Comic-Con San
Diego International 2011, A chance to meet your Heroes or
Superheroes
By John Benton
Staff Writer
Year after year, the third weekend in July fills the Gas lamp
District of San Diego, and the San Diego Convention Center.
Beginning the Thursday before, Comic-Con International brings in
over 100,000 comic book, science fiction, and pop culture fans from
all around the globe. There are literally hundreds of separate
events scheduled throughout each day, enough to keep all those who
shelled out the $137.00 for the full 4-Day pass busy.
Over the past 42 years, The
Con, as many Comic-Con fans call it, has been the biggest
convention for comic books enthusiasts in California. Over the last
10 years it has undergone some significant changes which have
really brought a lot of growth. Instead of only showcasing comic
books and their artists, balance has shifted more toward being a
pop culture convention. Although we’ve seen major growth with
comic book merchandisers
and publishers, such as the powerhouses of Marvel and DC, as well
as smaller publishers such as Dark Horse and Radical, the biggest
shift we’ve seen is towards movies, TV, and videogames. Major
networks like Showtime, HBO, and Cartoon Network have huge displays
set up to feed the fan frenzy. You can stand in long lines for
hours to save your spot in a panel to ask questions of the stars
and creators of such shows as Dexter, True Blood, and Star Wars:
The Clone Wars. This honor was usually reserved only for those in
search of autographs or sketches from their favorite comic artists.
Photo by John Benton: Comic Con
themed ice cube or chocolate molds
T
his extension of the interests
covered by the booths and events of The Con has resulted in more
and more fans in attendance. The first year Comic-Con sold out its
passes was in 2007, with approximately 123,000 attendees. The
following year, they decided to offer an additional 3,000 and again
sold out. In 2010, increasing its passes to over 130,000, Comic-Con
International sold out its largest amount ever by March. This year,
all passes sold out the first day. Official numbers have not been
posted, but all are in agreement that attendance was up
significantly in 2011. There is a lesson to be learned: you want to
go to Comic-Con, you better be willing to take the day off to order
your passes the day they are released. Although followers on
Twitter are notified a few weeks before The Con each year when a
few refunded passes are available, I wouldn’t rely on that to get a
hold of your passes. They will probably go on sale early November.
Visit the link below to find more information about Comic-Con
International and to learn about when tickets will go on sale.
Photo by John Benton: Comic Con
collectible Star Wars Toys
Another point of
interest at Comic-Con each year is the toys. Clothing, backpacks,
hats, and accessories for an international assortment of electronic
devices are also sold at many different vendors each day - but the
biggest amount of items purchased is the toys. Imported toys that
support many foreign styles of art and animation are very popular.
The Con might be the only place Americans can find certain, often
collectable items. There is also a ton of toy producers from here
in the US that find an enticing sales opportunity at The Con:
Mattel and Lego only to name two. Many companies even release toys
exclusively at Comic-Con. My daughter has more than a few Con
Exclusive Monster High and My Little Pony dolls.
Photo by John Benton: Comic Con,
a sampling of Mimoco's Mimobots
T
oys selection spills over into other
types of items. You can find your favorite comic book, cartoon, or
movie characters adhered to, emblazoned on, or sculpted into any
number of items. Phone cases, knife handles, mouse pads, and water
bottles are common items which fans of Star Wars or Hello Kitty
cannot seem to get enough of. One very useful item which found
itself at the center of many other useful items or famous
characters is the USB drive. Sought after for its ease of use and
compact size, the USB drive has become as ubiquitous as the bottle
opener on a key ring or lip balm in a purse. One company has had
great success in pairing the tiny storage device which can hold
more documents or music than a room full of floppy disks with
lovable characters such as Batman or Boba Fett. Founded in 2005,
Mimoco, out of Boston, has been creating designer USB flash memory
drives with original characters as well as beloved ones. They also
come preloaded with exclusive “mimory” content that goes along with
the character, such as sound bites, images, and in some cases,
games.
Photo by John Benton: Comic Con
Skelanimals toy line, popular with girls of all ages.
Each year at The Con,
Mimoco showcases several exclusives and new releases, knowing that
Comic-Con is where the most rabid of fans spends their money. My
personal favorites this year were from the Star Wars line: Han
Solo, complete with carbonite carrying case and the Lando
Calrissian, which featured live autograph signing by Billy Dee
Williams. Mimoco has found a way to make our favorites into a
must-have file storage device.
The 2011 Comic-Con broke its own
records and once again has filled comic book and pop-culture fans
hearts an imaginations with memories that keep us counting down to
next year’s Con. If you want to go in 2011, make sure to keep
checking in to see when the tickets go on sale. I will see you
there in 2012. Visit Comic-Con International’s website for
information, and to learn about other events such as WonderCon in
San Francisco in April.
www.comic-con.org Visit Mimoco’s website for more information
about their fun and amazing products.
www.mimoco.com
Photo by John Benton: Comic Con
birthday party paper plates available with customized pictures
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