Comic Con 2008

 

Okay, I know I am incredibly back-blogged but I AM finally getting out my Comic Con blog. It did take me a couple days to recap from working the sun and humidity of it - this year, I was outdoors, unlike other years when I worked inside at the booths. That said, I had great friends and company working the circus-like atmosphere that was continuous on the outside of the SD Convention Center throughout the 4-day weekend.

 

I worked all day long for 2 different companies and jobs - G4TV and for Midway and their highly-anticipated video game of Mortal Kombat vc. DC Universe - essentially they are combining a fight-game with Sub-Zero, Mortal Kombat character against Batman and other DC Universe Comic book characters. (Evidently, it is an insane idea to bring the 2 together and people were crazily commenting that, "Batman can be killed???!!!NOOOOOO!!" And just to plug it a little bit more since they paid me so handsomely: the game comes out November 17 and will be for the PlayStation3 and XBox360 game consuls, thank you very much.

 

I am not a comic book reader although I respect it tremendously for it's artistic drawings, and cliff-hanging story lines that bring readers back for more year after year, decade after decade, even. That said, the Comic Con has evolved so much more than just comics. It is a Hollywood event now (shoot - even Paris Hilton attended - ugh!) with casts, producers, writers and directors of movies and TV shows attending and giving sneak peaks and Q&A's to the fans. Thank God, I don't lose it around celebs and working actors hehehe - - but I sure wouldn't have minded meeting Lee Pace from the fabulous and quirky TV show, "Pushing Daisies"...

 

Of course the best thing about Comic Con (for me, anyway) is people-watching and seeing all the costumes. At this point, folks in their 40s who grew up like my family worshipping Star Wars, Transformers, Star Trek and Battlestar Gallatica are now parents themselves and are introducing all the fabulous OG (original) SciFi characters to their kids. To see 2 generations all dressed up was awesome - although I know the parents enjoy it even more than their over-stimulated, tired children.

Yup storm troopers, Bobo Fett the Bounty Hunter from Star Wars, and "V" (from the movie of the same name) masks were probably the most repeated costume I saw. Then you have the cute, petite Asian girls in their sexy schoolgirl animae costumes. It is simply so much fun to see that for one 4-day weekend, geeks and nerds, especially can just enjoy it and dress up and discuss and schmooze to their hearts' delight!

And, yes, of course - my Trekkie nerd, 42-old-brother Gabe attended, once again, and for the 2nd year in a row breaking in our nephews to the glories of sci fi imagination and creativity :) Bravo!
Click on pic below for slideshow!

Comic Con 2008

Comic Con Royalty

My blog-mentioned friend Richelle is super-tanned and back in town after spending more than a month abroad (including 2 weeks in Northern Italia visiting my ex, Miky, in hisblog-mentioned village). I wanted to hear about her trip and catch up so I invited her last night to go out downtown with me and my New York actor friend, Jimmy, - in town for the International Comic-Con Convention. Jimmy and his good friend, John, had already arrived a day prior and I took them , as tradition deems, to In N Out Burger since the 2 demand it off the plane every year! It was a very fun night - Jimmy is generous and hilarious (as long as we see each other only once a year so we don't start bickering like we did when I was stuck with his bitter ass on tour for months across country). heheheh. Richelle was a perfect companion - as she is just as crazy, open and sarcastic as the New Yorkers with us. It turns out we had major comic industry royalty treating us to dinner and drinks. Above-mentioned John Cassaday (whom I met the first time last year when he and Jimmy came out) I already knew is a very successful and hot-topic artist and director - drawing for Astonishing X-Men, Batman, Ghost, Excalibur to name a few. He also is about 6'1, very intelligent, humble and a good-looking, sarcastic son of a bitch. Evidently both men AND women in the industry want to sleep with him.

We also had the editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics: Joe Quesada - shout out to my Hispanic gente kicking ass and being in command - and 2 other artists: (Little) John and Nick - didn't get their last names. And as they humbly pointed out they are not half as famous as John C and Joe Q. The funny thing was that Richelle and I don't know anything about their Business and that, as Jimmy pointed out, and Joe echoed, "Was better that way.." They evidently will be swamped the next few days at the Con with fans and signing autographs for hours and were very content just having a good time out on the town not talking about business or dealing with crazed-fans. I can honestly say that it was a very enjoyable evening in the company of very talented artists - which goes to show that looks mean nothing if one is intelligent, passionate, humble, yet confident in his gifts. I am almost sorry I am leaving town and won't be able to see them the rest of their stay! Until next year! Good times :)

Comic-Con International Convention

Every summer San Diego hosts the enormous int'l convention of Comic-Con. I have had the pleasure of being hired to model at it a few times and it's just full of zaniness. A true geek paradise, it's not only limited to the comic book industry, but also science fiction, books, movies, video games and animation as well. It has become so enormous that Hollywood celebrities actually attend to promote their upcoming movies and even screen their movies that won't be released for another year! People get into the spirit by dressing up. Thousands of dollars are spent on paraphernalia. Young and old convene. It's a real hoot! Needless to say my sci-fi uber Trekkie and Star Wars 41 year old brother will be attending again (at least he now has nephews to take with him). Also, Jimmy - my actor friend from New York City, will be coming out for his 2nd year at the Comic-Con. It will be a great time for all of them walking around, posing for pictures with half-naked alien space babes, attending forums, standing in lines for autographs, buying things and eating junk food. Whew! I'm almost sorry that I am going to miss it this year! :) hehehe Enjoy the pictures from previous Comic-cons!!