5 Things You Must Do at the San Diego Comic-Con

The San Diego Comic-Con is not only the Mecca for geeks everywhere; it’s also a labyrinth of jaw dropping, comic fanboy, goodness. It’s a maze of isles and lines leading to the most interesting stuff, the coolest panels, and the most famous people. You can get lost in this massive building, miss everything cool and lose your mind in the process. Or you can follow our 5 tips and walk away from this experience with a brand new love for this incredible event we like to call “SDCC”.

#1. The Early Bird Gets the Worm

The Exhibit Hall opens at 9:30 AM. If you want to find a parking space than you better be there at about 6 AM. The alternative is to park very, very, far away and ride the Trolley in. If you get to the convention center any time after 9 AM you’re screwed, imagine the most frustrating driving ordeal that you can, then multiply that by a thousand. Now punch yourself in the face for an hour and a half while weeping like a little girl and still you cannot imagine how bad it’s going to be showing up late. This event was sold out a year in advance and everyone shows up.

#2. Have a game plan

Visit San Diego Comic-Con website and download the program schedule. Now figure out what you have to see and make those things a priority. Almost everything that you think looks cool, everyone thinks looks cool. Expect lines out the door to get an autograph or a picture. Lines for events begin to form anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours in advance, so be prepared to give up a lot of your time to waiting if you want to see some of the more exciting stuff.

#3. Hall H

If this is your first trip to the Con than “Hall H” probably means nothing to you. “Hall H” is the most difficult room to get inside. “Hall H” always has the big panels. Pixar will be in “Hall H” talking about upcoming projects and playing previews of upcoming films. Last year the teaser for “Tron 2.0” played in this big hall. Years back I watched a surprise “Tenacious D” concert after enjoying an awesome King Kong panel with the entire cast from the film on hand. The deal with “Hall H” is simple: if you want to get in to the hall go there first and stand in line. Once you’re in and have a seat, don’t leave. The really amazing previews that you will undoubtedly hear about all over the internet for the rest of the year are going to take place here, this is the epicenter. Enjoy your stay, I promise it will be memorable.

#4. Don’t Miss Artist Ally

Artist Ally is hands down my favorite part of the Comic-Con. Typically it’s also the least crowded destination in the building since no one “famous” is there and it seems that nothing of interest is going on. The truth about “Artist Ally” is that every incredible up and coming artist is sitting there drawing, meeting soon to be fans, and presenting some indy comics that will blow your mind. Further more I have personally met more famous comic artists there than I can count. Mike Mignola (Hellboy) was hanging out at one of those nondescript tables on my last visit. He was just hanging out drawing Hellboy for people. He wasn’t charging, he was just hanging out with the other artists, and if you recognized him than cool, he’d talk to you about his crazy creations. If you didn’t recognize him that was cool too, he was happy to just kick back and draw.

#5. Stay for the Masquerade

Tickets for the Masquerade are free, they start giving them away at 4:30 on Saturday. There will be quite a line for these tickets, be prepared. This show is always a lot of fun but if you can’t get tickets all is not lost. You can show up to the Masquerade area and see all the costumed crazies as they go in, and on their way out, where they will also pose for pictures. Hang out for the whole kooky event, meet everyone and take lots of pictures. The real fun happens after the event, you are guaranteed to find your way into at least one post-masquerade-party. Let me tell you something, Geeks love to party.