By Phillip Nakov
movieset.com
I arrived in San Diego this afternoon expecting to see the usual pre-convention planning and preparation as exhibitors scurry to complete their booths and set up their stalls for the onslaught of the preview night fans. Little did I know what was in store for me! Welcome to Comic-Con 2009!
This year pre-view night was so busy that by 2 PM there were already attendees lined up and they waited FOUR HOURS in line to be the first to get into the San Diego Convention Center so they could start to wait in line again for Comic-Con toy exclusives, poster signings and merchandise sales.Once the doors opened the aisles were so jammed with fans it was impossible to navigate and difficult to stop and look around! And this was only preview night. What on earth will Saturday be like? Typically in year’s past, Thursday has been the slowest of the days with it building in size, attendance and magnitude as it went on. Saturday has historically been the biggest and craziest day, but given in insance preview night crowds, I can hardly wait to see what Thursday and Friday will be like, much less Saturday!
Comic-Con celebrates its 40th birthday this year with 2009 making it the biggest and best attended Comic-Con in history!
It all started in 1970 with a one-day minicon (think of it as “Comic-Con Zero”) at the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. The first guests were Forrest J Ackerman (Famous Monsters of Filmland’s famous editor) and Mike Royer, best known for his work inking Jack Kirby’s “Fourth World” books. That one-day event tested the waters -— and raised funds —- for the first ever San Diego Comic-Con (then called “San Diego’s West Coast Comic-Con”) in August of the same year, which featured comics legend Jack Kirby and science fiction authors Ray Bradbury and A. E. van Vogt. And the rest, as they say, is history -— including Kirby, Bradbury, and Ackerman going on to become three of Comic-Con’s favorite guests over the years (both Ray and Forry were present again in 2008).
That first show and its logo set the groundwork for what would become, over the next 39 years, the country’s leading comics and popular arts convention. From the very beginning the event has focused on “comic art, films, and science fiction.”
In 2008, for the first time in its history, Comic-Con sold out in advance. That’s right—the show saw record attendance, with every membership—both four days and single days—all sold before the Convention Center doors even opened. And once again, they’ve sold out in advance. No memberships are sold at the door.
If you don’t already have tickets, DO NOT COME TO SAN DIEGO. You will be disappointed and be turned away.
TENT CITY at COMIC-CON 2009
But there were some very brave and well organized fans that traveled from far and wide to make it to San Diego and stake their place in line to be among the first to get in to Hall H on Thursday morning. I spoke with some who had flown in from Texas, driven in from Phoenix, AZ, Riverside, CA, Bakersfield, Los Angeles and all over California. Who are these fans and what had they come to see?
NEW MOON. That’s right, Twilight fans, in anticipation of the New Moon presentation tomorrow at 1 PM in Hall H, 1,000’s have already camped out and have been in place since 9 PM on Tuesday the July 21st! Hall H, for those who have not made it down to Comic-Con in San Diego, is the epi-center for all things holy at Comic-Con and where all the studios roll out their trailers, clips, special sneak peeks and bring out the casts of their movies to meet and greet the fans.
MEGA TWILIGHT FANS
So high is the anticipation that the campers have come out in full force bringing tents, inflatable beds, chairs, computers (free wifi is being provided this year by the Convention Center), coolers and food. They are well prepared and psyched to be here! It was a party-like atmosphere with the campers sharing food, water and watching each other’s belongings while taking bathroom breaks or running out to get more Starbucks.
I spoke with Aura Reynolds and her daughter Rebecca who were the very first in line with their group of die-hard fans to get into Hall H. They were ecstatic to be first in line and were really looking forward to seeing the cast and especially Robert Pattinson.They had arrived at 9 PM the night before and were thrilled to be assured admittance. They brought with them a tent, pillows, blankets and lots of snacks. Their husbands and boyfriends were not to be found as they all preferred to stay back at the hotel and sleep in the comfy bed instead.
Annie To of Torrance, CA was the first in line for her Comic-Con 2009 badge. She arrived at 1:30 PM and was still all smiles with only 12 hours left to go from the time this photo was snapped till the doors open at 9 AM Thursday morning for badge distribution.
The age range found in line is also something truly remarkable. I met grandmothers who were waiting with their daughters and granddaughters! This was a three-generational span of love for Twilight. I don’t know if there is another series of books or movies that can count on such a loyal and passionate following.
I will be here for the next Four Days covering all the angels of Comic-Con and bringing you the news, the photos and the scoops only a die-hard movie fan and Comic-Con geek such as myself can dig up.
Check out the photo gallery on the Comic-Con sitelet and watch for special video coverage as well of the ‘New Moon’ Press conference happening Thursday morning. I’ll be blogging about it and Twittering about it while I am there. Watch for the photos and video to follow shortly thereafter.
Thanks to all the terrific Twilighters in line at Hall H this evening for talking to me and for sharing their passion and love for New Moon with everyone at MovieSet.com.
I’ll see you in line at the concession stand or in this case… in line for Hall H!
