San Diego Comic Con | ChinaShop

Event Not So Free Hugs

July 25, 2009 - 10:01 pm

Started in 2004 and popularized by nerds at conventions across the globe, “Free Hugs” have been the latest random act of kindness to sweep the world. Whether it be t-shirts or signs, people advertise the enticing offer of “Free Hugs” and, surprisingly, the masses accept …with open arms.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of people at Comic Con, it’s hard to go a couple of feet without being privy to this phenomenon. Even booths are getting into the action, selling “Free Hug” t-shirts.

Today, I wrangled a “Hugger” just to see the motivation behind the movement; the drive and the reason to offer physical contact to perfect strangers. I found it was a little bit of comedy and a little bit of love.

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Event Walk of the Undead

by Chris Gore

July 25, 2009 - 10:01 pm

Young, old, tall, small, fat, fit and some were pregnant, but what they all had in common was a love of zombies. A love so deep for films and fiction featuring the undead, they had no fear getting slathered in blood and make up. Nearly 500 Comic Con attendees gathered in the heart of San Diego for Zombie Walk 2009. The 8 block hike through the downtown gaslamp district near the convention center was put together as a way to promote the Woody Harrelson zomedy Zombieland coming to theaters in the fall. But this fact may have been lost during the walk, or stumble, through downtown.

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Comic Books Me Wantee! 10 Objects of Desire from Comic Con

by Chris Gore

July 24, 2009 - 9:23 am

Many attend the San Diego Comic Con with an empty piece of luggage in tow. These are the seasoned Comic-Coneers who have learned from their long years of attendance that they’ll be leaving with more than they came with. There’s nothing like that thrill in finding that one rare item to take back home. Okay, maybe it’s like how Indiana Jones might feel when he acquires an ancient idol. So, in a way, all Comic Con shoppers are like Indy — searching for that prized item that they don’t need, but must have.

Preview night at Comic Con takes place Wednesday, when booths are still setting up, and certain exclusive items are first made available for purchase. There are two schools of thought on getting the best deal. One is to buy it early, to be sure you actually get what you want. The second is to scout out the item you want and wait until Sunday to get a deal. Sunday is when Comic Con ends and dealers are more likely to drop the price so they don’t have to lug it back. Choosing a wise shopping strategy is the secret to getting your hands on one of these…

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Event Twilight’s First Girls in Line

by Chris Gore

July 24, 2009 - 9:23 am

As of 9:45 PM there were only a few of them in line, but they’d already been waiting since 1:30 pm. They were queing up and camping out for Comic Con’s biggest event… the Twilight: New Moon panel that would feature bloodthirsty thespian Rob Pattinson.

Oddly, fandom for sexy teen vampire movies attracts girls who enjoy being out all night… in the dark. By morning, the line circled the entire San Diego Convention Center, but only those die-hards willing to spend long hours will get in… and those first in line will get the best seats right up front.

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Comic Books Event Comic Con Survival Guide

by Bob Suicide

July 23, 2009 - 1:59 pm

Comic Con Souvenir Book by Robjtak via Flickr

On the surface is would be easy to say: pack as though you’re preparing for the zombie apocalypse (but with more deodorant). With hoards of fans all screeching and clawing to vie for that special issue or exclusive toy, the outbreak is SURE to start In San Diego.

However, there are a few minor differences between the biggest comic convention in the US and the impending undead apocalypse.

: Comic Con booth babes by W10002 via Flickr

PACK MORE DEODORANT!

I can’t stress this seemingly inconsequential item. Whatever amount you consider sufficient for a mere mortal, double it….triple it if you’ve got “heat powers.” I’ve seen the best of men fall victim to the monster that is under-arm funk. Think of it as your “Boomstick,” a double-barrel of armpit freshness that will aid you in your quest to get up-close and personal with the hottest of booth babes.

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interview Drew Pearce: No Heroics

by Bob Suicide

July 23, 2009 - 10:48 am

We have average, mediocre days in which we aspire to something greater. We sit in movie theaters imagining ourselves as the super heroes, with destinies, super powers, and epic sex lives.

But, how can we be sure that telepathy or the ability to fly would improve our lives? More likely, we would be ordinary people who could use heat powers to warm up our dinners without using a microwave.

Drew Pearce has created the amazingly hilarious world of “No Heroics” to examine this exact thought. For those who are unfamiliar with the story; it’s very simple, but very funny. Inspired by his time as a musician, Drew crafted the narrative of four friends who happen to be super heroes: The Hotness, Electroclash, Time bomb, and She Force who all commiserate at the local heroes-only pub—The Fortress—about their struggle to rise above mediocrity…all with hilarious consequences.

Amidst the mass of caped convention attendees, I was lucky to sit down with the hero himself, “No Heroics” creator Drew Pearce and talk about the UK version of the show, the unaired US pilot, and the super-power he’d most like to have.

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Event Why San Diego Comic Con Matters…to Me

by Chris Gore

July 22, 2009 - 12:14 pm

It’s been called everything from Nerdi Gras to Geekapalooza to the Nerd Prom. The San Diego Comic Con is “the” event to attend for uber-fans seeking out tastes of the next big things in TV, movies, comics, collectibles and all things geek culture. It’s where fans connect with other fans and meet the creators behind their favorite fictional stories and characters. Simply, Comic Con is the place to get an early look at… everything cool.

The result for those fans lucky enough to attend… multiple nerdgasms.

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