Comic-Con 2008: For Love of the Con

Big crowds, too little sleep and even less food at San Diego's fanboy mecca

Comments (0) By Luke Y. Thompson Wednesday, Jul 30 2008

And what to make of Pixar’s upcoming Up, in which a cranky old man ties hundreds of balloons to his house in order to fly to Venezuela? I’d like to have sat in on that pitch meeting.

Ultimately, Comic-Con is all about the fans, many of whom don elaborate costumes (though, in perhaps another sign of our failing economy, not so many this year) to attend. Some of the best kept it simple, like the guy who walked around as a giant replica of his own MySpace page, or the various Heath Ledger Jokers who didn’t even try to re-create the scarred-cheek smile (but kudos to those who did, especially the one guy who also chose to be nurse-uniform Joker). Storm troopers, clone troopers and Boba Fett’s Mandalorian brethren always have a presence, but I suspect it’s a lot of the same guys every year.

Clay Enos. TM & (c) DC Comics

Watch out for THE WATCHMEN, coming soon from Comic-Con to a theater near you

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Another continuing Comic-Con lure is its exclusive merchandise. At the low end of the price scale this year was a miniature Hellboy action figure for $10, while a $75 Battlestar Galactica toaster that imprints a Cylon Centurion on your bread sold out in the first 20 minutes. The best overall deal might just have been the $16.50 Star Wars figure set featuring Darth Vader and a giant holographic Emperor head; press a button, and the thing lights up and recites the entire dialogue between the Sith Lords as seen in The Empire Strikes Back (DVD edition, with Ian McDiarmid digitally replacing Clive Revill).

Biggest toy-related bummer? Mezco is doing action figures for The Spirit ... and not one of them resembles Scarlett Johansson!