I will be in California July 12-20, 2005

jjreason · Post by **jjreason** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:20 pm

Well we should all get together early EARLY early to get some coffee, and then head over for the gate. I'm only buying one days worth of ticket - so I don't want to waste any time that it's open standing in that line. I also think it's best to get the Leias picked up early and drop my books off at CGC for submission. Then I can do SW shit all day.

anarky · Post by **anarky** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 2:19 pm

Early might be good, but there's going to be a massive line to get in regardless.

My thoughts on the schedule:

Wednesday:

Nothing on the schedule, but I plan to get my Holo Leias. I had to wait until after the closing on our new place to preorder, and by that time the SOBs weren't accepting preorders anymore. And I have to pick up three extras. I have serious doubts, though, that it'll be any problem getting them as long as I do so early.

I'll snag the Muppets at this point, too. The only good thing about Mattel's total destruction of the MOTU and Batman lines means no stupid exclusive figure lottery bullshit this year.

Thursday:

11:30-12:30: Batman Comic Presentation Thingy
5:30-7:00: Green Lantern Comic Presentation Thingy

Neither of these are musts, but they look interesting. Maybe, maybe not.

1-2: Spawn Animated Presentation Thingy

WTF? Is this a new show? Or stuff from the old one? If it's new, then why the hell wouldn't they just continue the original series where it died out? If it's old, why bother?

Friday:

God, this will be the busy day. There's no possible way to not skip something that looks bitching.

It's a really, really painful decision, but I think the SW stuff narrowly beats out the V for Vendetta/Harry Potter/Corpse Bride/Fountain Presentation Thingy. V for Vendetta, well, Ms Portman will probably not be signing autographs and giving wet kisses, so there's no special appeal there. Harry Potter will be out in a few months, and it's not like I don't know the full story already. The Fountain sounds promising, but this is the first I've heard of it, so no real loss. Only The Corpse Bride sounds really worthwhile, but I doubt it's worth sitting through a full two hour preview dealio.

11:30-12:30: Star Wars Books Presentation Thingy

Sounds interesting. I could actually live without the presentation itself, but the likely Q&A and specific mention of books as prizes wins me over.

I intend to ask, assuming the chance presents itself:
1) Any chance of bringing back the out-of-print young readers' series, even if only as ebooks available exclusively to Hyperspace members?
2) When the hell are Luke and Leia going to find out who their frigging mother was already?

12:30-1:30: Star Wars Trivia Game

Though I could probably kick a decent amount of ass in this, it seems terminally geeky. This will be entirely dependent upon whether there are actual prizes and, if so, what they are.

1:30-2:30: Star Wars Comics Presentation Thingy

This is a probably. I'm curious to see what's on the menu (maybe an adult-oriented series about Aayla and Barriss exploring the forbidden attachment that dare not speak its name). However, it conflicts with a Hasbro GIJoe/Transformers Presentation Thingy that also sounds interesting, as well as the Zathura/Zorro Presentation Thingy. I have no fucking clue what Zathura is, but Zorro kicks all sorts of ass.

I'll need to squeeze some food in after this, so I'll probably have to bring a sammitch or two.

3:30-4:30: Hasbro Star Wars Presentation Thingy

Last year, this was informative and fun. You get to see the people behind the toys, and see that (despite the company's somewhat confusing marketing strategies) the sculptors really love what they do. That doesn't mean I intend to not raise hell about the Unleashed line, though. And hopefully get a word in about the dire need for a proper Qui-Gon Jinn figure.

I really regretted missing the Warner Bros Animation Presentation Thingy, at least until I noticed it was about The Batman and not Batman. God, I love Batman, but that show blows.

My wife loves The Boondocks (as do I, but not quite as much), and we were both happily surprised to see a presentation thingy on an upcoming animated series. But why the hell would they schedule it opposite the Star Wars Spectacular Presentation Thingy?

4:45-6:15: Lucasfilm Presents [the aforementioned] Star Wars Spectacular Presentation Thingy

I have no idea why Hasbro scheduled their presentation to end just 15 minutes before this, and across the convention center. But somehow I plan to break all laws of time and space and see both.

I'll bet that we see a deleted ROTS scene from the upcoming DVD, the announcement of the Clone Wars II DVD (hopefully for release prior to ROTS), and a very quick glimpse of one or both of the upcoming TV shows.

And I plan to ask about a Howard the Duck DVD if I can. I'm not joking. Not the best movie in the world, but if I could buy the entire fucking series of Punky Brewster, this should be available.

Evening: Master Replicas Shindig Thingy

I know JJ's going to be there. Anyone else?

Saturday:

Morning: Star Wars Breakfast Buffet Thingy

I thought it was a ripoff. My wife said she loved freebies, even when they cost $60 a person. Star Wars or not, freebies or not, I'm not too terribly happy about blowing more than I planned to spend on exclusive figures on one stupid meal. But I plan to enjoy myself anyway.

10:30-11:30: Superman Returns Presentation Thingy

This should be good. No question there. Even if Supes does look like he's wearing panties.

1:30-2:30: Family Guy Feature Length DVD Presentation Thingy

Giggity-giggity-giggity!! This ought to fucking rule.

Sunday:

12:30-1:30: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Presentation Thingy

Miss this? Yeah, right. This movie is going to kick more ass than any other movie this year. Except maybe for Batman Begins. And Harry Potter. And Walk the Line.

kidhuman · Post by **kidhuman** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 5:04 pm

While your at bitching about a good QGJ figure, throw Randy a kick in the balls for me if he is there. Bastard that he is.

jjreason · Post by **jjreason** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:46 am

Yeah, Chux, that's a lot going on. I'm kind of hoping my Friday looks a little like this:

0600 - get there, get parking, find coffee, line up for entry.

0800 - get in, get Holo Leias, submit comics to cgc.

1300 (by the time I'm done in the lines, I'm speculating - fuck will I be ornery at this point) peck a little.

Then spend some time looking for "dollar bin" comics - man did I find some beauties in these the last con I went to (okay, that was over 10 years ago, but I know they'll be there) including Batman: Year One and a handful of Simonson Thors.

1530: Hasbro's thing. Important to see, even if it's only because Chux is going to be elbowing 11 year olds out of the way to get heard.

Evening: soiree.

Should we just meet up inside at a certain time to try and get together? You guys will just be waltzing in while I'm waiting behind 3000 (other) fat white guys for a ticket.

Is the party thing a dress up deal? I'm not going to be wanting to wear a tie in that fucking heat, I'll tell you that.

anarky · Post by **anarky** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 11:01 am

Waltzing in? Sadly, it doesn't work that way. Everyone waits in the same line to get in.

Make sure to grab the free shit. It's right after the ticket window, but it could feasibly be missed. Last year we got two free Highlander suitcases. Not huge Highlander fans, but it was a cool movie and, hey, free suitcases!

In fact, if you're only there for a day, I'd say skip the $1 bins and grab as much free stuff as you can. Just about every booth has something cool. Like Hasbro had tons of posters and stuff, and Dark Horse had this sweet Aayla Secura poster last year. The Wizard/Toyfare booth gives away exclusive figures that otherwise cost too damned much.

And you DO NOT want to miss the Star Wars Spectacular!

As for dress code at the soiree, I've not heard anything. Steve just basically said, "You're invited, and it's at this time and place." He's a man of few words. I'm going to ask, but unless I hear otherwise, I'm assuming business casual. Short-sleeved collared shirt should be fine.

jjreason · Post by **jjreason** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 12:00 pm

Okay, but I don't know even know WHERE we're supposed to go. I'll hopefully be tagging along with you at that point.

I also realize now that it doesn't open until 10:00am on Friday, which will allow me to sleep in at least until 5am - every hour counts.

I'm still going to try and go stupid-early just so I can get a spot near the Center - with the 4 Leias and all the stuff you have for me Chux, it will just be way to much to lug around.

As far as free posters and stuff go - I'm not that worried about it. Free figures would be wicked though......

My big things are getting the business part done. I've been trying to get my submissions forms done for the cgc grading ahead of time, to speed things up, but I'm worried that's going to be a fucking gong show. I'm really bummed that Stan Lee isn't going to be there.

So I'll be in the lineup between 7 and 8. If you're planning on coming earlier than 10 - you say even ticket holders have to wait in the line - I'll be there. Look for Jack Black wearing an old brown and gold Padres hat, that'll be me.

With any luck we'll be in touch once I'm in California so that we can better co-ordinate our day. Oh, and Mr. Foolery, don't hesitate to chime in, I know that I'd really love to meet you and hang out for a bit (and I'm sure Chux would too).

Troopersmo · Post by **Troopersmo** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 5:55 am

*insert jealousy here*

sounds like you guys are gonna have a rockin fucking time.

jjreason · Post by **jjreason** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 3:22 pm

Yeah, I've been waiting to see this thing for a LONG time. I'll make sure to throw in a pic of Chux, myself, Anarky, Green Hulk, Becker, Grimlock and Snigtad with the fig - there's gonna be a huge gathering!!!!!!

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Sun Jul 10, 2005 4:21 pm

Two days! Goddman, my palms are sweaty with excitement! And with all the fur on them, it ain't a pleasant mixture. I just remembered another hilight of comic con....chick comic fans. These silly bitches what like to prance around in homemade costumes revealing all manner of flesh. I saw a Slave Leia last year and WHOO BOY.

Plus, all your geeky comeons that fail dismally with normal chicks actually work here. Let the nerd orgy commence!

jjreason · Post by **jjreason** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 1:04 am

My God, I thought Franklin Richards was a frightening form of offspring - imagine some EP/female comic geek's spawn.......

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:38 pm

I left my phone # in that MTSHQ section so's the loonies don't get it. Give me a call while you're in line. I'll be prancing straight up to will call for my badge on account I'm in the "Industry" (See what a forged cancelled check from Warner Bros will snag ya?)

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:43 am

Well, that was fun! I looked for you guys but I didn't see ya. ( or if I did, I didn't recognize. My bad.)

Wednesday, I got in and bussed/walked over to the apartment I was staying at ( it was only THREE blocks from the Con SUCKERS). My friend ( it's his sisters apt) showed up around 4:00 and we walked over to get our badges. last year it took us 10 minutes, but this time we had to stand in a line for almost two hours before this guy sent us upstairs to another line that only took ...ten minutes. This was my first clue that those red shirt ELITE douchebags didn't have a clue. By then we only had about 15 minutes to scurry through the exhibit hall before meeting some friends for dinner. It was definitely a "teaser" because we couldn't stop at any booth for more than 10 seconds. Except the Dreamworks booth. A hot little blonde in a tight white tanktop was handing out preview flyers for RedEye and The Island and I chatted with her awhile ( and by chat I mean stared at her tits while she was talking to me. Hotdamn, she was athletic!) We went to TGIFridays in the Gaslamp for dinner.

Thursday we got up and meandered down with my friend , his wife, and their new baby. Once again the Redshirts were trying to send everybody upstairs. We circumvented them by using the stroller/elevator gambit and just walked over and waited for the exhibit hall to open. We saw pretty much everything. i bought some books. Then we went up to the Toybiz show in Room 8. It sucked. I was hoping to hear about upcoming waves of Legends but they only announced that Iron Fist was going to be in the Apocalypse wave. Which I had already seen downstairs in their booth. Suck. So we left and got Subway downtown and my friend's wife took the baby back to the apartment and we just shopped for the rest of the day. We tried to go to RedEye that night but the line was too long.

Friday we got up and headed directly to Hall H for the Warner Bros presentation. My friend works at WB and he flashed his credentials and Bob Wayne, VP of sales for DC, let us slip by the LONG line that had formed to see Natalie Portman. Bob's a helluva guy y'all! V for Vendetta looks pretty sweet. Joel Silver got a deer in headlights look when people kept asking him about the Alan Moore rift. Then some douchbag got up to the mike and went on about "chronic pain" and Judaism to Ms. Portman. Awkward. I swear the same guy annoyed Jessica Alba last year at the Sin City presentation. Corpse Bride ain't really my bag, but the song sequence was fairly entertaining. As was the confusing Fountain clip. Arrenofsky's whack, yo. Then we hit the mall a few blocks away for lunch. Food court..mmmmm. Then went back and shopped more before going to BuchaDiBeppo's for dinner. Delicious Family Style Italian dining. Highly recommended. The line for the Islan was even longer than RedEye so we skipped and went to bed early on account of...

Saturday we got up super early to go get inline for Superman Returns. Madhouse! But worth it for that fucking ball spanking preview trailer!!! OHMIGOD! It made me want to go out on the exhibitors floor and kick Rob Leifeld square in the noots. ( Well, I was meaning to do that every time I walked by his booth anyway). And Bryan Singer was awesome. We had really good seats unlike most of the time we've been in Hall H. So we left for lunch ( where I had time to duck in and buy Harry Potter for the plane trip home), skittered around the main floor for a couple hours (I tried in vain to get Jesse Falcon and the other guy to open up about Legends at their booth). Then we headed back to Hall H to catch the Serenity panel ( awesome!, I hope that footage finds its way onto the DVD somehow. Very entertaining.) and then stuck around to see the Sony presentation of Ghost Rider and other stuff. Jessica Biel, Josh Lucas, and Jaime Foxx showed up to promote Stealth, so that was a nice little bonus. And then King Kong afterwards, which was awesome. The TRex fight scene, even in rough animatic form blew me away. And then Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, and Jack Black came out, which was very cool, except all the questions were for Jack Black and his Tenacious D album/movie ( as if there wasnt a D panel in hlaf an hour anyway). Then we hit Blue Ginger for some fine chinese dining.

Sunday. My friend left early in the morning and I hit the comic dealers in earnest looking to fill gaps and find bargains from people not wanting to lug all those comics back home with them. I reached my spending limit around 12:30 but I snagged well over a 100 books on the trip. I was a little worried about the weight limit for my bags on the trip home. I checked into my hotel that afternoon and crashed until 2 in the morning.

Monday. San Diego Zoo. My first time. Wish it hadn't been solo, but I had a WHOLE DAY to kill before my 10:50 flight.

All in all, a wonderful experience. I can't wait until next year.

Eternal Padawan · Post by **Eternal Padawan** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:54 am

What toys did I buy?

Hasbro Exclusive Holo Leia.
OMGCNFO.com exclusive Muppet Penguins
OMGCNFO.com exclusive Uncle Deadly
Art Asylum Miles O'Brien ( mostly to be used as a "Redshirt" with my classic Trek figures)
MOTU Zodac and Fisto for CHEAP!! to finish out my collection.
Blonde Black Widow
Unleashed Darth Vader

I also got a green lantern t-shirt and posters for Fantastic Four and X-Men III to go in my MARVEL movie poster room.

jjreason · Post by **jjreason** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 12:15 am

Damn, man, I was commenting to Chux on the Friday evening that I felt like the bitch in "Bourne Supremacy", where Bourne (well EP in this case) was like staking us out but keeping himself on the down low. We were having a pretty good laugh about what stories you might have for us regarding the two skinny/hot Hulk Video Game gals.......

Oh, and we both had thoughts of Kicking Liefeld's Nuts - nice to know that retards still seldom differ.

anarky · Post by **anarky** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 5:21 pm

I've been busy doing the movin' thang, but I'll post more in-depth thoughts here later.

I bought the Muppet Penguins, the King Randor statue, Holo Leia, the Bone one-volume edition (yeah, I could still get it a lot cheaper in Waldenbooks, but it was from a charitable organization), and all the "freebies" I paid for in BLOOD!