Comic-Con 2011

[Kane52630]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/07/22/is.this.comicon/index.html?hpt=C1

(CNN) -- What is seen by some as the holy four-day weekend for geek culture at San Diego Comic-Con has gone mainstream in a big way for the past few years.

Are you a Comic-Con beginner? Get the rules right!

Starting today, there will be panels called "I Can't Write, I Can't Draw, But I Love Comics!" and "Indie Comics Marketing 101" taking place alongside "USA Network's 'Psych' " and "Aloha, Earth!" a panel about CBS' upcoming remake of "Hawaii Five-0."

But this recent spate of panels about movie and TV properties with no sci-fi or comic book elements has some fans fuming.

"The mainstream TV and film representation at Comic-Con has outstripped the original essence of the convention," said iReporter Brad Powers who attended Comic-Con the past two years, mainly for the panels on "Lost." He believed that this "mainstreaming" of the convention has played a hand in it being filled to capacity.

Going to San Diego Comic-Con?

For one panel, Powers said he arrived a full 45 minutes before it was set to begin. "Thirty minutes passed and I thought for sure I was getting closer to the front door. Finally, 10 minutes after the start, some nice Con attendee started walking back through the line to let everyone know that they were full up and no one else would be getting in."

Powers is not attending the convention this year since "Lost" has ended.

One iReporter, Michelle Cruz, has not attended in years. "I don't even try anymore," she said." "They should have a Commercialism-Con and bring back Comic-Con the way it used to be."

"It's too crowded, too commercial, and, oh yea, it sells out before you even know who's gonna be there," she said.

"I'd be really disappointed spending my money and seeing that I was gonna go to a panel discussion about [the Fox series] 'Glee.' "

The fact that "Glee" attended last year (and is returning this year) certainly seemed to fuel anger among some Comic-Con devotees.

"It used to be the coolest thing in the world and now it's just a reason not to drive downtown for a few days."

Erin O'Donoghue, a hardcore fan of "Chuck," is one of those who disagrees. "I am not one of those who believe it should remain solely in the realm of comics and their related forms of media," she said. "I personally really enjoy the fact that SDCC has become a celebration of popular culture and every entertainment medium."

Even those who have covered the convention have differing opinions about it. Vic Holtreman of Screenrant.com doesn't think that non-genre panels are a very good idea.

"I guess the studios figure, well, as long as we're here we might as well throw this movie out there. ... Maybe we give this a little boost," he said. "Last year, at one of the studio panels, they had the Mike Judge film, 'Extract,' and people saw the footage. Then the movie completely tanked."

Fanbolt.com's Emma Loggins, on the other hand, sees a place for these kinds of panels at Comic-Con. "I think that what it's really about is anything that has a strong fan base. It also brings in other people to the convention that otherwise wouldn't be interested," she said.

Quite a few people she has talked to, however, disagree with her. She even recalls a quite vocal reaction last year to a movie that, on the surface, would seem like a good fit. "Con-goers were protesting at the Summit Entertainment booth saying ... with signs, 'Twilight Ruined Comic Con,' because fans couldn't get into see panels earlier in the day because of the thousands of 'Twilight' fans that descended on Hall H."

This year, those fans can breathe a sigh of relief, since the cast of "The Twilight Saga" won't be there -- this year. But there are plenty of other panels, such as one for Will Ferrell's cop comedy "The Other Guys," which will ensure the debate continues.

 

[Crook]

The exposure to the masses can only be good for the genre's acceptance, but I've admittedly wondered many times what some of these productions are doing at the Con. They have absolutely zero relation to comic books and by definition do not belong there.

Clearly studios have taken notice to the marketing advantage of giving previews to a devout fanbase. But they shouldn't invade an area to do it. Schedule a separate event if you have to. All they're doing is taking away time and space from the geeks that made what the Con is today.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

I don't think it's too mainstream. I live in Ireland and NOTHING about Comic-Con is ever mentioned on TV, Radio or Newspapers. If it wasn't for the Internet, I wouldn't really hear anything about it at all.

I'm glad the con has brought in films, TV shows and Gaming. It makes the event bigger and exciting for a lot of people. The event might even get non-comic books fans into comic books and different things.

 

[Manic]

"Boo hoo, I feel less special now that the thing I go to every year appeals to more people."

Just be glad ComicCon hasn't switched to an invite/application process like E3.

 

[terry78]

The entertainment industry has discovered that geeks play a somewhat underrated part in pre-release hype, etc. so of course they'll use that platform to get in on it.

 

[Spider-Vader]

Yes, but there's plenty of cons devoted to comics only.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Well, the San Diego comic con has become too mainstream. Comic con's in general I would say not so much.

I remember actually hearing this discussion on one of the many comic book podcasts that I listen to. A lot of the panelists on the podcast had a lot of good points. In the end they agreed, and I very much agreed with the conclusion, that San Diego has turned into an "Entertainment" comic con and less about comic books. While other cons leading up to San Diego are more focused on the comic books and the creators behind the comics.

I don't see too much media coverage on the Pittsburgh Comic Con and Jim Rugg's Aphrodisiac.

 

[E-Man]

I think it is, but it's no big deal. My issue is more that they have things there that aren't even comic related. Rom-coms that aren't based on comics shouldn't even be at Comic-Con. It doesn't bother me too much though because I haven't gone and probably won't go in the near future.

 

[Sam Fisher]

Being more mainstream can only help it.

 

[CFE]

The only thing about SDCC that I don't like are the terrible attempts at 'coverage' conducted by G4...and NOW, apparently, the Daily 10 (a crappy show on E! for those who don't know).

The Daily 10 is showing coverage of the Con right now, though I have a feeling it's previously recorded from yesterday, and they're sending Ben Lyons out into the floor to chat up the patrons.

Now I've never been to the SDCC yet, but I plan to when I can afford it. But if that place is chalk full of people like me...lovers of sci-fi and comics, those of us who frequent message boards and blogs, I only thought one thing...that every single person on that floor seeing Ben Lyons probably couldn't stand him.

Same thing with the G4 crew. I mean If G4 was really as attuned to us, being their main demographic, wouldn't they know that most of us hate what G4's become and, by extension, can't stand them?

I feel that the only thing that's going 'mainstream' with the Con is the news coverage...the fact the E! Entertainment is now getting in on it is proof, I'd say.

I'm not going to slight the creative individuals who make their way to the Con regardless of how involved they are in comics and sci-fi/fantasy/horror (though admittedly it IS a little strange that Romantic Comedies would have panels there since that's a genre that is in no way affiliated with what SDCC is about) but the media trying to pose as one of our own is what's truly ridiculous.

I know WHY they do it...but I feel like the whole purpose of covering the Con is defeated whenever they throw out subtle to not-so-subtle nuggets of mockery towards the fanboys. You know what I'm talking about.

If the media is finally catching on to the fact that Comic Con is one of, if not THE best staging areas for determining what's popular and what's not in the future of comics, movies, TV, etc...WHY THE HELL WOULD THEY STILL FEEL THE NEED TO BELITTLE ATTENDEES?

That's my two cents.

 

[Kelly]

Things evolve, and I don't think Comic-Con is any different. Actors know that if they want to give their movie a good one up on other movies, they take themselves and their movies to Comic-Con. That is pretty cool for Comic-Con. IMO, its a positive.

 

[Prison Mike]

I like the "mainstream-ness" of Comic Con. It's a great way to get new spoilers on our favorite TV shows and news updates on upcoming movies.

 

[amazingfantasy15]

I think the people in charge of the con just need to have a better screening process for panels. Anything with a comic, sci-fi, fantasy, geeky element, yes it should be allowed a panel, this even includes Twilight. Things like Glee though, hell f'ing no.

 

[The Lizard]

Atlanta's DragonCon is better than SDCC because DragonCon has more people in costumes and it takes place in several hotels so there's all kinds of wild parties and bizarre events going on all night long.

 

[Jennifer Walters]

I look at it this way. A convention for any specific thing is nothing more than a meeting of the diehard fans of said thing. Whether is be a fishing con, or a comic book con. So that said there are geeks of everything.

Including TV series and movies that traditionally have no connection to the comic book world. Like Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Glee, and more.

 

[Prison Mike]

How "wild" can these comic book conventions get exactly?

 

[SpideyInATree]

How "wild" can these comic book conventions get exactly?

Depends on who you hang out with. Who has the cool after party? Despite comic book fans being stereotyped as a group of people that are romantically challenged the professionals in the comics business do know how to party.

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

not really, just get rid of twilight. thats not a dig at the series( though i could start) it just the thing has become so big that it is overpowering the rest of the con.

 

[Prison Mike]

Depends on who you hang out with. Who has the cool after party? Despite comic book fans being stereotyped as a group of people that are romantically challenged the professionals in the comics business do know how to party.

Oh, so it's the professionals who are throwing the parties? That's cool. I thought it was just a regular guy in a batman costume throwing the party...

 

[SpideyInATree]

Oh, so it's the professionals who are throwing the parties? That's cool. I thought it was just a regular guy in a batman costume throwing the party...

Well, it's not just the pros. It could be the guy in the Batman costume having an after party. Nerds want to get laid too. Have penis, will fornicate.

 

[The Lizard]

How "wild" can these comic book conventions get exactly?

At DragonCon, pretty wild...

 

[amazingfantasy15]

not really, just get rid of twilight. thats not a dig at the series( though i could start) it just the thing has become so big that it is overpowering the rest of the con.

Twilight didn't overpower the 'con last year, it had it's panels and sure the fans came, but you didn't hear too much about it. The media gave much more coverage to other stuff.

 

[Manic]

I didn't even realize Twilight was at ComicCon.

 

[Figs]

I didn't even realize Twilight was at ComicCon.

All the Avatar fans did...

 

[Kane52630]

All the Avatar fans did...

lol I remember that in the avatar thread

everyone was irate!