Tuesday, July 28, 2009

SDCC09 : The great Con or The greatest Con ever.


So here we are the Tuesday after Comic Con. This is when I feel the impact that comic con has on my life the most. Not while Im there in my 13th hour of death march on the floor, or 6th hour waiting in line for a panel. When your in the moment rarely do you have to resources to reflect. And for me the Monday after I'm thinking about the Thursday and Friday of work I missed. But the Tuesday... ah Tuesday. Back in my daily rhythm. Time enough to plan and time enough to reflect. This years Comic Con was a beautiful mix of the insanity of the crowds from 07 but the content and vibe of 06... though this is my 14th year if I go any farther back my memory is tainted, like trying to remember childhood. I saw what I came to see, bought almost what I came to buy, and reconnected with those friends that I have come to only know in the context of Comic Con. Visited my favorite artists, and showed them their own works from years past in my sketch book.

This years Comic Con was one of anniversaries, 40th Comic Con, 50 years of Green Lantern, 25 years of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and 14th non consecutive year for me. Thats alot of comic con for someone who isnt a huge comic fan, video game player, or to be fair reader. But thats the beauty of "The Con" its got something for everyone. Really. You like art? Its there. Movies, music, comics, toys, celebrity, whatever, its there. How about Business, Economics, interview skills, there are panels where you can learn from literally the best in the business. How did Marvel pull itself from the brink to a leader, go see the panels on that. Its incredible. I try to explain it to people who have never been and its fruitless because they only see the nerds in the costumes, weird people who while having 0 interpersonal skills the rest of the year become extroverted maniacs during con. But that is such a small part of what Con is, but at the same time its exactly what its for. Con gives people who might not have an outlet a reason to get together and have fun. It gives companies literally first hand feedback from 4000 people at a time in real time. And it gives me an excuse to cut out of work to go walk around and have fun in the summer time. I spent 4 days with my wife, no work, no plans, just entertainment and each other. Its pretty much my favorite time of year. And if the preceding portion of this year is any indication it will be next years as well.