Our SDCC badges are arriving; Comic-Con season has begun

22 JUNE 2024

Happy Summer Solstice! Whether you observe the seasons or not, you can't deny we have now tipped into the second half of the year - and arguably the better one as it brings us Comic-Con, Halloween, and Christmas. Those are all holidays on equal footing in my book. And yet this Comic-Con season has been a bit... lackluster? 

We're getting some announcements, Funko had their sale, badges are shipping - and yet signs point to a more leisurely Comic-Con. Whether people want to blame this on the actor's strike, Hollywood's ongoing fade from Hall H, or refute it altogether is a matter of opinion. I'm willing to be wrong and hoping to be wowed in the coming weeks.

Let's look at a few event highlights so far.

Events

The Stargate Fan Celebration from Dial the Gate - now this is pure Comic-Con. No date yet that I can find but special guests and door prizes are promised.

Chris Hardwick is doing a live set Friday night at American Comedy Co.

Mosh Eisley returns to The Music Box on Friday night.

School of Rock concert - this is at House of Blues on Thursday night.

Bob's Burgers Trivia - Are you an expert on the Belchers? Meet your kin in the Marriott Marquis lobby on Thursday night at 8 pm.

The San Diego Comic-Con Bar Crawl - if you want to get to know all the bars and find out which of your fellow attendees like to party, this might be the best use of your Friday or Saturday night.

Batman Live in Concert is at the Civic Center on Friday night. You're encouraged to dress like your favorite DC character; I recommend the Silver Banshee.

Board Game Night - if you don't have a Preview Night badge, an empty Wednesday night can bring back all the anguish of that long-ago badge sale as you watched badges sell out. Never fear: you can join Punch Bowl Social and play board games with free chips and salsa. Just sign up first.

Ready Party One: Legends of Fantasy is at Parc on Wednesday night. It offers a cheaper version and a VIP version that includes Atomic Blonde (the band) and a burlesque dancer.

The Museum

It seems like just yesterday the Comic-Con Museum crawled out of the womb; now it's regularly hosting fantastic events. I have to give CCI credit for doing a great job here, not just in the exhibits themselves but in their achievement of fostering a stronger sense of nerd community. One of my clients, an SDCC virgin, heard that San Diego was the nerd mecca in a general sense beyond Comic-Con; he referred to the museum, though he didn't know its official name.

Anyhow. The Museum is holding a variety of events to get you in the Comic-Con mood - from now to SDCC.

June 26: A members-only sneak peek at their new Betty Boop exhibit.

June 28: A competitive puzzle building event

July 12: A crafting event that is kid-friendly

July 19: My pick - a Zombicide game night

July 25: Their Betty Boop event repeats, though this is probably their nighttime event for people who don't have Preview Night badges.

The A-list events/panels/exclusives of 2024

I don't know what these are yet. I suspect we won't know until we're right up on the Con. But if you have an idea of what will be the hot ticket items this year, please share!

8 recommendations to bring back the magic of Comic-Con

 9 JULY 2023

I'll post on Saturday and Sunday panels later tonight. For now, I want to talk ideas to put the rainforests and exotic animals back in our currently barren desert of a Comic-Con landscape.

And yes, it's a little audacious to tell Netflix and CCI and Marvel and others what to do. But we're their paying customers! If they genuinely care about staying successful, they should want to hear our feedback. 

So here goes, based on my thoughts and my conversations with current and former attendees this weekend.

#1. No more virtual anything. 

Zoom panels are crap. They really are. We can stay home and see that on YouTube. We bought badges and plane tickets and hotel rooms so we could be there in person. If you think we're going to do all that and wait in line for your panel only to get a talking head on a screen, you've lost touch with what makes SDCC so compelling.

#2. Make exclusives actually exclusive, actually interesting, and available on the show floor. 

When I see "available at Funko and Target. com on July 21," it stops being an exclusive to me. It's something anyone can order and frankly, I probably will order it from Target and get it shipped so it's one less thing to bother with at the Con. 

Also - pre-orders at booths are a let-down. This is like coming downstairs on Christmas morning and opening up an empty box. I know it's easier on vendors not to bring a bunch of merchandise in and then ship it back, but I'm so over falling in love with something and being told to fill out a pre-order card. Going home empty-handed feels wrong.

#3. Come up with better events. 

I understand that elaborate offsites like the glorious Blade Runner site a few years back can be $$$$. So come up with something lower-cost and just as interesting. This is where NYCC gets it right, in my opinion - well, they used to, at least. They would have events around the city from poetry readings to live art shows to comics discussions to cosplay contents to drinks with authors and more, often with a few writers or actors or artists sprinkled in, that just felt more intimate and enthralling than what's on tap at SDCC. 

Yes, SDCC does a little of this, but mostly it seems to be big splashy parties that sell pricey tickets for an experience you could basically get at a club in your home city.

#4. Bring back good comic talent. 

I'll hedge this one slightly because there are some quality faces showing up every year - but it's not what it used to be. I and other comic book geeks (and yes, we're still buying badges) feel that absence. First certain booths and artists went away, with some telling me they just couldn't make the money at SDCC to justify coming. Then even the panels with today's top comic talent started dropping off the schedule. Sadly, I think this is my most unrealistic suggestion. 

#5. Start an annual fundraiser or party at the Comic-Con Museum. 

I don't understand why they aren't using the museum more as an offsite. I mean, it's there, and I'll probably go on Wednesday, but they should be having an annual fundraiser with multiple celebrity guests and giveaways. People are already paying $150-300 for certain events - they will shell out for a fundraiser. This could easily become a huge draw on Wednesday or Thursday night.

#6. Work with fandom clubs to create offsites and events. 

I suspect this will evolve naturally after this year, because space rental prices will come down and scrappy attendees will spot the opportunity. Here's the difference between studios and attendees: the former is motivated by money, the latter is motivated by passion. That means attendees are willing to go the extra mile to conceive, organize, and promote events and get-togethers. We already hold cosplay photo ops and contests, Battlestar Galactica happy hours and other events dedicated to meeting the fellow fans of even obscure favorites. I think attendees will take this to the next level on their own because most SDCC attendees are veterans who understand the city venues and rhythms, and the more driven will create more elaborate parties and meetups to make the Con feel special again. 

I know CCI was open to these collaborations already on a small level, but I would like to see more crowd-sourcing that gives attendees a bigger voice in official programming. We're brimming with energy and innovation; use us! Just as anyone can submit a panel, they should be able to submit an event proposal with the understanding that they'll be carrying most of the load.

#7. Decide earlier whether to have an SDCC presence, then announce it and stick to it.

No matter what strikes or sinking economy or cancelled series are happening. I get that coming to SDCC can be expensive but there are ways to cut costs without skipping the Con entirely. I think this somewhat reflects the new mindset we see in cancelling series quickly, removing old series from streaming platforms, and hiring CEOs whose decisions irritate everyone.

Studios need to decide on a presence months before the Con and find ways to make it worthwhile even if they don't have anything big and splashy to promote. Someone like Netflix or Marvel or DC or HBO or Amazon Prime has many assets in their stable. It really doesn't have to be a big loss for them. 

#8. Understand that fan passion and loyalty are immensely valuable even when that value is difficult to quantify.

We all get it - the bottom line is the bottom line - but I think we also all sense a creative chill in the air where fans and followings and the magic of Hollywood are simply ignored in business decisions. I'm a writer (not a screenwriter - obviously) who is increasingly hearing clients ignore the low quality of ChatGPT writing. They are willing to sacrifice originality and settle for mediocrity because the people who could make them understand the value of originality are no longer in the room. We've all seen this trend growing for years - the focus on reboots and copycats, the unwillingness to invest in fresh ideas and stories, the hiring of creatives based on their social followings, the checklist approach to plots and characters - but it's going to get more dire before it gets better. 

Again, I think this will partly be solved by the rise of indie creators. Dinosaur studios will produce stale content that goes ignored and they won't understand why; some studios will invest in a few whipsmart fresh series and stories that perform well; indie creators will work outside the system, create something ragingly popular, and become the titans of tomorrow.

Okay, I have strayed far from the concept of making SDCC great again. But I think you get how it all comes together. I want to make it clear I don't really blame CCI for most of this; I actually have empathy for them and recognize the market factors assailing them. 

But I also recognize that innovation isn't CCI's strong point. They tend to stick with the way they've always done things, instead of being adaptive and responsive and open to outside ideas. So we'll just have to see what next year brings and who is wily and ingenious enough to seize the SDCC throne and fill the vacuum of 2023.

What changes do you want to see next year? How would you reinvigorate San Diego Comic-Con?

Ranking 2019 SDCC Offsites

11 JULY 2019

By now your SDCC plans have probably changed multiple times, depending on what tickets you've gotten and what panels you want. But there's one aspect of Comic-Con life that semi-adapts to your whims and moods: offsites.

I'm not talking about parties, but some of the events and activations around the Gaslamp and convention center. These can be unforgettable and create some of your best SDCC memories; but you can also waste an entire day in line for something banal and boring. So I think it's important to evaluate where you dedicate your efforts.

Obviously we don't know yet what's good and what's mediocre, but let's speculate.


The Comic-Con Museum
Originally people were kind of tepid about this, but now interest is building. Is it the VR Batman experience, where you get to swoop over Gotham City? Is it The Batcave Gaming Lounge? Sure, it's a trip away from the convention center, but just get a group together and Lyft your way over.


Future Tech Live
One of the most overlooked offsites every year. Robots! Virtual reality! Astronaut training simulation! Video games! Why are you not taking the escalator up to the Omni ballroom? You really should.


Amazon
This seems to be the gorilla of activations, offering 60,000 square feet of immersive scenarios from The Boys, The Expanse and Carnival Row, and a 40 foot phallic-sounding LED tower that is in no way meant to compensate for Jeff Bezos' leaked photos. You can also hide from the sun under a tent while you wait and enjoy free beverages and Carls Jr. food. The rooms look very lush and elaborate, and possibly qualifying for "most high-budget activation ever." I expect massive lines for this.



Watchmen
I know most of us were hoping for a more accessible Westworld experience, but we're getting this - a Gaslamp "in-world" Watchmen experience that hands out enamel pins. While I'm very much anticipating the show, I'm not anticipating this.

The Twilight Zone Experience
At Petco Park. Yes, tickets are gone but there's also going to be a general line so don't lose heart if you're craving this. Just be clear - this is the new CBS Twilight Zone, not the classic.


Audible's Stan Lee's Alliances
"Reality-bending light and sound-driven experiences." What? It doesn't matter, it's Stan Lee and a novel he co-wrote and no badge is required. K Street and 4th Ave. People will be curious.


Esports Gaming Lounge
This is at the Marriott during Con hours and it promises celebrities, esports professionals, and a whole lot of tournaments, prizes and swag. I'll admit this all goes right over my non-esport head but I do know people who are hardcore into it. First-timers, this - and anything else at the Marriott - is not a major trip. It's literally adjacent to the Con and very easy to access.

ScareDiego
Instead of giving out tickets in the Sails Pavilion this year, you had to go online - and only get 1 ticket. It's on Preview Night and revolves around It Chapter Two, so getting in will be tough - but worth it if you can find someone with a ticket to give up. Some people will not want to go alone when none of their friends got a ticket.



Conan and Team Coco House
I know this was a tough year. I know many of you are very disappointed about not getting tickets to Conan. Unfortunately I think this narrowing of likelihood was inevitable. The first 2 years, a smaller group of super attendees were the most likely to get tickets because they knew how to prepare; now a much larger group of competitors is in the mix, in part because of the Funko Pops. That said - keep your eyes open for people with extra tickets/wristbands, and extra tickets to Team Coco events. In the heat of those events going live, a lot of people grabbed what they could but will ultimately have conflicts. And there will be standby lines.


NBC - The Good Place, Superstore, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
At first I thought "Meh" but then I saw there were pancakes involved. Sorry, Amazon, but NBC is bringing the real food. The pop-up pancake shop is at the Hard Rock (remember when it was the Syfy Cafe) and so is a replica of Superstore, where you can walk the aisles. Brooklyn Nine-Nine wants you to be a new recruit at their Tin Fish location.

FX Fearless Forum
FX has a history of making their offsites sound incredible, only to offer a more subpar experience in person. Offering a vampire lair and an immersive night-goggles American Horror Story experience sounds quite enticing, but this will be an "if I have time" item for me. If you're going to register, consider blending it with a Hall H line or lunch at the Fox Sports Grill at Hilton Bayfront.


Pokemon
This is right outside the Omni and offers a lot of photo ops and prizes. Given what a smash hit the movie was, I think this will be super popular.


Shazam's Chilladelphia Winter Carnival
Also outside the Omni, with games and photo ops.


Adult Swim
In addition to the nighttime events, you can play games and wander around a small carnival in the daytime. This usually isn't too crowded. 

 
Pennyworth
Do you want to play blackjack in a seedy secret club in 1960s London? The Oxford Social Club (real name) is also offering live entertainment, swag and photo ops. While I'm iffy on the show, I like the sound of this.

A few tips:

• Don't assume the big name offsites are the best. Sometimes they're good, sometimes all the budget in the world produces a snoozer. Once the Con starts, you want to listen across social to find out what the really captivating activations are - because there's always a dark horse that no one saw coming.

• Thursday is still the best/most accessible day IMO. You may disagree. While it's not as good as it used to be, Thursday often offers the best access. The people with Thursday/Sunday badges are usually inside the Con, the Sunday badges aren't here yet, and many people haven't yet heard about certain offsites. But I'll admit that Thursday offsite lines are longer than they used to be.

• Don't be a slave to the photo op. I know we're living in the Instagram Era and you want that one photo that's going to make all your friends at home jealous. But... their admiration is a moment in time. Is it worth wasting six hours in line for it when there are many other photo ops around Comic-Con? Something to think about - because you will inevitably hear about that one offsite that has a killer photo op.

• Ask questions. Bigger offsites are often self-guided, which means some attendees will just walk through and exit. Slow down and see what they have to offer. Talk to the staff and any characters walking around and make sure you're maximizing the offerings. 2 (I think) years ago, I heard from people who didn't even notice the Blade Runner offsite t-shirt vending machine or get the Jack Daniels. Someone I know waited forever for a Stranger Things offsite and literally walked into a room and walked out, missing 80% of it.

 

• Try to discern what you actually have a shot of getting into. Every year there's some event that people RSVP to online and get a nice confirmation in their inbox, and then they show up to a line of 200 people that never moves. Bail on these situations - no matter what your email says. One year I got a VIP invite to a trendy concert that had a lot of media people and a few celebrities wandering around in a space that was only 1/4 full. Outside was a line of hundreds of people and none of them got in, despite there being ample room. They were still waiting when we left after 2 hours. On that note..

• Don't fall into a sunk cost fallacy. So you've waited 4 hours for your #1 offsite and gradually you've realized it could be 5 more - but you're already invested so you keep waiting. This is a nefarious pattern that claims precious Comic-Con time. Set a limit before you get in line and your brain goes fuzzy, then stick to it. Warn your friends to stage an intervention. SDCC is once a year. I can't tell you how to live out your passions, but my belief is there's too much splendor to behold to spend an entire day sitting on a sidewalk.

Bear in mind there are plenty more offsites than listed here, and some we won't find out about until we're at the Con. As with all things SDCC, keep an open mind and a light heart and be open to where your adventure takes you.

Catching up with San Diego Comic-Con events: where are we?

17 JUNE 2019

So it's Comic-Con season. Our badges are making their way through the U.S. mail and our wish lists are filling up with exclusives and we're making actual choices on the offsites and panels we're willing to stand in line for - in theory.

We've still got 2 weeks before programming is announced and the Exhibit Hall map is released. But it's not too early to start planning our nights - so here are a few options:

Conan
Not a night event, but let's start with the source of half the questions in my inbox. Yes, Conan is coming; we probably won't have much advance notice for when tickets go live. Here's some advice if you haven't gone (or tried to go) before, but I'll also do a separate post. 


Amazon
The company continues its global domination with a massive SDCC space for The Boys, Carnival Row and Jeff Bezos's favorite show The Expanse. Everyone is excited but I'm not feeling bullish on this. Maybe it'll be good; however, it could be one of those big name offsites that's kind of dull.

HBO
We know Game of Thrones will have a panel and that Westworld and Watchmen will have a presence too. What kind of offsite action will that translate to? This is the heart of my offsite interest, and maybe yours too. Get out your black hats and bloody smiley faces.

CCI Museum/The Gathering
The Preview Night fundraiser for the Comic-Con Museum has lots of tickets left. Note the "fundraiser" part; after-party tickets are only $50 but the next tiers are $250 and $750.


Animaniacs in Concert
Also still plenty of tickets left for their Thursday, 18 July show at Balboa Theatre.

HopCon
If you have $75 to spend on beer, games and "commemorative glassware," HopCon still has tickets - and you can also be a designated driver for $35.

San Diego Symphony Cult Classics
The Symphony is always a great escape from Con madness and this year they're giving you Galaxy Quest and Back to the Future.

The EW Party
No, you're not hallucinating. The gilded gathering of Hollywood royalty could possibly open its doors to you - if you win 2 tickets.

Wild at Heart Party with Chantel Jeffries
Yes, you can register for this but remember that can still leave you waiting on the sidewalk like a chump for two hours.

The Upside Down Party at Fluxx
People seem to think this Thursday night Nerdist party is sold out but that's only VIP. General tickets are still available.

The IMDboat Party with Kevin Smith
Another contest offers you tickets to Comic-Con and the 3-story IMDB yacht with Kevin Smith.

Rooftop Cinema Club
If you're looking for something chill, you can watch movies from the Hyatt 4th floor terrace: Top Gun on Tuesday, 16 July and Labryinth on Wednesday, 17 July.

We're just a month away. Are you ready?

Is SDCC going back to basics?

14 JUNE 2018

If you've been around San Diego Comic-Con long enough, you probably remember the days when attendees showed up for the Exhibit Hall back issues and action figures, the D&D meetups, the chance to sit in the same room with Neil Gaiman. And you probably observed with some bemusement as the periphery of the convention center mutated into a 12-ring marketing circus, with offsite lines that rivaled any day for Hall H.

Today it's not uncommon for attendees to buy badges and show up in San Diego without ever setting foot in the convention center. They may camp for Hall H to see their favorite celebrities but mostly they're hunting the other big game: the various HBO and Netflix and AMC attractions, the network-hosted parties and offsites, premieres and screenings, any watering hole where a drunken celebrity might agree to a photo.

But in recent years, studios and other companies have noticed that the ROI of SDCC is more fable than reality. Remember this Hall H infographic? Or when Forbes gently corrected the perception that SDCC outranked the Oscars? 

Various companies have tested the investment waters with offsites, swag and events; sometimes it works out for them but often it doesn't. I can't even count the number of networks and studios that have crowned themselves "Your Comic-Con Headquarters/Destination/Source!" and then failed to show up the following year. Even HBO isn't showing up this year. And this fade has demonstrated itself in other ways, like how so many TV panels now hand out cheap plastic trinkets instead of the t-shirts we used to get or how swag bags get lighter and lighter - even though you've just handed over your personal data at the booth to get them.

In the last 2-3 years, people have complained most vociferously about the lack of good events. For a while it seemed every night offered a glut of comedy shows, cosplay contests, VIP parties, concerts, fetish and goth balls and other offerings. Now - not so much. Nerd HQ can't afford to make it happen (though they obviously want to) and now SyFy Live isn't happening either. Neither is W00tstock or Heroes Brewfest. We've had a few parties announced like the Ready Player One at FLUXX and Impractical Jokers but on the whole, the schedule feels light for only a month out.

Finding Alternatives

If you're feeling a little bereft about your San Diego social plans this year, I'd ask you to remember that there's still a lot going on. I know the big flashy parties get the most social media love and in some ways, they've come to define SDCC for many attendees. But there's so much else going on.

We have film festivals and horror movies and anime screenings to go to. There are gaming tournaments and demos galore. We're still waiting to hear about the official Con offsites. Cosplayers excel at setting their own photo shoots and parties and it's a welcoming community for beginners. SDCC has increased its nighttime programming - trivia contests, panels, screenings - and clubs around the city will host everything from contests to nerd nites to live art shows. You can spend more time with your friends just getting drinks. And you can always plan your own happy hour, meetup, bar crawl or party.

Finally - radical thought - you can always take in more of the actual Con. If you don't typically use your badge much, take advantage of it this year and pick up a new hobby, whether it's anime or comics or sci-fi or virtual reality or something else. Maybe that's not as exciting to you as Conversations for a Cause but it's still a good way to meet people and expand your social network. Ultimately you have to architect your own Comic-Con fun.

It's possible the glow of SDCC's nightlife halo will continue to diminish. But I doubt it will disappear altogether. More events will be announced over the next month and you will find something to do.

Are you eligible for Conan tickets?

5 JUNE 2018

In the last few years, Conan O'Brien has become one of the biggest gets of San Diego Comic-Con. It's not just the amazing guests (X-Men, Game of Thrones, Suicide Squad, Silicon Valley and others) or the chance to dance onstage like a fool on TV. It's not even the Conan Funko Pops, which have become such a coveted item that my AC repair guy was struck dumb when he spotted one in my house. It's also one of the more fun things to do at the Con with your friends.

But you have to be prepared! Getting tickets is tough. Here's a primer if you've never been and some tips that might help even if you have.

What ConanCon Is

Conan tapes several shows in San Diego during the Con. Once you have tickets, you can tell your mom to watch Conan on the appropriate night which lets her brag to her friends that you were on TV, which might help her see all your SDCC tomfoolery in a new light.

During the taping, shirts will be thrown into the audience, you'll be encouraged to holler and cheer till your throat is hoarse, sparkling celebrities will take a seat on stage, and then it will all end. On your way out you'll be handed a Funko Pop. Desperate collectors and flippers will sidle up to you and creepily whisper bids in your ear for those Pops. You'll either sell yours off and regret it later or wisely hang onto it.

The timing: usually you need to line up super early in the morning (I arrived at 6:30 am one year and got a nosebleed seat) to get your wristband. You'll still be able to hit the Con when the Exhibit Hall doors open or shortly thereafter. Then you'll return to the venue that afternoon and be let into the theatre. The whole shebang is over by 5:30 or so.

That said - this is a consuming affair. Getting in line that morning means skipping some other Con line and its panel/event. Having to go back in mid-afternoon trims another 3-4 hours off your day. In a world where every day presents Sophie's Choice in terms of choosing between Hall H, offsites, tournaments and other options, you need to be aware that ConanCon will control most of one day for you.

How to Get Tickets

It's not easy. But this is one event that prioritizes SDCC attendees, which is nice.

• Check that your Member ID account is set up to receive third-party emails.
• Create a 1iota profile if you don't have one already. They have an app which you should definitely use. ETA:  I should have made this more clear - you need to get tickets through 1iota. It's not just about learning when tickets go live; you need to be logged into your 1iota account to apply for them. You can't just click a link and apply as an outsider.
• Make your profile fun. Post cosplay and Con photos. They want the taping to feature an electric audience in wild costumes so the viewers at home can say, "Oh, those crazy Comic-Con people!" Make a visual promise that you are colorful enough to fit the bill.
• You won't get much notice for when the tickets go live. If your job situation won't let you keep a digital vigil, find a Con friend who can use your info to apply for tickets. We've also been emailed special promo codes in the past, so make sure you have access to that as well.
•  In the past, we've been able to apply for tickets (up to 4) for all shows. Consider yourself lucky if you get tickets to even one taping.

How to Go If You Don't Get Tickets

Despite everything I said above, people do bail on Conan tapings. SDCC is really tiring and sometimes they just don't have the energy for another event. Other times the Con programming for the day of their ticket sounds more appealing. So don't be afraid to ask around. People will have spare tickets.

You can also try standby. I feel like the first two years were better for this than last year. But it's worth trying if you're desperate - and you may not only get in, but get good seats, especially if you're in cosplay.


What You Can Do Right Now

• Check your 1iota account and password. If you don't use it that often, you may not remember.
• Sign up for an account if you don't have one and pad yours if you do.
• Download their app for Apple or Google Play.

I'll post more when I know more. Stay tuned!

ETA: ConanCon is now on Instagram and they say it'll be the spot to hear about celebrity guests, ticket updates and other tantalizing news - follow them at instagram.com/conancon/.
 

ECCC photo ops, parties and more

11 JANUARY 2018
 

Emerald City Comic Con is only 48 days away - and it's time to take action to make sure you get everything you want.


Buy a Photo Op

If you want to frame a photo of yourself with the hottest love goddess on TV, you can buy a photo op with Yetide Badaki and other celebrities now. Don't delay on this - these do sell out.


Prepare for the Funko Lottery

Essentially it's a ticket raffle. Study up on where to go and when if you love Funko.


Think About Your Night Life

There will be night panels and various Seattle doings to hold your attention - but there are also some ECCC events and parties you might want to add to your agenda.

Guardians of the Sexy Vol. 3

"When fandom and burlesque collide live on stage." You have early and late shows on Friday and Saturday to choose from and yes, you have to be 18 or older. Sorry, baby nerds.

Qomix: Queer Comicon Party

Will you be in town on Weds, 28 February? Are you that way, as they used to say? Then you will want to mingle with your fellow rainbow nerds and maybe enter a cosplay contest. Also, if you are a queer nerd who's still contemplating ECCC attendance, know that this is a very LGBTQP+ friendly Con. You won't feel like an outsider.
21+.

KRACKLEFEST 8

Changing gears, this offers you stand-up comedy and nerd rock on Friday, 2 March. 21+.

You can get tickets to these fine events here.

Check Out the Exhibitors

Just to get excited. The Homegrown vendors will be all local, from bakers to artists to brewers and more. The regular showroom vendors you can examine here.



Buy Tickets

Thursday, Friday and Sunday are still available. If you buy before 16 January, they'll be mailed to you and you can skip the line to pick them up. Another option: participate in their ECCC Passport game and maybe win tickets.

See you in 48 days.

ECCC Saturday is gone - but contests are offering 4-day tickets

18 OCTOBER 2017
.



Because it is a Comicon par excellence, Emerald City sold out of Saturday tickets. This follows last year's pattern, where Saturday tix were gone after about a week - which means no one should be caught off guard.

Last week there was a fair amount of kvetching when 4-day tickets sold out in about 16 minutes. Dramatic nerds took to social media to wail they couldn't go to Emerald City now, it was so unfair, whyyyy - but there remained single day badges for all 4 days. The price difference: $30. And with Saturday tickets lingering for a week, it's fair to say that if you really wanted to go to Emerald City, you could.

And you still can. Thursday, Friday and Sunday are waiting for you to buy them. You can also try to win tickets in several ways:

•  Attend "special events" like this weekend's Treasure Your Chest benefit. It's hard to find a better way to spend Saturday night than nerding out and fighting breast cancer.

• Join the Emerald City Comic Passport Club.This sounds like the most fun contest ever. Walk into one of 13 comic shops and start your passport; after collecting at least 9 stamps at different shops, you'll be eligible to win a pair of ECCC tickets. Not only does this provide you with an excellent excuse to buy more comic books, but even if you don't get the free tickets, you'll get an exclusive item at the Con.

In the meantime, you can get that ECCC feeling at other events - like next weekend's After Dark Halloween Happy Hour (I guess it's dark in Seattle from 5-8 pm) and the ECCC Harry Potter Scavenger Hunt. I know someone who went to the last Harry Potter hunt and she really liked it, FWIW.

So there you have it - the full, complete Emerald City experience is still possibly in reach. But even if you can't find, beg or win a Saturday/4-day ticket, you can still get 3 days - and that's nothing to sneeze at.

Comic-Con news so far

22 JULY 2017

After a prolonged period of no Wifi, I'm back online. So what have we learned?


COMICS

Biggest news: Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham are doing Arkham Asylum 2, featuring an adult Damien Wayne.

We're also getting The Tempest, another League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, from Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. This is a year away.

And there's this: Frank Miller is going to take on Superman and give him the Dark Knight treatment. What is in the water this SDCC?

Joelle Jones will tell us what happens when Batman proposes to Catwoman.

SEGA will publish New Sonic comics through IDW - not Archie. Also getting IDW series: Transformer Unicron and female Ghostbusters.

Marvel is bringing you a new Thanos series.

Archie and DC announced a crossover that everyone will want: Betty, Veronica, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy. Weird combination, but compelling. Out this fall.

I'm less certain about this crossover: Doom Patrol and JLA. Could be good, I guess.

Very big news: we may be getting new Invisibles, Sandman.

TV

Stranger Things was a major offsite and a major panel for attendees - and we found out that while Barb will not be returning, she will be "avenged."

As a Halloween lover and stop-motion fan, I can't wait for the SpongeBob Halloween special "The Legend of Boo-kini Bottom."

Krypton is coming and reactions are mostly meh.

99.9% of us were not allowed to enter the Westworld experience but we did see the season 2 trailer, which features Dolores on horseback, gunning down humans. There was no definitive word on how much we'll see of Samurai World.

The Tick is one of those shows that got a lift from SDCC. Not many people I know thought twice about it before this weekend, but there's reasonable interest now.

The Defenders also is getting positive buzz. Everyone I know had only good things to say about it.

The next season of Archer will be Danger Island, set in the South Pacific in 1939. I'm ready for it.

It looks like Riverdale's second season will continue Jughead's melodramatic voiceover. Who shot Fred Andrews? Etc.

iZombie shared a sizzle reel and season 4 news about new zombie rules and wars. I feel like this show is running out of steam.

I heard The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones panels were lackluster, but we did get an interesting look at elderly Rick and found out the show will never try to cure/solve the zombie issue. For GOT, we got some intriguing hints about Dany partnering up with Melisandre. Maybe.

MOVIES


We're getting Wonder Woman 2. Of course we all knew this, but the official announcement is nice.

Thor: Ragnarok seemed to wow everyone with its trailer.

Were you expecting Michelle Pfeiffer to be in another superhero movie? Me neither, but she'll play Janet Van Dyne in The Ant Man and the Wasp.

DC always delivers news of its next animated feature but this year they announced four: Gotham by Gaslight, Suicide Squad/Hell to Pay and the two-part Death and Return of Superman. I was surprised by the eye-rolling that greeted this news; I'm all for it.

Black Panther got a standing ovation in Hall H.

We saw the first footage of Ready Player One and reactions were .... mixed. People who hadn't read the book seemed more into it than readers.

The reaction to Justice League was more positive, although I think all of us are pretty much dying for Aquaman to come out already.


CON DEVELOPMENTS

There's no shortage of talk here. We'll start with Conan, where something went drastically wrong this year:  on multiple days, people with tickets were sent home or received emails telling them not to show up. The Spreckels Theater was extremely hot - two people next to me on Thursday night got up and left before the show started. Overall, it was a very different experience from the previous 2 years. It's been suggested that demand surged this year, so everyone actually did show up for the tapings - where before they could count on a certain percentage never claiming their tickets. Not sure if it's true but hopefully next year will be smoother.

Offsites have been a main attraction for a few years now, but I've never known quite so many people to focus on them so intently - sometimes to the point of skipping the entire Con. I think Blade Runners takes the honors here because it partnered so many good elements - great VR, a t-shirt, shots of Johnnie Walker, free food, an atmospheric experience - while the line was much more reasonable than Game of Thrones. Netflix was also in high demand and then we had the Westworld experience, which only admitted 120 people a day.  I still maintain that the Tech Pavilion at the Omni is worth a look, but of course most attendees are skipping it. Even though I think some of the VR there was as good as Blade Runner.


Now - onto the Hall H line. My, my. Just when you think you've lived through every type of Hall H line drama possible, 2017 happens. From a line being forced to disperse, while new people took their places, to attendees getting wristbands and not getting in, this year was a mess. Apparently some people report waiting 30-40 hours, only to have so many others cut in front that they wound up with D wristbands or nothing at all. Staff pretty much shrugged off complaints.

But the biggest issue - reportedly - is that some people created fraudulent wristbands to get in. Everyone is reporting this as fact but I haven't seen it verified. At any rate, 2 full chutes of wristbanded attendees got left out in the cold after waiting upwards of a day. The good - and unprecedented - news is that CCI actually gave them 4 day badges for next year!

I have to admit I didn't expect that one. But while it was a nice gesture, it's obvious CCI has to do something about Hall H. The wristbands were a step, but now attendee madness has incorporated them into their desperation. CCI has to take stronger measures. I think assigned sections, handed out via lottery, would be one way to do it, but there are others.

Anyhow. Tomorrow is the final day of the Con. Hopefully the Hall H line will go a little smoother for Supernatural fans. And if you're one of those only-offsite people? Put your badge to use and give the actual Con a try. You may never get to go again.

SDCC events: where are you going?

4 JULY 2017

Happy 4th of July! As everyone heads off to barbecues, boats and fireworks tonight, it seems appropriate to talk about events.

If you've been listening to the Comic-Con conversation, there's been a common sentiment circulating that there isn't much going on. There have been fewer big parties and promotions announced, fewer contests and fewer press invitations. Given that one of SDCC's greatest attributes is the network of parties, shows, festivals and other events that surround it, this has upset some attendees.

But while I do think that there's been a slight marketing withdrawal from SDCC, there's still plenty to do. CCI shared a few outside events today, and they range from the simple (character balloons) to the more complex (tech demos and VR experiences.)

First-timers, when you see references to "outside events," know that these fall into 2 buckets:

1) Events and activities that are officially endorsed by CCI and part of the SDCC umbrella. Usually you need a badge for these. (Some will let you participate if you don't - but ask before you waste a lot of time in line.)

2) Events operated by outside entities. You don't need a badge for these in most cases, though some organizers will specify their events are for badge-holders only.

The first group used to be dwarfed by the second group - hence the wave of unbadged people who pour into the area during Comic-Con - but this year they're a little more equal. If you were hoping for more, remember that we still have 2 weeks to go. We will hear about more events. Remember also that the line factor and ticket sell-outs makes going to all of them impossible anyhow.

That said, here are some things to keep in mind when deciding where to go and when.

When is the line worth it?

Before you decide that one activation is worth all day in line, check online for what people are saying. I won't name names, but a few highly anticipated attractions of recent years left people cold. They'd stand in line for four hours, only to be whisked through a 90-second experience. Given how much else is going on, there's no reason to sacrifice 20% of San Diego Comic-Con for such a brief event. Team up with a partner for lines as always, but also have a Plan B, C, D and so on if the line for something is blocks long.

What day and time should you go to the all-day activations?

If you're going to something that isn't crazy popular, early morning and dinner time is usually best. In general, visiting the activations on Thursday used to mean shorter lines, with Saturday and Sunday lines being horrible. A lot of extra people will come down on the weekend; the people who didn't get Saturday badges will be looking for something else to do. However, last year was more unpredictable. Some activations will need to be played by ear. Sunday afternoon might be empty; most everyone will line up in the middle of the night, with people waiting 20 minutes by sunset.

Is it worth leaving the Gaslamp for outside events?

Yes. But if you book yourself every night for Balboa Theatre or a club party, it'll probably feel like a chore by the 3rd night.

In general, I wouldn't invest in too many spendy pre-ticketed events because odds are good you'll end up on bailing on some of them. There's a lot going on - things like the Buffy Fandom Party, Ghostbusters Mass Hysteria party at Werewolf, a Batman dance party that's a tribute to Adam West,  Jay and Silent Bob at American Comedy Co., the Dragon Ball meetup at McFadden's, the Heroes Brew Festival and the Suicide Girls Blackheart Burlesque and countless other events. Some of them might involve a car ride but others like Syfy Live are right in the area. I think it's best to only plan for your absolutely can't-miss events and leave yourself open as much as you can. The best Comic-Con adventures usually happen when you go where the night takes you.

How good are the official SDCC activations and events?

These range from dull to magnificent. This year looks decent, in my opinion.

We have the Her Universe fashion show on Thursday - I've never been but people like it. Every year there's some kind of TV show promotion between the Omni and Tin Fish, and this year it will feature Midnight Texas, which promises a "4D experience guaranteed to ignite all your senses." There's also a Skull Island thing behind the Omni, which will show you giant Kong bones and the King himself.

But the most in-demand events will undoubtedly be:

The Tick Takeover, which will have a multi-room replica of the set and a special lounge for Amazon Prime members to watch the pilot. There's also some sort of scavenger hunt.

The Friday night Vikings funeral. Supposedly the cast will be there and it all ends with a burning ship in the water. Previous Vikings attractions were big draws so I expect this will be too.

FX is back in their spot in front of the Hilton Bayfront. They have a history of offering activations that sound incredible but don't really deliver. This year you'll mix it up with various American Horror Story, Legion and Atlanta elements. Probably worth it if there's not much of a line.

AMC Deadquarters. This sounds kind of weak - Negan batting cages? - but maybe it'll be good. Regardless, it's going to pack in the attendees, especially because "cast appearances" were dangled in the description.


Netflix at Hilton Gaslamp is going to offer you swag, sneak peeks at Stranger Things, Bright and more. Given that Netflix is already one of the top buzz winners of SDCC2017, this will be popular. However, attendees often forget about Hilton Gaslamp doings so that could make it more accessible. I know I will swing through, and also head to....

The Tech and Futurism Pavilion at the Omni. VR has been a staple of SDCC attractions for a few years now but it hasn't exactly been all that enthralling. This year sounds like we'll be getting something a little more worthwhile, particularly for attendees who have yet to lose their AR and VR virginity. In addition to a concert, we're getting 9000 square feet of technology, including an AI fair with "ground-breaking robots."

One good rule of thumb when it comes to events is to not get too hung up on them. I've seen people lose their mind because they made the Game of Thrones activations the spiritual core of their Comic-Con, and then they couldn't get in.  It's always worth remembering that's there's a lot going on at the Con - and if you can't access one event, you'll get into another that's just as good.

Westworld comes to San Diego

29 JUNE 2017

Remember a few years ago when we'd hope for news of Westworld at SDCC - and it seemed like it was delayed forever? Now here we are with a first season behind us and what sounds like a great experience coming to Comic-Con.

It is immersive because of course it is, and it promises "a taste of the luxuries and liberties afforded to Westworld guests." Presumably that doesn't mean guns or robot brothels but - well, I'm not sure what else there could be in the "Westworld Experience Center." I guess we'll find out. And let's not kid ourselves, we're all going to line up for this because you know it's going to be cool.

By the way, the Westworld panel is not on Friday to accompany Game of Thrones but on Saturday in Hall H at 4:15. Autographs follow at 5:45 in the WB booth; the drawing for that will take place that morning.

So bust out your best Maeve and Hector cosplay and be ready for violent delights with violent ends. And launch your Westworld application to track the latest updates on this.

Getting ready for Conan

20 JUNE 2017

Happy Summer Solstice! Let's forget about this West Coast heatwave for a minute and talk about getting Conan O'Brien tickets.

This has been one of the most in-demand SDCC events the last 2 years. As with many things SDCC, there's some confusion on how to get tickets and considerable disappointment when people fail to get in. So I want to talk about what it's like to really go to a Conan O'Brien taping and how you can increase your chances of going.


What it is

Conan O'Brien tapes his show at the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego during Comic-Con. A free Funko Pop is handed out to everyone who goes to the taping.


When it's happening

During Comic-Con. Right now only Thursday, Friday and Saturday are listed on his site but we may get a Wednesday show, as we have before. We know 4 Pops are being handed out so presumably there will be 4 tapings.


How to get tickets


Tickets are free and theoretically available to all - but SDCC members have been prioritized in the past, receiving an email with a special code. How do you get that email? You need to make sure your Member ID account does not opt out of third-party emails. You should also sign up to get the Team Coco notification which is from the Conan O'Brien team.

In the past, we haven't gotten much advance notice; you need to stalk your inbox and be ready to jump into action. Given this is unrealistic for most people with jobs/lives, the Conan sales are very much about luck. This sale is a bloodbath, as with everything SDCC, and even being quick on the draw isn't enough to necessarily get tickets. But it helps that in the past, we've been able to request tickets (maximum of 4) for every single day.

When the sale goes live, you'll go to the site and try to get the date and number of tickets you want. Previously they've asked for your Member ID and the email promo code. However, some non-attendees have gotten tickets.


How to go even if you don't get a ticket

This can be easier than actually scoring a ticket in the first place. Option 1: the time-honored SDCC tradition of trading. Maybe you have a Preview Night badge and can pick up an exclusive for someone in exchange for his Friday Conan tickets. Maybe he just wants you to give him the free Pop.

Option 2: just asking. This will be something you'll need to do consistently. Some people will give away their tickets right away (because their friend scored as well) and some will wait until the programming is released, to see if the Con is offering something better that day. And some won't give their tickets away until the day of or before. But trust me - people will give away their tickets. Going to a Conan taping can sound great until someone is too tired to go through it all. (See below.)

Option 3: flying stand-by. This helps if you're in cosplay or otherwise visually vivid, because the producers want crazy-looking people up front to say "SEE HOW COMIC-CON WE ARE" to the viewers at home. But even if you just show up in streetwear, you have a good (not guaranteed) chance of getting in.


What it's actually like to go

Armed with your photo ID and e-ticket, you'll wake up at daybreak and hurry to Spreckels Theatre to get in line. Eventually after 8 the line will begin to move and everyone will get a wristband and paper ticket at the box office. At that point you're free to go. You'll head back up early to mid-afternoon, line up and eventually be let into the theatre. It'll all be done by 5-5:30; as you leave the theatre, you'll be swarmed by desperate-looking people whispering bids in your ear for your Conan Pop.

Now, let's talk about if someone gives you a ticket. Unfortunately you can't just pass tickets around. My first year I had to go stand in line and then, when it started moving 2 hours later, text the person who actually had the ticket with his name on it. He and his friend came and took my place in line, got the wristbands, then deftly cut/taped them onto me and my friend at a hotel.

Timeframes, if you're curious: Year 1, I got in line at 6 am  and the line was already long. It began moving before 8:30; my friend had the wristband a little after 9. I got back in line around 2 and got into the theatre after about 45 minutes. That was the first year. Last year SDCC blogger Travis managed to get us VIP tickets so it was quite different.

Overall, this is a time-consuming affair.  It's not just popping in and out in the late afternoon, as  I naively thought. And please know that the actual cast is on the stage for a very brief time. I'm not trying to dissuade you from going, but you do need to be prepared to sacrifice most of a day for this. If you have a Preview Night badge, consider choosing Wednesday so you won't miss any panels; just be ready to hotfoot it back to the convention center after the show. And if you're missing badges for Saturday or other days, obviously Conan is a great alternative.


The guests

When buying tickets, you won't know which cast will appear on which day, though as we get closer it'll be easier to guess. You may not get your dream cast, but all of the guests will be good - so don't worry that it'll be a waste of a show.


For now, keep your ears perked for more information -  and create an 1iota account if you haven't already. Then be ready to swing into action. We're in Comic-Con season now and constant vigilance is the rule.

Get your tickets for Game of Thrones: The Musical, coming to SDCC

5 MAY 2017

Happy Cinco de Mayo! But before you start knocking back mojitos, shift your thoughts from Mexico to Westeros, where at the end of the first GOT book, "the night came alive with the music of dragons."

What does the music of dragons sound like? No idea, but I'm going to hear it for myself and so are you - because we're both going to "Game of Thrones: The Musical" at San Diego Comic-Con.



Where: The 10th Avenue Arts Center, right in the Gaslamp

When: Thursday, 20 July - Sunday, 23 July. There will be 8 shows: at 6 and 9 pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday, a bonus show Friday at midnight and a Sunday matinee at 1 pm. So you'll be able to fit this into your schedule somehow - and if you didn't get a Friday or Saturday badge, this could be a great way to spend one of those days.

What's It Going to Be Like: Not a faithful rendition of the show/books set to music, but an opportunity to "relive the most iconic moments from their favorite show - this time as an absurd, laugh out loud musical comedy." Apparently the musical will extract all the laughs that were just hiding all this time inside the decapitations, smoke births and wedding massacres.


Why You Want to Go: Besides the obvious chance to hear a dragon symphony, you'll be helping the founders support The Wayne Foundation, a charity that promotes awareness about sexually exploited children. 5 percent of all ticket sales will go to that worthy cause. AND the creators are the same people behind Lost: The Musical and Once Upon a Time: The Rock Opera, which you may also have seen at SDCC. If you liked those shows, you'll obviously like the 12 original songs featured in this show.

And finally, you'll have bragging rights to make your friends jealous, which we all know is one of the top benefits of Comic-Con.

You can get your tickets here. Don't wait too long to book your own iron throne.

So how are you spending your ECCC nights?

26 JANUARY 2017

You know - sort of - how you're spending your days at Emerald City Comicon. You will spend too much money on the show floor, you will exult over various autographs and photo ops, you will revel in the magnetic presence of Jon Bernthal, Jason Momoa, Vincent D'Onofrio and Anna Silk. You'll admire the talent of Gail Simone, Jim Mahfood, Lea Hernandez and Jeff Lemire. You'll get lost, maybe, if you're a first-timer, or you'll learn how to use a light saber in Family HQ.  Or you'll hang out with your favorite podcasters in the Podcast Zone.

But how will you spend your nights? So far you have several options.

Thursday starts off the weekend with the Sandman Erotic Fanfiction Contest. You have your choice of an early show and a late show; the entries, penned by various famed nerd scribes, will be read aloud for your voting discernment - and only then will you find out who wrote what.

Friday brings the official ECCC after-party: The Knitting Factory Presents the Power-Up Party, Featuring Saved by the 90's, DJ Elliott and MC Chris. It's an all-ages event, 21+ to drink obviously, and there's a VIP package which gets you into the "exclusive after-party." The show is listed as starting at 7:30 so you could theoretically hit this and go to a real party after and still be up in time for your first Saturday panel.

On Friday and Saturday: Guardians of the Sexy vol. 2: A Geeky Celebration in Burlesque. 2 shows each night will explore what happens when "fandom and burlesque collide live on stage." 18+.

These are ticketed events - so don't wait too long to claim your seat.

The pre-ECCC events waiting for you

22 JANUARY 2017



39 days until Emerald City - are you ready? Are you going to make it through these final weeks??

If not, you have options.

Fremont Brewing has again crafted the chosen beer of ECCC, Dark Heron - and you can go to its launch party on Thursday, 2 February at the Fremont Brewing Urban Beer Garden at 1050 N. 34th Street in Seatle.


On 6 February you can go to a night of "Comicprov" featuring comedy, cosplay, giveaways and photo ops. At Unexpected Productions - 1428 Post Alley, Seattle.

Or you can run your little heart out at the Cosplay 5K Fun Run on Monday, 25 February at Green Lake. This is a race you can run in your cosplay - so make sure yours is comfortable.


Most of the emails I've gotten have asked me about nighttime Con events, though - film screenings, parties and such. I'll cover those as we get closer. Don't worry about having nothing to do at night; there will be plenty going on.

More Outlander VIP tix will go on sale at noon PST

13 FRIDAY 2017




If you missed the chance to buy ECCC's Outlander tickets - which includes a special VIP meet and greet, autographs and photo ops - more tickets will go on sale at noon today. The Rob Liefield package is currently available too.

To be clear, this doesn't waive your need to buy a regular Emerald City Comicon ticket - you'll need a Friday, Saturday or 4-day ticket. Friday tickets are still available, so you have a shot.


Now - I know some of you are mildly resentful, because you wonder how many more of these special packages are going to be offered, and will they sell out while you're trapped at a job or stuck in a DMV line or some other imposition. All I can say is that as I noted below, we are officially in Emerald City season and you'll need to pay close attention to announcements. That's Comic Con life.

And yes, there will be more guests and events announced in the coming weeks. The ECCC hype is just getting started.

Your ECCC To Do List

13 JANUARY 2017



Happy Friday the 13th! Are you making a San Diego Comic-Con badge sale conjure bag right now? Writing PREVIEW NIGHT in dragon's blood ink on a mandrake root?  Well, put SDCC aside and think ahead 7 weeks - specifically to the first week of March, when Emerald City Comicon lights up our lives.

There is a lot to plan if you're going, and it's possible you're so sick of their flying man loading screen that you're afraid to check their site. So to help you stay current, here are a few developments the ECCC team has sprung on us:

• The ticket mailing deadline is 27 January. Not far away at all. You can still buy after that, but then you'll need to pick up your tickets on site. If you'd rather have them arrive in the mail, buy now.

• Something else you might want to buy now: Emerald City merchandise, including a special Funko Pop! shirt.

• And you can pre-purchase a few autographs and packages now - but only for a few guests. More will be added, but I wouldn't wait if you are desperate for the signature of Jeremy Renner, Sam Heughan, or Caitriona Balfe.

• In fact, I would recommend checking out the ever-growing guest lists, both comics and entertainment: I know we're all sad that Carrie Fisher won't be there, but ECCC has added some nice guests and will certainly add more over the coming weeks. 

• You can also buy tickets to a Thursday night erotic fanfiction competition based on Sandman. No, this isn't a bunch of subway poets morosely identifying with Dream and Despair; the writers include ECCC fave Matt Fraction, Seanan McGuire, Scott Westerfield and a few others, and you'll vote on their work. I'll post more about this tomorrow.

• If you plan on showing all the amateurs how cosplay is really done, you need to enter the ECCC Western Championships of Cosplay by 3 February. 

• But what if you're an attorney who wants to get schooled on the law as it pertains to the comic book industry? Emerald City is presenting two new classes, in association with the Washington State Bar Association and Thomas A. Crowell. This is for attorneys only; you can't pop in and ask a presenter if your publishing contract is on the up and up.

• And if you want to learn art tricks from "the most knowledgeable and experienced artists in the industry," you can sign up for the Schoolism Live workshops. You don't need an ECCC badge for this.

We're just getting into the season where more outside events will get announced, as well as more guests and panels and exclusives. So I'll be posting more on Emerald City going forward - and if you still haven't decided if you're going, hopefully you'll jump off the fence and buy a ticket.

Did you do Adult Swim yet?

23 JULY 2016

It's easy to get lost in the roar and color of outside SDCC activations everywhere you look. Some are worth the effort (waiting in line for hours for a 5 minute experience) and others - aren't. But here's one that's always fun that you shouldn't overlook: Adult Swim.

Just a few ideas:

• Inside the Exhibit Hall, you can go to booth 3721 and play Return to Feline Fun Hole Slide Mouth for possible prizes
• Adult Swim on the Green offers a carnival with more games, prizes and photo booths
• The Meatwad Full Dome gives you 6 minutes of "trance-inducing hallucinations" (don't miss this)
• Nighttime on the Green has a special Rick and Morty show tonight from 8-10 pm under the stars

If you're not at the Con, you can watch live from home at adultswim.com - but if you are at the Con, this should be one of your top destinations.

Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi appearing during SDCC

6 JULY 2016

If you're a Final Fantasy fan, or just a fan of beautiful music, you have a new option for Thursday night at SDCC: a performance of Final Symphony by the San Diego Symphony and a special appearance by the mind behind Final Fantasy, Hironobu Sakaguchi.

Accompanied by a translator, Sakaguchi will discuss topics like his special memories while working on Final Fantasy, his favorite music tracks from the video games, his vision of Final Fantasy's future and more. He'll also participate in a live Q&A.

What's cool is that the presentation is free for everyone who buys a symphony ticket that evening.

When: Thursday, 12 July. Sakaguchi will speak from 6-7; the concert will begin at 8

Where: the Jacobs Music Center - Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B Street in San Diego

How Much: $35-90


You can call the box office at 619.235.0804 or visit the San Diego Symphony.