Hyphen magazine - Asian American arts, culture, and politics

Having fun at Comic Con seems to be a given. It’s Pee Wee’s Big Adventure spread out over five days where everyone is Pee Wee Herman: the loveable, flamboyant, and precocious modern-age Peter Pan. Attendees can be any character they want, even themselves for that matter. The San Diego Convention Center, its adjoining hotels, streets, businesses, restaurants, and even Petco Park are turned into one huge Playhouse. That’s not to say that all convention-goers behave cheerily in the spirit of camaraderie to their fellow Con-ers. Much like Pee Wee, some do have a dark side, especially when they don’t get their desired giveaway or get into a hot panel. Line cutters are notorious at Comic Con, despite security's huge presence.

The main point is to enjoy. But without a strategy, bliss may be hard to achieve. Experienced Con-ers not only have a plan of attack but also know what type of fun they want.

The Giveaway Con-er

Comic-Con is a mecca for all things free. While E3 exhibitors ply industry and press with food and drink, including alcohol, that’s not the norm for Comic-Con. There are several this year that have stations providing food, including CNET and AMD. The Korea Manhwa Contents Agency (KOMACON) invited people to dinner at Croce's Restaurant & Jazz Bar. But while SoyJoy was present at Wizard World’s Comic Con in Anaheim (different company; no trademark on the moniker) and Morinaga’s Hi-Chews gave much sweet delight at Anime Expo, the main things that are free come in the non-edible variety.

In picking up a badge, one gets a ginormous Warner Brothers exclusive bag. Many exhibitors give smaller, easier-to-handle bags for free. The DC Comics Pavilion is the best place to start for a plethora of giveaways such as buttons, comic books, posters, and other novelty gifts. Last year, they gave away different colored Lantern rings. Autograph sessions are also held there. DC’s giveaways seem to be constant.

Others, like their corporate owner, Warner Brothers, have timed giveaways. A chug-along mug, buttons, posters, phone cases, and smaller bags were available in 2010. FOX TV meanwhile offered posters as well as tubes to hold them. T-shirts and lanyards are popular hand-outs at Comic Con; if jumping up and down is your thing, you’ll have plenty good time trying to catch them at booths. For others, you merely have to wait in line. Lines aren’t like for amusement rides; they’re brisk, but that means giveaways for that designated time slot run out quick.

Photo of Ken Choy's Comic Con 2010 schwag by Ken Choy

Many people spend most of their time scoping out and chasing after free giveaways. That’s their fun. They do have to carry it all home, though there is a daily bag check for $1-2.

More exclusive giveaways are reserved for going to certain panels. Some hand schwag out at the door while others dole out a limited number of tickets to the front rows, that are exchanged at the hospitality suite. Generous panels raffle or award attendees with very cool prizes for answering trivia. The makers of Voltron have a scavenger hunt to win a 92-inch flat screen Mitsubishi television or an Xbox 360 console while the Roddenberry panel is giving away an Ipad 2. Gearing up for 2012? Win Geekstakes and get free passes for next year’s Con.

Autograph Con-er

On the second level, celebrities sit in their booth and sell the opportunity to take a photo or have an item signed. While I don’t know the details of this behind the scenes, some conventions offer appearance fees to celebs. John Schnieder was a huge hit in Anaheim, while the stars of Battle: Los Angeles spent the day talking to themselves...

In addition to Artists' Alley where one simply approaches the artist, highlighted celebrities sign free autographs for a limited time. Many shows bring their stars and have them sit in the booth signing a poster in conveyor-belt fashion. Tickets are mandatory for most autograph sessions; they’re free but limited and handed out prior to the session.

In small rooms, one may manage an autograph request after a panel. Dennis Miller and Kevin Smith walked the exhibition floor, though the norm is for celebs to dress in costume to avoid being besieged by requests.

Photo Con-er

Cos-players are compliant; they’ll happily pose for photos even if it cuts into their time. That’s their fun. Photo ops of celebs are harder to come by since security shoos away people at the booths, and only those with extreme telephoto lenses will capture them in large panels.

Some booths have photo op installations such as the Ghostbusters vehicle or a life size Star Wars action figure case. Surprisingly, to enjoy these, there are extremely long lines. I don't know why people would wait an hour to sit in a car from An Unordinary Family (at that time an unaired TV show), or the Aliens pod -- but I'm in a schwag line; who am I to talk.

The Education Con-er

Comic-Con will have more serious panels this year, including a multi-day workshop on filmmaking as well as a Comics Arts Conference Session and Comic Book Law School 101 which qualifies for 1.5 credits of California MCLE.

Racebending.com, that wonderful site that incited those upset about The Last Airbender casting to take to the streets like the Miss Saigon protesters did ten years before, will hold a panel on Sunday about diversity in fandom. The one-hour discussion will provide suggestions for fan and creator alike to insure distinct and diverse voices for the stories, the tellers, and those who enjoy them.

Other panels are not so high-reaching. The blurbs in the schedule and program book should be read carefully as many panels are not for those seeking to be enlightened. The subject matter may appear to be serious but really they are for…

The Screaming Con-er

The majority of the panels are fan-appreciation time. A chance to talk back in a high-volume, shrieking manner. There are some boundary-oblivious fans who feel a freedom to talk continuously back to those on a panel. Some ask for a smooch. But for the most part, they behave themselves while screaming their heads off.

The panels with the most buzz are for Glee, True Blood, and Game of Thrones. However, since it was released that Steven Spielberg will attend the panel for The Adventures of Tin-Tin and Harrison Ford will be there for Cowboys and Aliens, those have reached the top of the list as far as in-demand. Patrick Stewart also will make his first appearance on a panel for Dorothy of Oz, a new animated film.

The First-to-Experience Con-er

Exclusive screenings and soon-to-be released video games and toys are debuted at Comic-Con. Many will brag that they were among the first to play the hottest game of the year at the Con. It does make a compelling case to watch a new show if someone like Jason Isaacs or Maggie Q introduces it.

Career Con-er

Essential to an aspiring artist’s career is the active showing of his work. DC, Marvel and other publishers have talent searches and opportunities for artists to receive critique and advice. There are various workshops and spotlights on established artists’ creative processes as well as seminars schooling the artist in the creative and business process.

Collector Con-er

Comic-Con exclusive items are highly sought after, and soon after purchase, ebay will run amok with auctions for these special items. An increase in the paid-for amount is ensured. Some buy as many as the vendor allots them; retailers and re-sellers are known to work in teams, dispersing about the convention hall and screaming in their walkie-talkies. Most of these items were made in extremely limited quantities which means early-morning line-waiting for the casual collector hoping to get his Neville Longbottom bust (me!).

Pay-to-Play Con-er

Those wanting to get paid for working at a booth or dressing up in costume need only apply to the many casting calls or agencies supplying exhibitors with workers. An experienced costume worker at the Con, Clark Allen, suggests encorenationwide.com. He warns that the costumes do get hot. They also may pinch in the most uncomfortable of places. Pay rate ranges from $12-30, but Clark warns that jobs fill up quickly.

For more tips on attending Comic-Con, check in with my twitter account, KenHyphen, where I’ll do my best with updates from Comic-Con 2011.