Carry on, Comic con

        The only things that make the holiday season a serious contender for the second most wonderful time of the year are the sometimes brilliant (but mostly disappointing), presents received Christmas day, the temporary excuse to inhale your Thanksgiving Dinner like a proper gentlehobbit, and the times I get to spend with family (the latest being my favorite with the middle reason as a close contender).

Yet the most wonderful time, despite its lack of Frank Sinatra tunes, has to be summer here in Southern California. One glorious week of every year, the beautiful yet sort of sleepy city of San Diego is awakened and welcomes with open arms the geeks of the world for the greatest spectacle known to pop-culture: Comic Con International!

This being said, I feel as though I should explain that I am aware it is still February as I clack away these words on my phone: Yes, I know it's nowhere near July to the normal folks out there.

But as a San Diego native I can say without a doubt nothing quite excites the heart of the teenage nerddom here like Comic Con (lovingly anagrammed to CC in text messages and blogs, for your information). Already we've begun the yearly ritual of dividing the haves from the have-nots, as those whom desperately wish to interact in the festivities gawk and shoot bits of envy towards those regulars whom fight ever unforgiving time for their status.

As a regular Con-goer myself, I can readily tell you Comic Con ages like fine wine (or at the very least for me). Sure, it's crowded and you can't really go two steps without bumping into someone, but the event itself is grand! Isles upon isles of comic books and memorabilia, the movie props just inches away from your fingertips (and in the perfect angle for your camera), the dedicated fans of a series whom cosplay so well you could question it being cosplay at all! It is definitely worth the sores on your feet once the week is over. Nothing has ever made me feel more important in a community before like the words "Ladies and gentleman welcome to San Diego Comic Con." being spoken over the intercom on preview night. The fuzzy feels at that moment are only rivaled by watching the Doctor Who Christmas Special: It doesn't feel like it's the special day is there until you hear it/see it.

Despite the vast wonders of the event, Comic Con does have its drawbacks: the expenses come to mind quickly--bring $200 and you come back -$40!

Not to mention there will always be areas of Comic Con you will never be treated as well in as other areas, or at the very least you won't be as happy with those areas: the Steampunk section (it exists) is filled with only semi-friendly customer service. Or could I be imagining that after a deep depression towards having to be yanked away from a $300 dollar leather Captain America cap during preview night? That would be my greatest advice to con-goers young and old: Certain things will always be over your budget. That and don't go to the fancy restaurants unless you're only getting sliders and a small coke. There's a Subway near the Convention Center--Five dollars well-spent, friends.

Of course, older con-goers are much better with abiding to these rules than the youngins (myself included). Bumping into teachers in general, usually a painfully awkward experience, becomes a cherished memory when they tell you about the CN panel with the voice actors from Adventure Time, Legend of Korra, and the Regular Show are to join forces for a podcast! Yet the oddest and most brilliant part of this all is bumping into seemingly ridged teachers dressed in costume! Every year we find that teacher everyone thinks is a hardass dressed up as a hero and posing for pictures! It's incredible!

                 And oh are these cosplayers brilliant! You'll have everything from Indiana Jones to Johnny the Homicidal Maniac to Superman, Batman, Canadian Batman, lots and lots of Spidermen, sexy storm troopers, sexy villains, the Avengers, the Justice League, one accurate ass Tony Stark that isn’t Robert Downey Jr! Ichigo Kurosakis, The ever-present Deadpool army! Doctor who and Torchwood, Merlin, Sherlock (both BBC and movie version), cute old couples in electric wheelchairs with matching though bubbles (aww!!), even. . . .A dress made of yugioh cards!

Yes indeed, some people even cosplay without buying tickets! They stand outside all day and get their photogenic selves all over the internet!

Which I feel brings us full-circle: some of these guys do get into the convention, because people that initially bought one-day tickets and ran out of money half way through, so now they can no longer stay without feeling deep pain. What else are you to do but sell your tickets and buy your lunch
(truth be told, one really doesn't simply just get tickets to CC)?

If you do manage to get your tickets online, I'd say to check out who's going to Comic Con well in advanced and to plan out what your battle strategies are as well. In fact, start now. Open up a new tab and start googling!

As a rule, you're not getting into Hall H without camping out in line a day before, or waking up at 2 in the morning. For the former, if you want REALLY close seats, invest heavily in friends--claim your land well beforehand! Tradeoff between your friends every 30 minutes or so to hold the fort (hold down the fort? Idk) while still experiencing Comic Con. The latter’s better for the lone goer: Set the alarm. Set a loud ringer. Get up, get dressed and promptly head over. Just don't skip breakfast. Campers: take snacks! And water! Preferably have more than just two in your buddy system for bathroom breaks! XD

On this note, don't expect to get into two popular panels on the same day: Iron Man 3 or Sherlock. Pick your poison.

Any sane person might point out this is a lot of work, but we have a better Doctor Who panel than Who-Con does. We get all the movies. We yet all the freebies. We get all the celebrities. It's always worth it.

And oh do I mean freebies!  The one to your right comes with the tickets! And it's not the only one they have: last year's comic con saw Fringe, Arrow, Supernatural, and other epic bags. You're able to trade for another the day you get the bag, by the way, if you're lucky to get a nice volunteer handing them out. Even the CC booklet is beautiful! You can guarantee it'll have only the best and most buzzed topics of the year inside. 

Not to mention popular booths will give you free (and at times autographed) posters, buttons, bags themselves, and other goodies. I got a free Talon mask from the DC booth last year!

And this is just the stuff that's supposed to be free! Be kind to those manning the booths, and if you're lucky enough to be there at the right time, you can get "damaged goods" from the booth free! Little known secret: if the merchandise is even slightly damaged (the white of an earring is tinged yellow), they're not allowed to sell it. What else to do but give it away free?

This, I think, brings us to note three: there are comic con exclusives you will have to pay for. CC has this magical ability to attract people from everywhere, and for booths to be competitive they'll have to sell you something special--though it will cost you a few extra bucks, mind you. If you can find it there and nowhere else, buy it. I have the Comic Con exclusive Batman Skullanimal myself. :3

On a personal note: I've already been preparing for Comic Con myself (hence the blog post): A diet for Zatanna Zatarra Cosplay, a savings plan for spending money, and a carefully planned list of things to see and buy (currently consisting of just panels and some comic issues I want to try and find).

 Also, I'm trying to get into the volunteer section: some are paid, some love the experience regardless, but it's always worth it! You're practically guaranteed admition into a panel, and you're closer to the actors than the average conventionist! I have a friend whom gave Chris Hemsworth his water at the Avengers panel (what I would have done for the same opportunity with Chris Evans)!! And after your volunteer shift is over, you're free to explore San Diego's own Scarborough fair, and eventually explore the city herself.

Once the Mascaraed Ball has ended, late into the night when the freebie wells have dried, and the trampled handouts now litter the floor, despite how damn tired you end up, you're not un-enchanted. You're probably in debt to a friend, but not un-enchanted. In fact, you're simply drunk with love. Most con-goers are friendly, and their conversations lively, so don't be shy around them!

I've only two words for every person who has gone or ever will go: Carry on, Comic Con.

With love,

Nikola Strange.

(The comic con official website is here, by the way)