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188 Things We Learned At San Diego Comic Con

IMG_20150709_212441282The show finished about a week ago, but San Diego Comic-Con is still fresh in all our minds. Here are a few of the things that the women and men of Bleeding Cool learned at the show, from Joshua Stone, Michael Sangregorio, Peter Svensson, Kirk Staley, Abdulkareem Baba Aminu, Frazer Brown, Octavio Karbank, Joe Glass, Jason Strangis, Marilyn, Jeremy Konrad, Rich Johnston, and Hannah Means-Shannon.

1. The readership of Groo see nothing with him eating a live cow.

2. They are less united with Sergio Aragones eating live worms.

3. If you ask a question at a press session and a cast member says "I was specifically Instructed not to say anything on that", expect something to come out at the panel later that day…

4. It pays off to be very patient as I stood in the crowd for a hour and half, before I was able to get my autographed poster and water bottle from the cast of Agents of Shield.

5. John Barrowman is very funny.

6. Go to Food Trucks, not the convention center! More cheaper food and higher quality food!

7. Never do two comic conventions in a two weeks period! (I did, and my energy was worn down by the time of SDCC)

8. Bring dress shoes and dress pants and dress shirts for Omnia!

9. If you are flirting with a girl, and she asks, Where is your hotel?, you better have a hotel (I didn't)

10. Take Uber! Cheaper! Two trips for me was $25 total back to my house.

11. You can get into Hall H on a Thursday Afternoon without waiting in line.

12. The presence of Joss Whedon makes people cry when they ask questions. So much so when they don't cry, he asks if anything is wrong.

13. You can get into the Hasbro booth on a Sunday afternoon wit hardly a line. But Magic The Gathering stuff will be gone.

14. Oni Press takes their "no publishing superheroes" policy extremely seriously.

15. Apart from when you remind them of Bluntman And Chronic.

16. Norman Reedus is scarily addicted to Candy Crush.

17. So is Charles Brownstein.

18. Image Comics' booths are like 2001 monoliths. They may well be there to teach us a new way to live

19. Don Rosa is content to just grow delicious peppers instead of doing more comics.

20. Make sure to have a cell phone provider that won't keep you from tethering your computer.

21. No one likes cosplaying as Amethyst from Steven Universe.

22. It is in fact possible to spend the entire weekend and not see Mark Evanier once.

23. Possible but not likely.

24. The wristband system has stopped people camping out to get into Hall H. Now they camp out to get a wristband to get into Hall H.

25. The final Fables Issue/Trade is really, really sweet.

26. God is Disappointed With You is getting a sequel – Apocrypha Now

27. Mad Max: Fury Road is still a big deal.

28. Rick (from Rick & Morty) may be pansexual, according to Justin Roiland.

29. Grant Morrison is tired, and a bit bored, by the Military-Entertainment Complex.

30. That door is not an exit even though there was no sign, no one to tell you, and you may accidentally commit the unforgivable sin of trying to leave the convention floor.

31. Zander Cannon knows way more about kaiju than you do. No, even more than you think he does.

32. I still don't know why anyone would want a Funko Pop! but am apparently in the minority.

33. You are in the minority, everyone wants a Funko Pop, especially of Stan Lee.

34. Apart from Stan Lee, he already has several.

35. Some people will get home from a night out at the same ungodly hour as you but they were gleefully waiting in line for Hall H wristbands.

36. Stone IPA tastes just as unappealing as all other IPAs.

37. People who are obviously not cosplaying will still have their photo taken by someone with a DSLR camera.

38. Madam Medusa, of the Royal House of the Inhumans, plays to win.

39. Especially on an electric scooter when she comes charging through the crowds.

40. For almost anything I want at Funko's booth I can get it most of it online and use a coupon to save money.

41. But I won't have it right now which is when I want it.

42. The one thing I absolutely wanted from Funko will not be online and it won't sell out on any of the days, but the line for the booth will be closed for the day anyway. "Wait, it's only 10am!!"

43. As great as your past experiences at SDCC may have been, if you reply yes to most emails then it can be even better.

44. Saying yes to most emails is not conducive to getting your articles written.

45. Leaving your notebook with all your panel notes in a hotel room media and not realizing it till they are closed for the day is not conducive to getting your articles written.

46. Going out and getting blind drunk with Peter Capaldi is also not conducive to getting your articles written.

47. San Diego Comic Con is not conducive to getting your articles written unless you are a machine like Rich Johnston able to ignore everything happening around you.

48. Norman Reedus would much rather take a picture with a woman than with me.

49. Peter Capaldi doesn't mind taking a picture with me and appreciates a nice red velvet jacket and isn't afraid to say so.

50. If I out tweet out a picture of me with Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk after an interview then my phone will not stop buzzing with retweets and being favorited.

51. Thankfully I learned a long time ago to bring backup batteries to charge my phone in case it won't stop buzzing.

52. Mark Evanier may still be harboring some hostility to Stan Lee over Jack Kirby not getting credit.

53. Jonathan Ross decided that Sergio Aragones could take a joke better than Mark but it was funnier to do it against Mark.

54. I still have not learned that I should take a moment to use that bathroom and have some water sometime between the doors opening in the morning and the doors closing at night.

55. Cosplaying kids are just the best things in the world.

56. The SDCC experience is much better when done with friends.

57. Even if you ask really nicely and say you want something for your kid that Funko still won't let you get it cause they are closed for the evening even though they have plenty of the item left.

58. The three weeks before SDCC my email gets completely flooded with press releases.

59. Michael Davis, as Jimmy Palmiotti pointed out, is a preacher in comic book form. He brought the Black Panel to tears on Friday morning, with a tale of his recent suicide attempt.

60. Not even Orlando Jones can shut down Michael Davis. He just changes his position on everything to dodge the blows. It's like verbal ballet.

61. Hall H isn't so bad when you can go in through a side door and there is a seat reserved.

62. Make sure your sound equipment is damn good if you're doing an interview on the show floor on Saturday

63. When you are prepared to have a 15 minute interview and then you are told it will only be 5 minutes, you better be able to think real fast as to what questions you can cut.

64. It can be a little embarrassing when you call Nathan Fillion "Captain Hotpants" instead of "Captain Tightpants".

65. Interviewing someone you have always wanted to meet will make you need to go pee just before they shake your hand.

66. People really want to read about con-goers getting physically injured by other con-goers over exclusives. Really really.

67. Kelly Sue DeConnick gets birthday cake from Brian Bendis and birthday songs even though it isn't her birthday.

68. Once you finish interviewing someone you have always wanted to meet that the need to go pee will go away as soon as the interview is over.

69. Transcribing a 30 minute interview takes about 30 hours.

70. The 15 minutes in between the beginning and end of an interview is a long time to need to go pee.

71. 'Outcast Party' is code for 'Super-cool celeb-loaded poolside/rooftop party'.

72. Peter Kuper's Ruins will be the graphic novel awards choice of 2016.

73. San Diego has awesome restaurants if you can actually try to find them.

74. If not, there is always Dicks Last Resort, famed for their surprisingly dodgy comedy hats they make diners wear.

75. The number of black creators working for the big two is scandalously low.

76. The number of superb black creators working for the small press is relatively very high indeed.

77. If you stare down Edward James Olmos, he'll let you take a selfie with him.

78. Breakfast burritos do make SDCC more survivable.

79. A walk along the bayside is an excellent way to start the day before the con doors open.

80. If you don't get run over by bicycles/pedicabs/Rich Johnston running to a panel.

81. Bleeding Cool writers are…bleeding cool. No, seriously.

82. Clydene Nee needs your help.

83. Bob The Angry Flower is a San Diego mainstay – but where was The K Chronicles?

84. Stan Lee's kinda like Deadpool…he's everywhere!

85. Just this year, like Deadpool, he was slightly less everywhere than before.

86. StylinOnline have many awesome T-shirts and many awesome staff. Like they also have a few rude T-shirts and…a few rude staff.

87. Jill Thompson's Scary Godmother fashion doll will be back on track on Kickstarter

88. Grant Morrison is a mere mortal. Honest!

89. Jim Lee is the best artist working in comics today. Just like he's the nicest.

90. Stan Lee can walk faster at 96 than I can at 36.

91. Not attending Hall H makes the whole experience last longer

92. People will literally punch each other in the face for a free poster

93. Don't expect or even really hope to get the exclusives you want, just keep your eyes open and maybe when everyone else has given up, you'll get that chance you didn't think was coming to pop into a deserted booth

94. Companies that want you to advertise their products by wearing their free shirts and badges, need to just hand the things out and not make you jump through hoops for the 'privilege'

95. Petco Park panels/ events are a great place to head for some peace and quiet.

96. So is the San Diego Library even though it was meant to be an official venue for the show. Tumbleweed, but the chance to monopolise creators who show up to yourselves!

97. I am now officially too old to recognise any of the 'stars' from the CW

98. I have a weird habit of stepping on the feet of said CW stars much to the shock of their management

99. Security and exhibitors have a habit of shouting at you in the most unnecessary manner.

100. Ron Jeremy is a funny guy.

101. Well, he has to have a great personality, right?

102. 3 parties a night is 2 too many parties a night.

103. It might even be 3 parties too many.

104. When you get to the show, there are still rooms for $50 available and the Hyatt was still bookable one week before the con

105. There are a lot of underrated artists in the Artists Alley that deserve more exposure.

106. There are a lot of 'old masters' in the artist alley that are overdue a renaissance.

107. People will form lines for no reason in particular.

108. Judy Greer is beautiful, like seriously.

109. You will always be surprised how much you have in common with comics people while hosting an interview–it's called fandom and it's what keeps us all going

110. I have a crush on 'Carol' from the Walking Dead.

111. She does not have a crush on me.

112. Some celebs charge way too much for autographs.

113. Rob Liefeld only charges for autographs that will add hundred of bucks on eBay. So, Deadpool comics, basically.

114. Half the comics I sold off cheap in the 90s are now expensive 'key issues'

115. But some of them Rob Liefeld will sign for free!

116. It's really hard to track down 'tales from the crypt back issues'

117. Sunday is the time to pick everything up cheap as people don't want to carry all their stock home.

118. Apart from Funko who seem happy to carry all their stock home.

119. Josh Holloway has the whitest teeth I have ever seen. Almost transcendent.

120. Heather Graham is directing now.

121. The urinals in the men's toilets are always free as everyone is waiting for a cubicle. I don't want to know why.

122. It's really hard to change in to a suit in the Mariott bathroom stalls.

123. But not impossible.

124. Jimmy Palmiotti is a mensch. Or maybe whatever the Italian word for that is.

125. The nearest healthy food is at least 3 miles away in every direction.

126. Monster energy drink is NOT a good substitute for H20.

127. But it is a substitute,

128. The USS MIDWAY has really fast free wifi. USA! USA! USA!

129. People need to hand out more free comics

130. Prices vary greatly from comic stall to comic stall (I saw a $150 NM infinity gauntlet 1 and a $60 NM)

131. San Diego is a ghost town come Monday morning as everything starts to be ripped off the walls in sadness.

132. The Hyatt has really honest and efficient staff – I left my wallet with $200 bucks there one night and it was returned to me next day safely.

133. The Walking Dead has almost achieved omniscience.

134. Gale Ann Hurd is an Arsenal Fan.

135. Just because you read online that a booth will have an exclusive, doesn't mean it will. Sometimes you must go on a quest for the ages to hunt down the gem you're searching after.

136. Spider-Man and Deadpool are getting a comic together? Yes, please, and thank you!

137. Audiences loved Deadpool more than they love Batman v. Superman. How do I know? The Deadpool movie trailer was the only trailer to not only receive a standing ovation, but had the audience chanting, "Repeat, repeat!" in an effort to see the trailer again.

138. Way more celebrities cross the con floor causing adoring mayhem than they used to. I think the celebs are taking the con back. No more masks for them.

139. Pack snacks. Lots and lots of snacks.

140. Especially raisins and peanuts. Add water in the panel rooms and you are set for the day.

141. If you're buying comics, you're going to have to carry a briefcase full of cash. Sure, you can pay with a credit or debit card, but when doing negotiations for a lower price on a particular comic, those same dealings are undone by the tax you have to pay if you use a card. I learned this a little too late.

142. People don't know how to walk. Or rather, people don't know how to walk with any sense of urgency.

143. This is especially prevalent on the Con floor where people are stumbling about like a herd of mindless zombies, occasionally coming to a full stop in the middle of the aisle for little to no reason. If you're trying to get from one booth to another in a timely fashion, then unless you're willing to shove people aside, and they actually don't mind as much as you'd think they would, you won't be getting anywhere anytime soon.

144. Gal Gadot understands what it means to be Wonder Woman. At the two panels I heard her talk at, it was made clear through her opinions and sentiments about the character, that she "gets" the Amazonian princess.

145. Hasbro, Mattel, LEGO and other big booths are all death traps. Enter them at your own peril.

146. San Diego Comic Con is, apparently, not for everyone. Go online and read up on Mr. Jesse Eisenberg's thoughts on the matter. While his experience was different from 99% of the people there, some folks do find the whole thing rather overwhelming.

147. Have fun. No matter how long the lines, whether you get into a panel or not, or the struggle endured to buy a certain item, just enjoy the process and journey of it all. Comic Con is supposed to be fun, so don't try and take it too seriously.

148. Heavy Metal's new president is Brian Witten. He seems like a cool guy.

149. Mark Waid was elected to Overstreet price guide Hall of Fame.

150. Actress Lee Meriwether doesn't consider Catwoman to be evil.

151. Charles Schulz based Lucy on his wife Joyce.

152. When counting money or paying for things, don't hold ALL of your money in your hand at once.

153. Gaslamp Pizza is the best food at the con, and the cheapest.

154. Haley Atwell is way more popular than Ben Affleck.

155. Hayley Atwell checks Twitter a lot so say nice things in her vicinity and maybe she'll talk to you.

156. If someone asks you to recite the Lumberjanes motto, you do it.

157. You need to do Hall H at least once.

158. You don't need to ever attempt to get in the Hasbro line.

159. Stay somewhere with a hot tub.

160. Snoopy-themed landmark shirts are apparently a huge thing.

161. Ashley Eckstein and Chris Hardwick work harder than anymore not named Scott Snyder.
Star Wars fans are the most dedicated and passionate around.

162. Ask questions; at panels, in line, at events. It can never hurt to ask.

163. It's all about who you know. And who they know. Connections are key.

164. You didn't put on enough sunscreen. Seriously, go back and put more on.

165. Talk to the person sitting next to you. You never know who they might be.

166. Plan your day out. Plans will always change but it is much better if you have something to work with.

167. If a creator seems nice and humble online, they are probably even more so in person. Be sure to tell them how much their work means to you. They will appreciate it.

168. The human body is capable of running on pretzels, cheese and coca cola for an entire week.

169. You can't bring back something for everyone you love, but you can damn sure burst your suitcase trying.

170. Everyone appreciates a good Kamala cosplay

171. Everyone loves Legos

172. Teen Wolf's Tyler Posey's biceps feel amazing.

173. Kevin Wada is like the sweetest little pixie of a man, and everyone should meet him at least once.
LGBTQ panels and booths at San Diego are really popular, and everyone is still in a sense of euphoria over the Supreme Court ruling.

174. Bleeding Cool reporter Fraser Brown has some serious moves.

175. Scott Snyder has the most interesting panels, so always go to them.

176. Chip Zdarsky is the funniest, most surreal man in comics.

177. Alternate your shoes each day. It doesn't matter how comfortable they are, switching them out will help you get through the con.

178. All you need to have an incredibly popular article from SDCC is to get beat up in the Hasbro line.

179. If you announce all your new books before SDCC, it leaves you with a not very exciting schedule at the show.

180. Marvel Studios are going to do Civil War right.

181. The perfect post-con routine is hitting the hot tub with a mojito in hand.

182. Bleeding Cool reporters spend an awful lot of time in hot tubs.

183. Pool bars. Pool bars. Pool bars. The only place to work.

184. Don't do offsite events. They are beautiful but useless unless you're going to give half a day to them.

185. If you're not sure your name made it onto a party list, go anyway. Maybe it did.

186. You will always see more people who you know at comic con than you expect to see even if you expect to see many.

187. Everyone loves a Bleeding Cool t-shirt. So many more than you'd think.

188. Preview Night is now as bad as a Saturday and Sunday as bad as a Friday in terms of crowds.


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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