Thor Strikes SDCC

Guess what popped up online today? If you read the title of this post, I'm sure you have a pretty good idea.



Looks pretty awesome, I think. However, I still think Thor is going to be a really hard sell and/or might be a big ol' bomb.

It's nothing against Thor, or his fans, but I just just don't see him setting the pop culture landscape on fire. The weird mythology, the faux-Shakespearean English, the crazy magic stuff, it all adds up to a less than mainstream experience. We'll see what happens in May, I guess. Here's hoping I'm wrong.

UPDATE:
Well, looks like it got pulled down, too bad it was awesome while it lasted. I'll keep my eyes open for another link and repost it when I find it. In the meantime you should go enjoy this gallery of Thor stills.

There And Back Again: A SDCC Journey

Five days, a huge stack of comics, and a hundred fifty bucks later, I'm back to tell the tale of the San Diego Comic Con. They say that pictures are worth a thousand words, so just check out my haul:


Like most years it was overly big, overly crowded, and overly exhausting, but man was it good time. From the random celebrity sightings (Nathan Fillion! Joel Mchale! Graboski from LOST! Sean Patrick Flannery!) to the offsite shenanigans (Tron, Machete, Jackass 3d, Scott Pilgrim, take your pick), this year's Con was chock full of goodness for everyone. If you have any geek inclination, there's something there for you.


That said, I'm no stranger to the event, so I could tell that things felt a bit different this year. I don't want to go off on a rant about how Hollywood is ruining the con, but it's certainly changing things and not necessarily for the better. It's not just the influx of new fans or LA douches that just want to be seen; no, it's more how separated the Hollywood celebs are and the growing seperation of fan and celeb at this traditionally level event.

This notion really took hold when I was gathered around the Warner's booth to get a glimpse of the guys from Supernatural (shut up, it's an awesome show. Plus the GirlFriend wanted pics). Warner, along with a few other booths like CBS, built in a VIP section on their booth so the celebs could walk around unfettered by the teeming mob below who were just aching for a glance from these elites. It felt... I dunno, very Hollywood to be treated like a lesser person because I wasn't on a list or something.

I had similar occurrences at the Jackass 3D and the SyFy party. At Jackass 3D, the only reason I got in is because I knew someone with a clipboard. Meanwhile the SyFy party had a red carpet facsimile leading to it so the fans could cheer on their favorites, while their favorites got their drink on away from all them nerds.


That's not to say that there hasn't been parties like that in the past at Comic Con; But I hazard to guess that ten years ago those comic parties didn't have legions of security guards keeping out the fans.

It's become a weird event, The San Diego Comic Con. I've decided there are two ways to experience it. You either A- Stand in line for panels and get into maybe half of the ones you want to see, but make connections with your fellow geeks in line (I know I did in the one line I stood in) and get to see all the cool stuff; or B- Traverse the floor, experiencing the lifeblood of the con, spending lots of cash, and experiencing the insanity that is 140,000 people. While each way is ultimately satisfying, it's a choice that you didn't used to have to make while going to the Con. Personally I like a little bit of both, but I'm not about to sacrifice half my day at the place just to stand in line.


In the end, I really did have a great time and I can't wait to go next year. Even though next year will probably be even more stratified than this one. The only thing I hope is that the San Diego Comic Con stays in San Diego where it belongs.

Off to San Diego

Like most of the known comics-blogosphere, I'm off to the illustrious San Diego Comic Con this weekend. That being the case, I may not have a great ability to post any big articles or even give Scott Pilgrim vol. 6 a proper review (I'm sure it's going to be stellar though, how couldn't it be?).

Fret not, dear reader, I'm not totally leaving the internet this weekend. What with technology being what it is, I'm crossing over to the dark side and debuting a twitter account. It's here that I can give you live updates from the floor (mainly me complaining about how full it is) along with any exciting things that happen after hours. It should be a good time. I suggest you stop by and give me a follow or at least just check up on my 140-character ramblings. You can find me here: @PlatypusRobot

Also, if you happen to be in San Diego you should try to run into me. I'll be there all weekend, probably closer to Artist's Alley than the main super drag. That, or I'll be drooling over the new minimates that I hope Art Asylum debuts while we're there. I'll be the tall guy with a well kept beard and glasses. I'm sure you won't be able to miss me /sarcasm.

With that, I'm off. Finally the time is nigh to finish my Secret Defenders collection.

In case you weren't aware...

Over at Thenerdybird.com there was a contest to win a four day pass to the Geek Mecca that is The San Diego Comic Con. Many entered this random drawing, and only one emerged the winner.

That winner was me.

Crazy, right? I can't tell you how excited I am. I've had a huge smile on my face all weekend and I don't suspect it'll go away until the end of July. It's going to be a blast and I can't wait to go. I'll bring my laptop so I can keep y'all posted on the happenings and experiences inherent in the world's biggest comic convention.

And hey, if anyone wants to meet up let me know, I'm planning to take in the entire convention the right way, with loads of comics by day and gallons of drinks by night. I'm game for whatever, who's with me?

Super Gigantic Hyper thanks to Jill at theNerdybird for making it all possible!

Things I missed in San Diego in Three Panels

Or, you know, pictures. Whatever. I make the rules here, I can do what I want!

1-

Marvel's Marvelman Announcement.
I mean, it's only the biggest announcement to come out of San Diego in years. Finally I can finally get my hands on the end of the Alan Moore run.

Please...

2- The World Premiere of Iron Man 2 Footage.



Somehow it doesn't look as polished as the first one. I hope they can save it in post.

3- Uh... Not much really. I don't know if it was because I've been overly busy the past few days or what, but I wasn't really jazzed about anything coming out of San Diego this year. I'm intrigued by World War Hulks, but for all the wrong reasons; I really want to see the Avatar footage, but I know a trailer will be out in a month; and I would really like to get those new X-Factor Minimates, but it's not the can't-wait-to-have-it set of fall 09. I don't know what happened, but it seems like there was a lot of hype coming into San Diego this year, but not a lot of substance.

It's probably all them Twilight kids fault. We'll just blame them for the whole thing.