Hey look at this, it’s my annual Comic-Con recap! I feel like I can call it my Annual Recap cause it’s like the third one I’ve done! Crazy!

If you want, here’s 2011 and 2009. 2010 I was working the whole time so I didn’t recap. But it was still awesome! I promise.

Convention Center

I know a lot of what makes the news is all of the Hollywood stuff, which panel filled Hall H, what movie got the best response, which TV stars were floating around. I sort of try to avoid all that. I’ve never waited in line for Hall H or Ballroom 20 and yes, I know I missed the Firefly reunion. But come on. There’s so much to see and do! And so many people to meet! Is waiting in line for six hours to sit in a room and watch things that are going to be on the internet by that evening really the best use of time? I can’t wrap my head around it. (Although that Firefly reunion probably would have been pretty rad to see).

Anyway, all of that aside, I had a really great time this year. I met people, I hung out with friends, I found lots of new comics. Some people were shocked that I was actually there for the comics. Go figure.

I think I set a record this year by actually going to two panels. Two! That’s so many! I actually do like panels, they can be really interesting and it’s fun to hear people talk about the creative things they make. This year I made it to the Valiant panel, mostly to see my friend Josh talk about Harbinger. Which is great by the way, you should really check it out. Second panel I went to was the Monkeybrain panel. And can I just say that I am really excited about what Monkeybrain is doing? The wonderful Adam P. Knave (who kindly wrote a guest post for my Halloween insanity last October) is co-writing the comic Amelia Cole with D.J. Kirbride for them. First issue is out and I absolutely loved it. Also, it’s digital so you can go buy it now! And you should!

My one terrible picture of the Valiant panel.

But yeah, Monkeybrain was talking a lot about exploring this digital model for distribution and really giving the creative control back to the creators. I think that’s awesome.

What else did I do? My usual, wandered around, drank beer, talked to people.

I made it over to Tr!ckster this year which was pretty neat. I’m sad I missed last year’s space, I heard really good things about it and as much as I enjoyed hanging out there this year, it did feel a little overwhelming at times. That bar got packed Friday night.

This was also the first year I got to be there on Thursday and Friday. I liked that! Those days were definitely a lot more chill than the weekend. Saturday just felt insane and even Sunday felt really, really crowded this year.

I didn’t have any Nathan Fillion run-ins this year but that’s okay. For whatever reason, this year I felt even more focused on comics than previous years. I think I was sort of reacting to the overwhelming presence of Hollywood nonsense that I avoided it even more than I usually do. I mean, I live and work in LA. I don’t want to hang out with that at Comic-Con. I spend my days reading about movie news, I like a vacation from it every once in a while.

I don’t know, for some reason the idea of all of that Hollywood stuff made me really cranky this year. I’m not sure why.

And yeah, I also did not cosplay. Sorry guys. No costumes happening here.

So Highlights:
-CBLDF Party on Thursday night. Outside rooftop terrace, nice view, free snacks, very cool people. Talked about lots of comics. Met people from Denmark. Only talked a little politics. Got teased for being horrible at networking. But then made new friends which I personally think means I’m not as terrible at networking as all that.
-Tr!ckster on Friday. Even if it was crowded, they had some really neat stuff happening. And then there was running into more friends! And meeting more people! Friday was also the two panels for Valiant and Monkeybrain. Lots of comic stuff happened on Friday.
-Tournament of Nerds on Saturday! Which is a thing that happens regularly at UCB in LA and is ridiculously silly and nerdy and hilarious. These guys put on a good show, check it out.
-Also on Saturday was seeing a ton of people, meeting up with more friends, buying a couple of things. I let my mom borrow my badge in the afternoon and I think she enjoyed getting to experience the convention center. I want to steal some of the books she bought. After I finish reading all of mine…
-Showing my friends around for their first SDCC. That was really super fun. So much madness to share.
-Biggest highlight for me was really wandering the floor and chatting with a bunch of writers and artists who make things I like. That’s super fun guys. Possibly more fun than waiting in line for Hall H. Just sayin…

Gina & Lego Hulk

I think that’s about it. If you wanna see some more pictures from this year and past years, check out my Comic-Con set on Flickr. I never take many pictures cause there’s just way too much happening but yeah, there are a few.

Now I have lots of things to read. This should keep me occupied. For a few minutes. At least.

So many books!

Until next year, Comic-Con. Cause yeah, I’ll most likely be going back.

xoxo