Comic Con is all about the sneak preview, the exclusive, the rare variant, but the ultimate exclusive is the Special Preview Night. But throughout the con so many stories unfold.

It all starts early Wednesday morning as bleary-eyed early-risers fly or drive into San Diego with pallets full of merch. At this point, non exhibitors are not privy to this private dance of cranes and comic-laden dollies. Loudspeakers bellow orders at us and I can’t help but think that Big Brother should get down here and help me unload the 100+ thirty-five pound boxes into my booth.

But, then the clock strikes six and a select few are let into the convention floor to get a preview of the awesome events to unfold later in the week.

It’s not the same mad-dash that will happen on Thursday morning: The so-called “Running of the Nerds.” This evening has a more casual air to it. People seem content to mill around and talk in the halls. This is what REALLY sets it apart from the other days at the convention. Gone are the mad dash to booths, the crush of people…it’s replaced with a polite interest and quiet milling.

But, I can tell where that politeness stems from. Most of the people wandering the convention floor that evening are fellow booth owners or people with four-day passes. These are the die-hards. The dedicated workers and fans who really know their work. It’s not the rabid teenage fans you read about in the LA Times lining up days before to get the first glimpse of the new Twilight movie. It’s the average, every-day fans and makers of the “nerdy” genre.

This was my first time attending the Preview Night, and I have to say, it was interesting but I was a little disappointed. I loved the smaller crush of people, and the crowd wasn’t raucously clamoring to grab everything in site (we all knew there would be plenty of time for rabid fandom). But, I didn’t see many of the Comic Con exclusives available and several booths offering special deal and limited merch did not have them available. What’s the point of getting in early if I can’t score a free Tribble before everyone else?

All of that aside, time at comic con is at a premium. It’s fleeting and needs to be rationed and planned accordingly. Getting a couple of hours to scout things to see or knock things off my list is an awesome bonus. Being part of a Special Preview makes you feel like a really important person. A VIP…not an RIP.

And of course all “before’s” deserve an “after”. As the San Diego Comic Con 2009 is now a thing of the past lets take a minute to appreciate all the magic and the madness of the con. To all the booth babes, zombies, geeks, nerds, actors, directors, big shots, hot shots and not shots….its time to put the Red Bull down, get that special autograph framed, and sleep like the dead. Until next year time my friends…

Words by Bob Suicide, photos by Dustin Downing