41st Comic-Con 2010
By Jennifer and John Benton
Staff Writers
 The San Diego Comic Book Convention, founded as the Golden State Comic Book Show in 1970, originally showcased comic books, science fiction/fantasy and film/television, and related popular arts. The convention has expanded over the years to include a larger range of pop culture elements, such as horror, anime, manga (Japanese-style animation), toys, collectible card games such as Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokeman, video games (many of which cross over into the comic realm or are derived thereof), webcomics, and fantasy novels. This expansion created a buzz and piqued the interest of film makers who grew up with dreams of intergalactic battles and super powers. As these dreams were brought to the big screen and their celebrity counterparts in attendance at Comic-Con, there was a shift in the balance. Photo: Comic-Con2: Skyline banner in downtown San Diego by Benton
 Gone were the days when people would line up for an autograph from Silent Bob (Clerks) and David Prowse (Darth Vader), many of the attendees today would not know who either of these men are and would proceed to walk right past them in a desperate search for vampires, werewolves and serial killers. This is not to say that Comic-Con isn’t amazing, it is and you should absolutely get a ticket for next year but the underground cult following was now forced into the light and became an entirely different experience. Photo: Flynn's Arcade mock-up by Benton
 Comic Con is the largest convention of this type in the Americas, and second largest in the world after Angoeleme International Comics Festival in France, filling to capacity the San Diego Convention Center with over 125,000 attendees in 2007. This year proved to yield the Con’s biggest attendance yet, around 140,000, and overcrowding has become a serious issue leaving the organizers of the convention no choice but to consider other venues. Speculation is that the new location could be Los Angeles or Anaheim where they would be able to accommodate many more of the freaks and geeks who pour into the city of San Diego each July. In 2008, Comic-Con director of marketing and public relations stated, “We’ve been approached by other cities, [but] I don’t think anyone wants to leave San Diego. I certainly don’t. It’s a perfect fit for us.” Photo: Comic Con crowds
The future location of Comic-Con may be uncertain, but its popularity certainly is not. Registration for this event has been escalating each year. I remember when we could attain 4-Day passes up until about two months before the date. 4-Day passes for 2010 were sold out in early November. Reselling and “scalping” has also increased, causing a need for stricter security and more controlled registration process. As in all things, rapid growth can lead to more problems; but attending the “Con,” as many fans call it, surpasses any and all annoying issues that plague its growth.
 Each year, Comic-Con showcases upcoming science fiction and action movies. It’s an opportunity for fans to get up-close and personal with props, sets, writers, and usually the actors. This year was no exception. 2010 saw the advent of a new advertising scheme at the Con. The downtown hotels were actually draped with banners and signs for some upcoming films and video games. “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” a new action comedy starring Superbad’s Michael Cera set up shop across the street of the San Diego Convention Center, drawing huge crowds and fans away from the Con an into the Gaslamp. Other movies were advertised in a huge way on the sides of the hotels. Skyline, an alien invasion film due to be released in November, not only had a huge sign, but bubble “people” were seen floating skyward throughout the 4 days of the Con. Red Faction: Armageddon, a role-playing video game was seen across from the convention center as well. Subtlety in advertising is not common at Comic-Con. Even the rickshaw's were bannered with comic book and upcoming film ads such as Valentine (now a graphic novel with fans eagerly awaiting the upcoming film) and Nikita. Photo: Jabba the Hut
 One of the biggest and most anticipated films spotlighted this year was “Tron: Legacy.” Directed by Joseph Kosinski, this sequel, brings back Jeff Bridges (Kevin Flynn) and Bruce Boxleitner (Alan Bradley), and introduces Garrett Hedlund (Sam Flynn) and Olivia Wild (Quorra). The story and special effects promise a return to the inside of the computer world that fans have been looking forward to. The booth at Comic-Con had life size mock-ups of the new lightbikes and a smaller scale, but huge nonetheless,  Recognizer; the hovering, tank-like vehicles which amazed us all back in 1882. In addition to the booth in the convention center, there was a mock-up of Flynn’s Arcade, an important location in the film, set up across from the Con in the Gaslamp. Another opportunity for us fans to delve more deeply into the worlds that our favorite movies have taken to for so long. Photos above, left: Tron Legacy lightbike by Benton Below right, Tron Legacy recognizer by Benton
 For me, as a woman, it was exciting to see Star Wars t-shirts and jewelry designed especially for women by Ashley Eckstein, actress and voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Her vision was to create merchandise for female sci fi fans, allowing them to step into the spotlight and get their geek on with apparel, accessories, and make up. The number of female sci-fi fans has been growing in recent years and now Ashley Eckstein, along with the Araca Group, has joined forces with Lucasfilm creating Her Universe to prove once and for all that science fiction and fantasy is not just for the boys. To purchase or just view their entire line go to www.heruniverse.com.
 Next year’s Comic Con will prove just as huge and I encourage anyone who thinks they are interested to get your tickets as soon as they go on sale so you don’t miss out, this is definitely something you have to see to fully grasp. Photo: Ironman
For more information or to see dates and ticket sale release dates go to www.comic-con.org Comic Con 2011, July 21-24, 2011. Don't Miss It!
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