Comic-Con 2012 Dispatch, Part One: Achievements Unlocked!

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Comic-Con 2012

Let this document serve as a warning to people attempting the journey to San Diego Comic-Con. The trail to Comic-Con is a perilous one for some and a life-changing event for others. We go to Comic-Con in search of enlightenment, fellowship, spiritual awakening, inspiration and in some cases acquisition of rare and unique treasures. Be warned this journey is not for the faint of heart or weak of soul. Let the journey begin ...

Preparation

Attending SDCC (as we veterans call it) requires preparation. The first step in your journey is the acquisition of the rarest of all items: the Comic-Con badge. Without a badge, you're nothing but a "normal," doomed to a life on the outside looking in. The location of "in" is the San Diego Convention Center, the Mecca of all that is geek.

My journey to the 2012 SDCC actually began in the pre-dawn hours of the 2011 SDCC. I waited with fellow travelers in hopes of scoring the ultimate of all SDCC badges, the "Golden Ticket" of Comic-Con, a full convention badge with preview night. Many hours later, after waiting with friends hailing from the far-off realms of Phoenix and Chicago, our weary band was ushered into the hall of tickets. We learned that badges were being rationed to two tickets per person. After my six-hour pilgrimage, the gods of tickets showed me favor and granted my wish: two Full Convention Passes with Preview Night! Acquisition unlocked .... Tickets acquired!

Searching For Shelter

Many sunrises and sunsets after SDCC 2011 we awaited our next fate: the granting of shelter. Actually, we waited online to make hotel requests. This is where the fun begins. There are a limited number of hotel rooms available to the 125,000+ people who attend Comic-Con each year. The acquisition of shelter is controlled by the god of shelter: Travel Planners.

When attending SDCC, location matters. SDCC is very tiring and the closer your hotel the better. The best spots are the ones right downtown, near the convention centers, the worst of them are a six-mile shuttle ride away. It is the desire of all attendees to be in the action: downtown San Diego. After making a selection of up to 20 potential hotels you wait, and wait. A few weeks later your fate is decided. An e-mail confirmation arrives your fate has been decided. Did the gods favor you?

In my case it was not good news, our hotel was in the worst of it (better than no hotel I guess), the six-mile shuttle ride distance. Not good. As the months went by, I was able to move closer to the convention center, first by the airport (two miles away) -- and finally my wish was granted. In early June, my name came up on the waitlist and I was granted a spot downtown, right in the heart of Comic-Con. Achievement unlocked ... Shelter acquired!

A Caravan To The Stars

Arranging transport to SDCC is the simplest part and if done right, can add to your experience. We decided to add to the fun of our trip by visiting family in the Los Angeles area. A few gold dragons and frequent-flyer miles later, passage was secured to the City of Angels.

After a brief stay in the domicile of my lifegivers, we boarded a steam engine from Union Station in Los Angeles to our final destination: San Diego! As we boarded our train I noticed someone boarding with us: University of Texas graduate and geek goddess herself, Felicia Day. Last year I had read that a lot of celebrities rode the train from LA to SDCC and you know what? Absolutely true. Achievement unlocked ... Geek demi-god sighting!

Comic-Con 2012

Rod Paddock, Krysta Paddock and Felicia Day, SDCC 2012

Badge Pickup and Preview Night

Upon arriving in San Diego, we dropped our bags at our hotel and immediately made for the SDCC temple to retrieve our pass to all that is geeky. This is the shortest and simplest line we experienced all week. WIth confirmations in hand, we were in and out of the convention center in a few ticks of the clock. Next stop: Preview Night and acquisition of baubles.

SDCC starts with the opening of the tradeshow floor where attendees congregate to acquire exclusive toys, comic books, posters and assorted trinkets. A limited (loosely speaking) number of badges are sold with access to preview night. The doors open at 6 pm and attendees make a mad dash to their favorite vendors.

One of the biggest lines could be found at the booth for Austin’s Mondo Tees! For the second year, Mondo was on hand selling their unique and hard-to-find poster art. Last year was Mondo’s first time at SDCC and in my opinion it was a much lower key affair. 2011 and 2012 have been banner years for the small poster shop and word had spread to this years SDCC.

Not wanting to wait in that epic line, I used my excellent research to make my way to Kevin Tong’s booth. Kevin Tong is a Mondo alumnus and great artist. I was able to chat with Kevin (a very cool and gracious artist) and acquire a few of his awesome works of art. After Tong’s booth, I acquired a few more items for my collection and returned to my shelter to rest before the real start of the con. Achievement unlocked ... Acquisiton of treasure!

Comic-Con 2012

Kevin Tong's Booth at SDCC 2012

Entering the Temple: Hall H

In my next episode I’ll cover the insanity that is Hall H ...

Nice summary

Kids have started bugging me to go. Sounds daunting.