San Diego Comic-Con Memories: more than just comics
July 20, 2013 11:02 AM Subscribe
If you look at the attendance of San Diego Comic-Con, you'll notice that it started shooting up in 2000, you might be tempted to think it was because Hollywood finally found Comic-Con. But you'd be wrong, and you'd be overlooking decades of movie promotions, from the first Superman trailer and the Alien promotion in the late 1970s, to the (mostly) cult films featured in the early 1990s. io9 has some images from the early days, and you can spend hours (or days) perusing through Comic-Con memories.
more than just comics
"Also some comics", really. In a corner somewhere.
posted by Artw at 12:34 PM on July 20, 2013 [5 favorites]
"Also some comics", really. In a corner somewhere.
posted by Artw at 12:34 PM on July 20, 2013 [5 favorites]
I first attended the Con, long, long ago, when it was held at the El Cortez Hotel. It was dark and dank and a little bit suspicious, which made it all the more delicious.
I remember when Vaughn Bode's death was announced, by a man in a Hulk t-shirt. And we, the fans, couldn't decide if this was a joke or not. (Vaughn had already announced his "second coming.") (And, if you recall, one of the Cheech Wizard strips had Cheech kicking Bode in the balls. So, meta-humor was within his domain.)
I remember when Pogs were the hot new thing.
I shook hands with Jack Kirby. Yes, I did. I still shiver at the memory. Here is a man is who has seen, experienced and made more history than I will ever know. It was a privilege.
I stood and cheered at the Costume event, when the entire Super Dimensional Fortress Macross crew appeared onstage.
I have, framed upon my wall, an Artist's Alley drawing by Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo).
I stopped attending the Con on Saturdays, years ago, because it was so busy. So I went only on Fridays, and that was a good time.
Now, even though the Con is only a short trip away from me, I don't go, mostly because of shame. I'm old and tired, and the Con is for the young and the young at heart. But I cheer for the Con every year, because, more than anything, it is a celebration of hope. Hope for the "next big thing" in movies or TV, sure, but also hope for the next generation that wants to look up to the future, and not down.
posted by SPrintF at 1:34 PM on July 20, 2013 [8 favorites]
I remember when Vaughn Bode's death was announced, by a man in a Hulk t-shirt. And we, the fans, couldn't decide if this was a joke or not. (Vaughn had already announced his "second coming.") (And, if you recall, one of the Cheech Wizard strips had Cheech kicking Bode in the balls. So, meta-humor was within his domain.)
I remember when Pogs were the hot new thing.
I shook hands with Jack Kirby. Yes, I did. I still shiver at the memory. Here is a man is who has seen, experienced and made more history than I will ever know. It was a privilege.
I stood and cheered at the Costume event, when the entire Super Dimensional Fortress Macross crew appeared onstage.
I have, framed upon my wall, an Artist's Alley drawing by Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo).
I stopped attending the Con on Saturdays, years ago, because it was so busy. So I went only on Fridays, and that was a good time.
Now, even though the Con is only a short trip away from me, I don't go, mostly because of shame. I'm old and tired, and the Con is for the young and the young at heart. But I cheer for the Con every year, because, more than anything, it is a celebration of hope. Hope for the "next big thing" in movies or TV, sure, but also hope for the next generation that wants to look up to the future, and not down.
posted by SPrintF at 1:34 PM on July 20, 2013 [8 favorites]
The attendance figures probably also have quite a bit to do with the fact that the San Diego Convention Center just about doubled in size when they finished the addition in 2001. But, I do remember going to the ComiCon in '97 or '98, driving right up to the convention center, parking in its underground lot, and buying tickets immediately before entering. That won't ever happen again.
posted by LionIndex at 1:36 PM on July 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by LionIndex at 1:36 PM on July 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
I remember when Pogs were the hot new thing.
OK, maybe imovies and videogames aren't too bad.
posted by Artw at 1:51 PM on July 20, 2013 [3 favorites]
OK, maybe imovies and videogames aren't too bad.
posted by Artw at 1:51 PM on July 20, 2013 [3 favorites]
My favorite thing about Comic-Con was when the company I was with didn't bother to register me, so I had to prove my professional status with some frantic googling on my phone.
posted by The Whelk at 1:55 PM on July 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 1:55 PM on July 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
My favorite thing about Comic Con is that they just announced the next Superman/Batman movie!
posted by HuronBob at 2:30 PM on July 20, 2013
posted by HuronBob at 2:30 PM on July 20, 2013
When I was a comics fan boy, this event was better known as "San Diego". It would have been completely meaningless to call it Comic-Con--which one?! Chicago was just as big, and the Atlanta Fantasy Fair wasn't small. Lots of smaller but still big shows, to be sure, but I think that was it for the 'everybody is going' list.
posted by Chuckles at 2:32 PM on July 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Chuckles at 2:32 PM on July 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
If you look at the attendance of San Diego Comic-Con, you'll notice that it started shooting up in 2000, you might be tempted to think it was because Hollywood finally found Comic-Con.
Just as a wild hypothesis, I'd guess that the nerds began breeding.
posted by dhartung at 4:32 PM on July 20, 2013
Just as a wild hypothesis, I'd guess that the nerds began breeding.
posted by dhartung at 4:32 PM on July 20, 2013
I see today that what showed up as an in-joke in I Am Legend (2007) will be in theatres in 2015.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:52 PM on July 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:52 PM on July 20, 2013 [2 favorites]
See the last couple of Superman threads for how I feel about that.
posted by Artw at 5:12 PM on July 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 5:12 PM on July 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
"You're dressed like whores!" - Christians vs Comics in San Diego
posted by homunculus at 7:54 PM on July 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 7:54 PM on July 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
My favourite thing about Comic-Con is how all the movie trailers this year seem to be region-locked.
And how I can otherwise get all the news, and even watch some of the promo panels without leaving the house and getting into the crowds.
And people take photos of scantily-clad people for me, so I can feel old and dirty but not embarrassed. Also confused.
posted by Mezentian at 9:50 PM on July 20, 2013
And how I can otherwise get all the news, and even watch some of the promo panels without leaving the house and getting into the crowds.
And people take photos of scantily-clad people for me, so I can feel old and dirty but not embarrassed. Also confused.
posted by Mezentian at 9:50 PM on July 20, 2013
So, at two different panels for two different studios, two different actors playing Marvel characters (Spider-Man and Loki) made entrances in full costume... now, let's see them do that with Rocket Raccoon.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:03 AM on July 21, 2013
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:03 AM on July 21, 2013
"The summer of 2015 is shaping up to be a busy one with the J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars sequel, The Avengers 2, Pirates of the Caribbean 5, Terminator 5 and Independence Day 2 all slated for release."
sideshow_bob_rake.wav
posted by Elementary Penguin at 2:56 AM on July 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
sideshow_bob_rake.wav
posted by Elementary Penguin at 2:56 AM on July 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'll go see The Avengers 2 'cause Wheden and Star Wars' cause it's Star Wars and it can't be worse than the prequels but seriously give us a break here. Pirates of the Caribbean 5? Really?
posted by octothorpe at 6:54 AM on July 21, 2013
posted by octothorpe at 6:54 AM on July 21, 2013
Independence Day 2 is the one that gets me. IMDB has a 2015 date for ID Forever Part I, and an undated listing for Part 2. I just don't understand.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 7:27 AM on July 21, 2013
posted by Elementary Penguin at 7:27 AM on July 21, 2013
The is Peter Jackson's fault.
posted by Artw at 7:31 AM on July 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 7:31 AM on July 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Confirmed as ‘Avengers’ Sequel Title, Villain Announced
posted by homunculus at 10:20 AM on July 21, 2013
posted by homunculus at 10:20 AM on July 21, 2013
The Making of Adam Savage's Admiral Ackbar Costume
posted by homunculus at 10:35 AM on July 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 10:35 AM on July 21, 2013 [2 favorites]
Speaking of asavage, he put together an "Adam Incognito" flash mob here (at ComicCon) the other day. He made vacu-formed hats for all of us, and false goatees. After some Busby Berkeley inspired routines and marching drills, he turned us loose on the floor.
He rejected Comic Con's reality and substituted his own.
posted by ShutterBun at 1:05 PM on July 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
He rejected Comic Con's reality and substituted his own.
posted by ShutterBun at 1:05 PM on July 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
My memory of the San Diego Comic Con involves driving down from Santa Barbara. It should have been an omen when I hit a seagull with my car. Of the con itself I only really remember the masquerade, looking at a person in an Ororo costume and thinking "That's the first goddess I've seen with bad posture." Then the people I was going to stay with revealed that they had not gotten permission for me from the people they were sharing a room with. I ended up not sleeping in my car in the parking garage, nervously listening all night to the skate punks using the garage as a skateboard ramp. Oddly enough,I never went back.
posted by happyroach at 2:26 PM on July 21, 2013
posted by happyroach at 2:26 PM on July 21, 2013
Oh hey, I have SDCC news - Dredd sequel comic, that's me.
posted by Artw at 3:11 PM on July 21, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 3:11 PM on July 21, 2013 [5 favorites]
The Making of Adam Savage's Admiral Ackbar Costume
Ok, now I know what not to look for when going Adamspotting at DragonCon.
posted by radwolf76 at 4:53 PM on July 21, 2013
Ok, now I know what not to look for when going Adamspotting at DragonCon.
posted by radwolf76 at 4:53 PM on July 21, 2013
"That's the first goddess I've seen with bad posture."
You are unfamiliar with the concept of Mr R Liefeld, Esq?
I am also:
Not down with Age Of Ultron. Without Pym? NO. BAD JOSS.
So many Comic-Con exclusive trailers I canna see. These people do understand promotion, right?
(PICTURES of Daleks in the Time War don't COUNT).
posted by Mezentian at 7:17 AM on July 22, 2013
You are unfamiliar with the concept of Mr R Liefeld, Esq?
I am also:
Not down with Age Of Ultron. Without Pym? NO. BAD JOSS.
So many Comic-Con exclusive trailers I canna see. These people do understand promotion, right?
(PICTURES of Daleks in the Time War don't COUNT).
posted by Mezentian at 7:17 AM on July 22, 2013
One title which does have a creative team is the sequel to the Dredd movie, which will be written by Arthur Wyatt
Well, it's not a movie, so I look forward to your modernist tale on Fatties.
Because you leave those DARK JUDGES alone.
Also, you can have the Simp. But not Otto Sump.
Also, also: CONGRATULATIONS!
posted by Mezentian at 7:20 AM on July 22, 2013
Well, it's not a movie, so I look forward to your modernist tale on Fatties.
Because you leave those DARK JUDGES alone.
Also, you can have the Simp. But not Otto Sump.
Also, also: CONGRATULATIONS!
posted by Mezentian at 7:20 AM on July 22, 2013
Bryan Cranston Secretly Cosplayed As Walter White at Comic-Con
posted by homunculus at 2:40 PM on July 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by homunculus at 2:40 PM on July 22, 2013 [1 favorite]
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