San Diego Comic Convention - Fun Galore

A veritable gold mine of things to see and do in the world of comic books.

The San Diego Comic Convention is THE event for lovers of comic books, sci-fi and popular culture. More than 45,000 people attended last year, with many expected to return and even more new faces to add to those numbers. Still, the Comic Con is unknown to many. Until now.

Those whose interest lies in comic books, there is a veritable gold mine of things to see and do. Displays by numerous publishers in the United States offered visitors a wide selection from which to choose. On hand were a wide variety of comic book artists signing their books and answering their fans’ questions, and panels covered every aspect of comics production, including drawing and coloring.
The Convention Center was also filled with displays by card and toy manufacturers, a huge gaming area and popular film studios. Screenings of 49 feature films throughout the day made the Comic Con a movie buff’s dream, allowing visitors to visit various attractions and even to catch a movie.
Opening night included sneak previews of new movies - The Klumps, Hollow Man, and The Specials. Featurettes of The Cell and The Lord of the Rings were shown during panels, and questions from the audience were encouraged.
Many celebrities, such as the cast of the TV show Invisible Man, Kevin Smith, Erin Grey and many others were present on the Autograph deck, signing memorabilia and meeting their fans.
The Comic Con is a popular attraction for gamers, with areas for people to try new games, and have fun playing their old favorites, and a game competition proved a favorite attraction for many visitors in the year 2000.
Bringing the kids is also not a problem at the San Diego Comic Convention, where there are several displays devoted to a younger audience. Included are panels discussing children’s’ cartoons shows, booths dedicated to kid’s comic books, and gaming. What fun it was for the kids to have their pictures taken with costumed characters such as Spider Man. One very popular panel discussed the cartoon show, Futurama, which included a showing of episodes from the upcoming season. Warner Brothers was on hand with a panel featuring a never before seen Animaniacs cartoon, with gifts offered to the attendees.
Special guests represented all areas of comic books and popular culture during the 2000 Comic Con. Producer Bryan Singer held a panel on X-Men, and this included outtakes, audience questions and surprise guest Sir Ian McKellen (Magneto). Director Paul Verhoven conducted a panel on the upcoming movie Hollow Man, complete with information as to how the movie was made, after which he fielded many questions from the audience. He also signed posters and gave away goodies - Hollow Man key chains and trailer CD’s. Ken Smith, creator of Mallrats and Clerks, held a panel to discuss his future projects, and show the final episode of the animated Clerks series, not as yet seen.
Comic Con in 2001 runs July 19-22 and promises to be even more exciting than before. Themes for this season include the 100th Birthday tribute to Cark Barks, 60th Anniversary of Captain America, 60th Anniversary of Wonder Woman, 40th Anniversary of the Fantastic Four, 10th Anniversary of Bone, and the Lord of the Rings. Special guests confirmed include Henry Boltinoff, John Buscema, Julie Douchet, Gene Ha, Judd Winick, Will Eisner, Michael Chabon and Bernie Wrightson.
You will see figures of a bygone age engraved into the buildings’ facades and think of generations standing on the shoulders of generations. This is Paris, and the distillation of all this culture effervesces from the shapes and textures of the city’s face.
Popular attractions featured again this year include the 13th annual Will Eisner Comic Industry awards and a Masquerade competition. This will include prizes and trophies. This is one feature which makes Saturday night at the Comic
The nearby open air mall, Horton Plaza, provides a place to grab a bite to eat, do some shopping or catch a movie only blocks away. The convention center is ideally located in downtown San Diego and is close to the ocean as well as other coveted destinations such as Sea World and the San Diego Zoo.
At only sixty dollars for a four-day adult pass, the Comic Con is an inexpensive way to have an amazing time. Transportation is included for those who purchase passes, and tour buses run every fifteen minutes offering great service to guests. Tickets are available for purchase in advance by mail or online at http://www.comic-con.org for even greater discounts. Volunteer opportunities are also available for those who wish to receive a free pass.
With all these features, the San Diego Comic Convention is indeed a treat for all.