26 Jul, 2007

I had no idea. I had absolutely no idea how large “Preview Night” was gonna be. For some reason, I dunno, I had picked up the impression that this was gonna be a limited gathering on account of how it wasn’t the “official” start of the show. Well, if it wasn’t, you’d never know from the look of it. But I’m getting ahead of myself, as Everett Ross would say…

I arrived at the Convention Center around 5:30 or so and got in line for my press pass. People were already filling the streets as I made my way to the show, and it was a veritable swarm of geekdom by the time I reached the building. While waiting for my badge I saw Tom Spurgeon. I knew it was him by his badge; I’d never seen him before. I had bookmarked his Comic-Con guide, which I referred to repeatedly in the last few weeks, and I had to tell him how thankful I was for it. So I did. (He seems like a good guy.) A mass of people waited outside the main doors, and when they were opened, a mighty cheer arose.

My first impression was that Comic-Con looked like any other major con I’d been to – New York, Chicago, Heroes Con, etc. Then I moved further in and got a better sense of the size. It just seems to go on forever – from one end to the other – filled with booths and tables of such variety. What I saw of the Big Room is divided in two – one side has video games, movie-related stuff, RPGs, etc., in addition to the Artists’ Alley section. The other side has comics, from Marvel and DC to the little guys.

Try to imagine it: video screens showing movie trailers, cartoons, and video games. Giant elaborate, colorful booths evocative of the products displayed. Noises – the buzz of the patrons, the hawking of the vendors, the voices of the TV characters and the sound effects signifying explosions and hand-to-hand combat. And all of it just extending further and further in both directions. I started at one end – the game/movie secton – and tried to make it to the other in three hours. Couldn’t do it. Partly because there was so much to see, but also because there were so many people to meet. Among the people I spoke to tonight:

- Michael Davis, who remembered me from when we met at the Mid-Ohio Con last fall. We talked about last year’s Black Panel as well as this year’s (did you know he holds the trademark on the name “The Black Panel”?).

- Korby Marks, whose Stormbringers looks pretty impressive (I read it on the ride back to the hostel).

- Joe Illidge, who was telling me about upcoming Archaia books, not to mention the Archaia panel he’s moderating.

- the people at the BET booth, who were playing clips from their forthcoming animated series BUFU and Hannibal, as well a hilarious “Schoolhouse Rock” type animated video promoting reading (aimed squarely at the BET audience, if you know what I mean).

- Kevin Grevioux, who was generous enough to hand me copies of all his books he wrote when he was still part of Alias Comics (he says he’s got more to come, in addition to writing New Warriors).

I also got to say hi to other old friends: Batton Lash and Jackie Estrada, Rick Spears, Tim Fish, Jimmy Gownley, Rich Faber, Heidi MacDonald, Calvin Reid, and more who I’m sure I’m forgetting. I was really hoping I’d finally get to meet my buddy Pam Noles, but we could do little more than go back and forth playing cellphone tag all day. There’s still tomorrow, though. Oh, and did I mention all the comics I got?

Ugh. Today I could be a fan. Starting tomorrow I have to be a journalist – which wouldn’t be nearly so bad were it not for the daunting prospect of trying to function properly amidst that maelstrom of pop culture. Plus I have to leave the hostel and move into my hotel room, which means giving up this wonderful computer. Aarrgh. Still, this is what I’m here for. And at least tomorrow there’ll be panels!

- Rich Watson