Comic Con Catchuppery
Posted on July 18, 2012 Posted by John Scalzi 25 Comments
I haven’t done a full Comic Con report yet, partly because I had other things to do and partly because, damn, there was a lot of Comic Con and it’s hard to take it all in. Suffice to say that I had a fantastic time, Comic Con is overwhelming, and that I want to live in San Diego, possibly sooner than later.
That said, I do have people to thank, and here they are.
First, the folks at Comic Con itself, for inviting me as a guest this year. Given the general insanity of Comic Con, I had resolved not to go until I was invited (and thus, could avoid the madness of trying to find a hotel room anywhere nearby), so I didn’t know what I was missing until now. Now I know. It also helped that this particular Comic Con seemed very well-timed for me, both for showing off Redshirts and for announcing The Human Division. I could say more on that score but I will leave that all mysterious for now.
Second, Patrick Rothfuss, who not only was my willing partner in crime at w00tstock, but also stepped in at the last minute to moderate my spotlight panel when Wil Wheaton realized he unfortunately had a prior commitment. He did a fantastic job at both and thus ascends higher on my List of People Who Can Ask For a Kidney.
Third, Paul and Storm, who in addition to inviting me to perform at w00tstock with Pat (a decision made, presumably, with Wil and Adam Savage as well), also did me a solid by being the opening band at my signing at the Tor Books booth last Friday. They rocked the crowd with their latest hit and generally got people in a good mood. They do not ascend my Kidney List, however, because there are two of them, and I need at least one kidney. It’s a technicality, but an important one.
Fourth, my very good friend Deven Desai, who patiently shuttled me from place to place while I was in San Diego and then also took me to get Indian food, because, hey, Indian food.
Finally, my family, who was very patient with me while I did work-related stuff in the middle of their vacation. Fortunately, they did have all of San Diego to play with.
I also saw tons and tons of people, and rather than try to list them all I will note some of the cool folks I met for the first time and spent more than five minutes of quality time with: Grant Imahara, Amy Berg, the Doubleclicks, John Roderick, Rob Reid and Morgan Webb, Colin Ferguson, Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins (who I have known for more than a decade but had never actually, you know, been in the same room with), Bill Amend, Marian Call, Bonnie Burton, Veronica Belmont and Tom Merritt and a bunch of folks who write and/or produce the shows Eureka and Big Bang Theory. There’s also everyone on the “Humor in Science Fiction and Fantasy” panel, who made me look good as a moderator by being smart, funny and engaged. I’d met Richard Kadrey and Rob Reid by the time I was on the panel, but everyone else was new to me, and it was nice to meet them all.
There are other people I know I met for the first time and I am forgetting them (many of them who I met at w00tstock), but that’s one of the annoying things about making lists like this: You forget things. I hope they will forgive me and know I found them lovely company regardless.
And thus: Comic Con 2012.
Wow. I would totally have a nerdgasm.
You know a MythBuster! Gawd, I’m so totally jealous! Is there any limit to your awesomeness?
Wait! Adam Savage and Grant Imahara, but NOT Kari Byron? NOT Jamie Hyneman? NOT Tory Belleci? Wait! NOT Kari Byron??????
@ Mark Terry, Maybe Tolerant Wife isn’t quite that tolerant.
My tolerant wife, knowing my thing for redheads (my wife’s a redhead too), probably wouldn’t let me be in the same room as Kari. :)
My wife would not care a whit. Ms. Byron was just not about.
Yay Marian Call! She lives in the land of awesome.
Scalzi,
Do you think Comicon is still fun for the average, non-VIP fan? It just likes all the line waiting and the extreme crowds might not be worth it. I know you don’t have to go through all that, but since you were there, what do you think?
Also, do you remember plugging a giant, epic asian themed novel on here a while ago that had been OOP but was specially resurrected by Subterranean as a limited edition and was super expensive? I can’t remember what it was, but it looked awesome, and now I want to find it.Can you help me?
If you come back to San Diego and like Indian food, the best I have found is actually in a food court. I know that this does not make any sense, but I swear to you that it is true. http://www.sitarsandiego.com/index.htm
Thanks for coming and having a wootstock. I had a ridiculously fun night that night.
Monty @11:26am — Is it possible you’re thinking of Barry Hughart’s Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox? Subterranean is sold out of the trade and limited editions, but you can still purchase the omnibus ebook: http://subterraneanpress.com/store/product_detail/the_chronicles_of_master_li_and_number_ten_ox_preorder_ebook
Would you like me to re-post my mixed bag review of San Diego Comic-Con?
Bruce, that is it!!!! Thank you a million times!
Loved the Spotlight panel with Pat. It was nice to finally see you in person. Wish I’d had a camera ready to capture your face when you stepped out and saw us destroying ‘Don’t Stop Believing’. Glad you weren’t there earlier when we discussed taping bacon to the poor girl on stage, who was doing a great job trying to fill the time between the two panels.
Speaking of which, if you read this, Great Girl On Stage whose name I forgot: Bloody well done! I have so much respect for you.
@ahuntr- that is my favorite Indian food place, too! And only a few minutes from my office. Yummm. Good thing I’ve already eaten lunch today.
John, if it is ever just not wanting to deal with finding a hotel room that prevents you from coming to Comic-Con… dude, there are probably lots of us who could point you to good places to stay in San Diego that are off the beaten path.
Of course, I live here and have never been. So there goes my geek cred.I do, however, graciously plan my project timelines around the fact that one of my lead developers goes every year.
It was very nice to see you again, John. And I am now stashing a Scalzi book in every piece of my luggage so I’m never again in the embarrassing position of not having something for you to sign because I already own it all but left it at home.
I asked because I have AN answer to Monty saying: “Do you think Comicon is still fun for the average, non-VIP fan? It just likes all the line waiting and the extreme crowds might not be worth it.” Not THE answer mind you…
I would read what you got to say, Jonathan. I really really love comic conventions and panel discussions and all that business, but I really fucking hate paying huge sums of money to wait in line for six hours, and I feel like I’d be pretty disappointed if that’s how it worked out.
For what it’s worth, you don’t have to wait in line for anywhere near six hours as long as you avoid the two biggest rooms (hall H and hall 20). Although even for the other rooms you might want to line up for the session before the one you’re most interested in, just to be safe. Perhaps two sessions before if you’re trying to get into Mythbusters.
JvP: Link to your previous comment rather than reposting, if you like.
With “friends” like these……
We’d love to have you move to San Diego. =)
@monty-come to worldcon! John has a link to it right over there—-> Although I will say that John packed the room for his tour of the creation museum last year, in practice you can attend any panel you care to without crowd hassles. I’m looking forward to him being toastmaster to Chicon this year.
John will you be at the NY comicon this fall for all us eastcoasters?
Sadly, no.
My short Comic-Con Class Warfare comment was #5 at
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2012/07/16/monday-is-for-travel/
I was being a zombie at Petco Park across the street during ComicCon, sadly I missed you and all the associated fun. But here’s hoping you really do consider moving here!