July 20, 2006

• - San Diego Comic-Con 2006 Wednesday recap -

  It is that time of year for me again; the "San Diego Comic-Con International," and it has begun. Leaving home at 2:05pm, I got to San Diego at aproximately 3:55pm, 110 miles later. I encountered some traffic the first and last 40 minutes of my commute, but at least we were still kinda moving (50mph-ish). Either way, I got to my hotel a lot sooner than expected (I honestly thought I'd be there by 5pm). Just like last year, I'm once again staying at the Radisson Harbor View Hotel, which I don't mind because this is one of the few hotels I've been to that actually doesn't do mandatory valet parking (which I'd rather not do). There was no waiting upon checking in either, so I was all ready to go to the Convention Center almost immediately. The shuttle ride from the hotel to the convention center took a different route than last year's. This year, the shuttle actually goes by the Horton Plaza Mall; which works for me if I want to visit there before going inside the comic-con.

  

  Being that it was "preview night," there were no panels, events, or other activities except the exhibit hall to shop shop shop. For three hours, I was wading through thousands of people in shoulder to shoulder traffic. It took some luck trying to get some pictures taken, when you have limited space to take the picture and there are also people in your way. Forget pictures, howabout video camera crews? G4 TV is already on the show floor, filming away for their special that will air on their network. I was in one of their shots, so who knows, maybe I'll see a blip of me on screen.

  Anyways, the main goal of preview night for me is to take care of the majority (if not all) of the shopping that I need to do. My main objective are for three things, clothing apparel, some trade paperbacks, and possibly some DVDs. Just like it's been the past years, I also try and limit picking up too many SWAG (Stuff We All Get), because it gets cumbersome carrying too many things.

  

  This year, I started at the very south end of the exhibit hall; which starts at aisle 5300 (that's 53 aisles not 5300 aisles btw). By the end of the three hours given to us for preview night, I got to aisle 1600. For three hours, I wasn't even able to go through the whole exhibit hall! That was a first for me as I usually am able to go through all the aisles in that time frame. I blame the amount of people I had to wade through, and the fact that I would actually linger on some booths a lot longer than normal. I did buy several things though, so that could be it too. I bought three t-shirts for me, one baby-tee for my fiancee, and one hat. I also bought a DVD boxset of... live-action Sailor-Moon TV series (hey! I shouldn't have to defend myself there). I ended up spending roughly $120 on those merchandise alone. For the SWAG I did pick up, I got some buttons, one t-shirt, a deck of trading cards, an exclusive postcard set, some magazines, collector edition comicbook samples, and a Naruto face mask. Speaking of SWAG, there are lines and lines up the wazoo forming around booths (and their neighboring booths) that were giving out free stuff or holding a contest. I avoided all of them except for that one t-shirt I got.

  That was pretty much Wednesday. I shopped. I'm not done shopping yet though, as there are least four more t-shirts that I know I want to pick up (they were only on display for Wednesday). Also, there's the last 16 aisles that I still need to go through, so who knows what I'll be getting there. Not to mention, panels, screenings, and extra events begins Thursday. Great start so far.

  

  p.s. Even though this is a "comic" convention, every year there seems to be less comic books on the exhibit hall. It truly has become simply a pop-culture convention. I bet you that one of these days, the name will completely change to properly fit what it has evolved into.

  * more photos can be found by clicking HERE *

  

  • 5:05 am
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