So my Friday kicked off the weekend pretty awesomely. I got to meet and talk with some creators and artists that I like. I left early again to get to the convention center. The first panel I wanted to scope was the Heroes Panel in Hall H. I knew that that was another panel that would be on people’s radar. So I got in line for that. It snaked around the building, way past where it was for Watchmen the day before and kept going down the marina walkway behind one of the hotels there. I ‘camped’ out playing Go Fish with some other people in line. I knew the place seated 6.5K people, but with the way they wrapped and snaked the line, I was thinking that I wouldn’t get in. I texted Trish letting her know I was in line and how long it was. Her and Eric had press badges so they could get in without waiting in line. I was letting them know if they got in and I didn’t, I’d hate them [but find my love for them if I needed a ride somewhere and they were willing to give me one]. Slight aside, I took the metro down from my aunts, so I was at the mercy of the time tables. Essentially, without a definite ride from someone, I pretty much had a curfew of 10 pm to make sure I made the transfer stations before the last departure. How’s that for ironic.
Anyway, when I got there, it was an hour before they officially opened doors. Chatted with people in line, people behind me were talking about the Smallville and Supernatural panels that were the next day. I chimed in saying I was also wondering about when to get there to get in line, even though they were the first ones, it was about strategically getting at the right main entrance and hustling to the room the panel was hosted in. The thinking was that Smallville would be a big draw, but no one knew how many would stay for the SN panel right after it.
The line starts moving, so we snake our way towards the main door. Meanwhile I’m texting Trish intermittently and getting status. I get in and I manage to get a seat that’s a decent view of the projection screens [in HD..so.preety.] and has two available seats beside it. Trish lets me know that the volunteers wouldn’t let them in. Apparently no one seemed to share what certain badges meant, because even some assistants for shows etc had a hard time getting to panels they were to be at for some mic time. Unfortunately for Eric and Trish, the publicist was busy trying to get the Heroes panelists on stage, [there were issues with that too] before said publicist could try and help them get into the panel. Eric has to cover this one for his job. So I hold their seats for as long as possible, but they miss getting in by inches and the seats had to be given up. I find ironic humor in it because I was certain for a moment I’d be the one texting them ‘I wanna hear all about it damn you. p.s. i mentioned there would be hate…right?’
The debacle was the second time this happened to Trish and Eric, though the publicist managed to get them in when it happened the first time.
Now I get to brag. If you looked up news from the SDCC, then you’d know they showed the first ep of the next volume. If you didn’t, now you do. I’ll direct you to a write up that will give you a taste of what to expect without it spoiling you like mad. The full man cast was there for the panel. Some of them were recording the audience much like many in the audience were recording the panel. It looks like they tightened up some things for Vol III and Vol III looks like it’ll be starting off great. With showing the whole episode, there wasn’t much time for Q&A and unfortunately the people that were in line to ask questions waxed on about how much they loved the show, burning valuable Q&A time. I will say there was one guy decked out in Feudal Japanese armor and when he got to the mic, Masi rose up from the panel and did a pose with an invisible katanna. The guy at the mic drew his in return. Great and funny moment.
I had marked the Dollhouse panel as one to check out, but my foray with a Joss anything panel told me that if I didn’t get in line for that when the doors opened…I wasn’t getting in there. So I headed to the Floor, since my next panel I wasn’t going to miss started at 3 pm. I surfed, scoped out the costumes, got swag. I passed one booth on the way to Mile High Comics’s booth and saw that Roman Dirge was going to be signing at noon. For those not familiar, please google. I dig him for his Lenore comics; I like his style. I also like off the cuff humor. So I checked the time and made note to come back. I didn’t know he was going to be there, so again, not equipped with the proper signage material. But I still wanted to say ‘Hi!’
I come back when he’s supposed to be there and there he is. When he was freed up from doing a quick Lenore sketch I said Hi! I also asked about the Lenore comics, cause I know they don’t come out frequently. He said yeah, it’s like once a year now. And I asked ‘but they’re still coming right?’ My look may have been pleading please say yes to more Lenore [FTW!]. I don’t know, sometimes these purported looks that give away things sneak up on me. He did say there will be more Lenore and that the next issue was almost [so.close!] done.
I dropped by the Top Cow booth because Paul Dini was supposed to be signing; Yes…Paul Dini of the Batman: The Animated Series fame. When I got there, it looks like he wasn’t available for it, because he wasn’t on the updated schedule. Disappointment there because Batman: The Animated Series is king for me. Him being the writer for Madame Mirage was the reason I checked out the first issue.
I head towards my next panel, which was for Top Cow. I wait in line, get to talking with people there, the topic of the awesome Wolverine footage came up and I got to talk a bit about that with them since I was fortunate to have seen it.
All in all, those present at the panel were Jenna Dewan and Luke Goss for The Magdalena Movie. Seth Green and Hugh Sterbakov for Freshmen. Rick Loverd and Milo Ventimiglia for a new book Beserker; Witchblade creative team Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic were there, Paul Dini, Starfall creative team Randy Queen and Sarah Oates plus Marc Silvestri, Matt Hawkins, Filip Sablik, B. Clay Moore, William Harms, and Joshua Hale Fialkov. They had a lot of announcements and they seemed cut short in sharing anecdotes. An original piece of art from Stjepan was given to the fan that asked the best question. It was a fun panel, even if it felt truncated. Nice to hear from Jenna and Luke what drew them to their roles in the upcoming The Magdalena film. Also nice to see another comic related item from Milo [he also has ‘Rest’ with Devil’s Due.]. Stjepan got to talk about his Ravine project that’s upcoming and he seemed amped for it. He’s let spill the same information on the boards and it sounds like a great concept. And someone put up a pretty good write up of the panel here for those interested in checking that out. Oh and if you’re not reading Freshmen or haven’t read it, Hugh Sterbakov hates you. Which means…he hates me. [certain readers can stow obvious commentary here. I -know- who you are]
I had marked a few other panels, but they started soon after this one ended. And I figured that it was pretty much a case of if I wasn’t in line when I got in for the Top Cow panel…I wasn’t getting to see it. So I took the floor and finished out the day there.
Eric had asked me if I didn’t mind sitting with him to talk about the Heroes panel so he could do his write up for. If you didn’t notice the byline in the Heroes coverage link, here it tis again. Really awesome of him. The next day as we were surfing the floor again, I made mention that I now worship at the altar of Eric. Hindsight: mebbe I should have used my name and not the pseudonym I typically use. I was even texting him after because I was remembering details. Then decided to just call, because that was faster. So there I am waiting on a trolley telling him about Quinto’s response to a fan Q about playing such a dark character like Sylar.
At some point, Trish, Eric and I went out to Dinner again. I think it was Friday night. I met two other friends of theirs [Abbey and her Erik] and we ended up at Cafe Sevilla again. It was busy and they crammed us into the corner booth/table. But, it was awesome, tasty and a nice way to call it a day.
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