San Diego Comic-Con: These Are My People

For many years, the press would come down to San Diego Comic-Con International to take pictures and interview attendees. The results were always the same. They would look for those with the most outlandish costumes and the report would be: “San Diego Comic Con International has arrived again. Look at all the freaks that showed up. Aren’t these people crazy? Back you you, Dan.”

Ah, the press. They just never get it right. Most people at the con dress like anyone else. It’ a small percent that wear costumes, but they stick out. Most of those people are there to have fun. They’re letting their hair down for the weekend. It’s like Halloween for geeks.

Imagine if the press were actually fair minded (ROFL!), then you might see something like this:

“Here we are at the Superbowl. Look at all these nutty loons wearing football jerseys in the crowds, and waving around the foam hands. How crazy are these people anyway? They even have riots in the streets. Back to you, Steve.”

Or…

“Here we are at the Rockapalooza. Look at all these wasted weirdos wearing rock clothes and all that goofy makeup. What makes them imagine their air guitar fantasies rate in the real world? Get a life, losers! Back to you, Jane.”

There really isn’t that much difference between people at Comic-Con and any other kind of fandom. The fans of comics, movies and TV are from the same walks of life the rest of humanity. And their interest in these things do not really make them less important or more absurd than fans of sports or music or whatever you can name. I mean, I have yet to hear about Comic Convention fans rioting in the streets and torching cars.

When I was leaving Comic-Con for the last time this year, a car pulling out of the lot passed the shuttle bus I was on with OBAMA SUCKS emblazoned on the rear window. I smiled. What do you know, we have diversity of opinion in fandom too. And then, at the first stop a guy in a Count Chockula outfit was getting off and he asked the driver directions to catch another bus. I had to smile again. I mean, there’s something really fun hanging around with a comic book crowd. Where else can go go and be surrounded by storm troopers, Batman wannabes, guys in Thor costumes, girls in Anime garb or riding a bus with Count Chockula?

These are my people. I have been around fans most of my life and generally, I find them entertaining. I have made friends at the Cons over the years who are doctors, cops, scientists, waiters, chefs, mechanics, musicians, actors, you name it. They come from all walks of life and from all over the world. They’re people like you and I, they just happen to enjoy what the Con has to offer. I have been to rock concerts and sports events and none of those things compares to the spectacle and interactive nature of a comic con.

In a Sports event or concert you are expected to sit down and watch the show, then leave. You might have a tailgate party first. But in comic cons you have a lot of different options. You can meet your favorite creators, listen to panels, play games, enter contests, see movies, hang out with people, go to a series of parties and dinners, engage in sing-a-longs, hell, I could go on and on. It’s like a festival, and there’s all sorts of fun to be had. That’s probably a large part of why it’s become such a huge success.

And success is one of the reasons the press stopped making fun of the Con attendees. They still look for people in costumes to interview, but their tone is more respectful. After all, the Con is a huge cash cow for the city of San Diego. It revitalizes downtown better than Christmas does. The restaurants and bars are full to bursting, The shops see lots of business and the hotels are booked solid for miles around. And that means lots of tax revenue for the city and state. No only that, the film business takes it very seriously. It’s a great place for them to reach the fans an talk directly to their potential audience.

The Con brings a lot of smiles to a lot of faces every year. If you had been there this weekend you would never know we lived in the worst recession since the great depression. The place was jumping and the money was flowing.

Good times were had all around. I can’t wait till the next one.