Comments on: Highs and Lows of Comic-Con 2010 http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2010/07/29/highs-and-lows-of-comic-con-2010/ Responses to Media and Culture Fri, 12 Feb 2016 19:35:04 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.5 By: Alisa Perren http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2010/07/29/highs-and-lows-of-comic-con-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-23582 Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:45:05 +0000 http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/?p=5329#comment-23582 It’s funny that one can have so many different experiences of the *content* of Comic-Con, but the experiences of the madness of the event itself remain fairly similar. Nearly a week out from the event, I have mixed feelings about it — I found it exhausting, frustrating, etc. but also fascinating and thrilling at times.

I like your rule about avoiding the big rooms. I felt I needed to check them out at least once, but I will definitely spend more time in the smaller rooms the next time I go. The substance of the panels was (in general) inversely proportional to the size of the room. Sadly, I didn’t get nearly enough time on the exhibit floor this year–I was too busy squatting for panels! Maybe next year, if I’ve recovered by then…

]]> By: Derek Kompare http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/2010/07/29/highs-and-lows-of-comic-con-2010/comment-page-1/#comment-23460 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:51:52 +0000 http://blog.commarts.wisc.edu/?p=5329#comment-23460 Your experience was very much like mine in 2008 and 2009: see a few interesting panels, but spend a lot of time waiting (in line or in rooms)! I agree that the “room squatting” has gotten out of control, and is producing more and more contentious moments (e.g., the clash between Fables and Venture Brothers fans in 2009). They need to do something about it, because it is certainly cutting into the enjoyment of the event. I particularly don’t like when a less-popular but still important panel is completely swamped by people waiting for hours for their more-popular panel. Each year, I’ve been shut out from panels I wanted to see, even after getting in line an hour or two beforehand, because the seats have already been filled by people willing to wait six hours or more for a panel. My new rule is to avoid Ballroom 20 and Hall H in general, unless it’s something I really really really want to see! Besides, the most high profile events are also the most heavily reported, promoted, and blogged: everything that went on is certain to be online within minutes or hours anyway.

That said, as a condensed spectacle of media marketing and unabashed fandom, Comic-Con is still a unique experience, and pretty much a must-do event (at least once) for those of us interested in either the industry or fandom. I get much more out of wandering the SDCC and the main exhibit floor than sitting in panels. It’s always an exhausting but exciting weekend, and I can’t wait to return in 2011!

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