.myspace.com/CelesteMc12

I go to USC and I also have a facebook.

My name is Celeste McWhorter

Oops, sorry about the age thing. Great costume!

This isn't MySpace guys, take it easy.

*slaps head*

Well, I've never had a woman get mad at me because I undershot her age before, so this is definitely a first.

no I'm not mad. Its flattering actually. 8 years below my actual age, not many women can accomplish that fleet ^_^

Certis wrote:

This isn't MySpace guys, take it easy.

Yeah, don't let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.

Wow, this is almost funnier than the Clover episode.

Welcome Celeste. This bunch of yahoos are all right. What material did you use in making that costume? It really came through in the camera shot and I'm looking for something that works like that.

And guys, don't make me kick all your butts.

I used spandex and I had a friend of mine stitch it up for me. I used the pattern of a size 14 little girl gymnastic leotard. The boots were pure luck since patent blue THIGH high boots are next to impossible to find. The ones I'm wearing are made out of synthetic vinyl. BIG MISTAKE since now its falling apart I need the real boots....

My roomie and I are going to Megacon in Orlando again this year.

He's going as Hitman and I'm going as Phil Ken Sebben. I'm trying to get the fiancee to go as an elf or something.