Comic Con 2013

I didn’t get much sleep the night before because I was finishing up some Wind Wakers for Daniel and Adam.  I downed 4 Red Bulls during the day but it didn’t really do anything.  I was still feeling exhausted.  Before I left, I tried taking a 15 minute nap, but my heart was beating too rapidly making it impossible to relax.  Oh well.

WEDNESDAY, July 17, 2013 (Preview Night)
Getting inside the convention center was easier said than done.  I had to wait outside for someone to bring me my badge.  My friends directed me to go from lobby F to D, then D to A, then back to F.  (That’s walking the length of 11 football fields…twice!)  Outside, I had to elbow my way through the mass of people lining up to get in for Preview Night.  Some guy ran into me and knocked over my boxed lunch and coffee.  Blargh..!  It was my only meal for the day!  I was expecting a short day with little activity, so I had worn flip flops instead of my tennis shoes.  What a mistake that was!  My toes got stomped on and ran over by scooters and wheelchairs.  It’s no one’s fault but my own.  I should have known better.

After I got my badge, I dropped by our booth to say hello and then wandered off to do my own thing.  Light Speed Fine Art’s booth was only a few aisles away, so my first stop was to see if they had posted a photo op/signing schedule.  To my surprise, Brent Spiner, Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn were already there.  I had the opportunity to get Brent’s autograph then and there, but hmm….completing my goal on preview night?  What’s the fun in that?  Besides, I wouldn’t have much to look forward to during the rest of the show.  That or I would have to come up with new goals to meet…  I prepaid for a photo op with Brent, picked up a schedule, and moved on.

Side note:  I should probably mention that I’m a late bloomer to the Star Trek series.  I watched a few episodes of TNG during its original broadcast, but I never got into it because it aired during the same time as the Chinese soap operas.  But even then, I knew who Data was, and he was (and still is) my favorite TNG cast member.  Everyone loved Data! So now, fast forward to 2013… I recently caught an episode on BBC America, “Time’s Arrow” part one.  For whatever reason, instead showing part two, BBC jumped to another episode from an earlier Season.  Why?!  Now I’m watching TNG on Netflix, and yep, I’m hooked.

Next stop was Bluefin’s booth at the opposite end of the hall… I was supposed to get Messala (Gundam model kit) for Angel’s birthday in JUNE, but I couldn’t find it anywhere.  We tried some local shops, and even asked all the vendors at Anime Expo, and no one had it.  I really didn’t want to go home empty handed again… Casval at Bluefin confirmed that Messala wasn’t released in the US yet, but they had a few Japanese sample kits they were selling at the show. Sure, why not?!  Goal completed!  Two more to go!

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THURSDAY, July 18, 2013

I spent the morning helping friends hunt down Comic Con exclusives.  Everywhere you turn there were lines, lines, and more lines.  At 9:30 AM, I attended a music-related panel, “The Anatomy of Superhero Film Music: Bringing a Comic Book to Life.”  The guest panelists included composer Marco Beltrami (The Wolverine), composer John Debney (Iron Man 2), composer Matthew Margeson (X-Men: First Class, Kick Ass 2) with director Jeff Wadlow (Kick Ass 2), composer Christopher Lennertz (Marvel: Agent Carter), composer Bear McCreary and music supervisor Dave Jordan (The Avengers).

                

I was back in the exhibit hall for the rest of the afternoon.  I swung by Light Speed’s booth again to see if Brent was available., but I got there, I overheard a rather obnoxious man shouting questions at Brent.  I couldn’t tell if he was asking a real question or purposely being an A-hole.  I didn’t want to stick around and find out so I ran away.  After about an hour, I mustered the courage to go back and talk to Brent.  He was very nice and friendly! Goal completed!

Brent didn’t like the photo I picked out and said it looked too much like a mug shot.  (No it didn’t!)  I’m sure he was joking, because honestly, all the photos were lovely and I wish I got them all!  Brent suggested another photo and took his advice.  I handed him my badge so he could see the spelling of my name because I was too nervous to speak.  (I babble when I’m scared…)  I was amazed when he pronounced my name correctly on his first try.  It was a treat because I’m used to my name getting butchered all the time. That was the most memorable moment of Comic Con.

I returned a few hours later for the photo op and Brent still remembered my name. Wow!  Brent looked awesome in the photo, but I, on the other hand, looked like someone just died.  I need to work on smiling.  I must have some irrational fear of taking pictures.  Ugh…fail!

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FRIDAY, July 19, 2013

I decided to take another photo with Brent since I didn’t really like first.  Unfortunately, my nerves got to me AGAIN, and the photo came out worse than the first.  Still, it was a fun experience.  I brought the first photo back to Brent to sign.  He also said I looked as if I were about to cry in the photo.  (T_T)  I purchased an additional autograph for myself, and one for my pal, Terrence.

    

We also chatted briefly about his music works.  Brent has a beautiful singing voice, and has released two albums– “Ol’ Yellow Eyes is Back” in 1991, and “Dreamland” in 2008.   I found a copy of “Ol’ Yellow Eyes is Back” on ebay and also ordered “Dreamland,” too.

I went back to Light Speed at the end of the day in hopes of purchasing the photos I didn’t already have, but sadly, Brent, Marina and Michael had already left.  It was their last day at Comic Con, too.  Aww..darn.

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SATURDAY, July 20, 2013

I helped out at the booth for most of the morning. My friends were having some trouble getting the Square credit card app to work.  They were using a Samsung Galaxy phone  and an iPhone 5 and had trouble staying connected to the internet. Surprisingly, my phone (iPhone 4) had the best connection and worked like a charm every time!

I met up with Helen and her friends for the last Futurama panel ever(?).  The entire cast was present!  They did a table read the first act of an unaired episode, and then showed the completed second act.  It was hilarious!  Can’t wait to see the full episode!

                              

There was a book signing event for Carniepunk at 3 PM at Simon and Schuster’s booth.  All the authors were there, including Seanan, and everyone in line got a free copy of the book.  Nicky will be pleased!  Since it was an exclusive signing for Carniepunk, I didn’t bother Seanan with the other books.

   

I had time to kill so I walked next door to Nintendo’s Gaming Lounge in the Marriott Hotel.  It was packed!!  They had several stations with playable demos for upcoming games.  You earned tickets by playing the demos, which can then be traded in for T-shirts or other prizes.  More goodies for Terrence.

                 

There was a Family Guy/American Dad signing at 4 PM, and a man generously offered his ticket to me.  He was in line since 6 AM to get tickets for the How I Met Your Mother signing, but they ran out so he got tickets for Family Guy instead.  Apparently, Fox was handing out 2 tickets per person for the same event, and people were then selling their extra ticket for $20-$40 a pop.  Shame on scalpers…  I wish I could have done something to return his generosity.  He was first in the stand-by line for How I Met Your Mother, and I really hope he made it in…

 

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SUNDAY, July 21, 2013

The last day of Comic Con!  People were cray for Ugly Dolls.  They sold out of merchandise every day during the show.  Put Hello Kitty’s face on anything, slap the word “exclusive” on it and everyone will want to buy it.  Helen wanted a set of the Hello Kitty Ugly Dolls (4 colors in all), but they were not selling to exhibitors for the first hour.  I lined up and got a ticket which guaranteed met at least one doll.  Two of the colors were already sold out within 20 minutes of the hall opening.  We managed to get one of each of the remaining colors.  (Sorry, Helen… I have failed you!)

Seanan had two panels with signings afterward.  I missed the first one because I was in line for a photo op with John Barrowman, but made it to the second one.  The signings were only an hour long, so I got there ahead schedule to make sure I was near the front of the line.  The line moved at snail’s pace because everyone brought a mountain of books to get signed.  I accidentally dropped one of Nicky’s book while waiting in line and people around me looked at me as if I had just committed bloody murder…  Yikes.  I got all of Nicky’s books signed, and for fun, I asked Seanan to write, “COME TO COMIC CON” in one of the books.  Goal completed!

  

Back at our booth, the Sons of Anarchy signing at Fox created traffic congestion in the surrounding aisles.  Stragglers tend to hide in our booth to avoid getting yelled at by security.  (“Shoot and Scoot!”)

   

Tear down went smoothly and we were packed up and ready to go in under two hours.  That’s a new record!

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This year’s Comic Con was very special to me.  I accomplished all my goals, helped out friends in the process, and even lost five pounds.  Until next year…I hope.