Comic Con 2009 Highlights (That Don’t Involve TV)

I’m on a plane right now as another Comic Con has come and gone. I’m tired, sore, and haven’t eaten a real meal in days. Ask anyone who’s been to Comic Con and they’ll tell you that’s how you know you had a good time. We have a lot of interviews and show-specific articles coming your way over the next couple of weeks, but I wanted to write about some highlights frmo the weekend that never really fit into the other articles.

Meeting Old Friends – Over the years, as I participate it online discussions and attend various events, friendships are formed with others who have similar interests. Comic Con is great place to catch up with a lot of these buddies since chances are good that we’ll all be there to see our favorite panels. It’s also a chance for the Nice Girls to see each other in person, since we’re spread out around the country.

Making New Friends – When you’re standing in line with someone for 2 hours, or stuck in Ballroom 20 with them through 8 hours of panels, you can’t help but strike up a conversation. Usually these are passing acquaintanceships, but now and then a new friendship is formed that lasts beyond the event. This year we collected several new friends who I look forward to talking to all year and seeing again in July 2010.

Meeting Fellow Bloggers and Reporters – Excuse me while I fangirl for a minute, but I actually met Mo Ryan! We knew that The chicago Tribune’s Watcher columnist was in attendance, but it wasn’t until we were standing in line for a signing on Saturday afternoon that we encountered Mo. We were able to spend several minutes chatting with her while she waited for an interview, talking about the events so far and suggesting questions for her interview (I don’t know if she used any, but it doesn’t really matter). It was truly a highlight. We also spent time in the press rooms with Rae from Ramblings of a TV Whore, Jason from TVAholic, Amrie from MyTakeOnTV, and Curt from The Red Eye, all of whom were so much fun that Psych creator Steve Franks was moved to stop by our table on his way out of the press room and whisper, “Your table was definitely the coolest.”

The Costumes – Many look askance at the thousands of comic Con attendees in costume, and I’ll admit that the mere thought of spending all day in a hot, bulky (or barely there) costume does not appeal to me at all, but the cosplayers are some of the nicest people you’ll meet at Comic Con. They so obviously enjoy what they’re doing and appreciate each other’s costumes. You’ll see groups of them here and there, playing out scenarios or just enjoying a snack in between panels. On Sunday, Kids Day, they spend hours having their picture taken with awe-struck kids, answering their questions and making it a memorable day for the young’uns. Yesterday as I was walking from Ballroom 20 to the exhibit hall, I saw a line of about 15 cosplayers holding “Free Hugs” signs while doling out hugs to strangers; several girls with “Pokemon Day Care” signs who were engaged in discussions with some kids; and multiple superheroes posing for photos with children. That’s when you realize that Comic Con is about more than standing in line for the best seat at a panel; it’s a collection of communities coming together under one roof for a weekend of sharing our different passions with each other

So long for this year, San Diego. See you in 2010!