Comic-Con:  A Reader’s Report by CarrieS

San Diego Comic ConThis just in – Smart Bitches had a San Diego Comic-Con correspondent on the scene on Friday July 13!  I was there for one day only, and I spent it all wandering around in a state of awe and lining up to hear Joss Whedon speak to an adoring crowd.  I believe I may actually be more awesome simply from being in the same room as him.  It was that cool.

If you want to see pictures of cosplay and cool lobby stuff, there are many websites that post this stuff – I recommend io9 for detailed coverage.  I saw some steampunk costume pieces that were so stunning that I got a little light-headed.  There were a substantial number of panels and displays aimed at GLBT fans, fans of color, and women.  More diversity in the geek world is a wonderful thing.  I attended the panel “Powerful Women in Pop Culture (AKA Women Who Kick Ass)” and was fascinated and inspired.

What I expect you at Smart Bitches really want to know is:  “Now that Comic-Con has all this focus on television and media, what about the comics?”  I'm pleased to report that based on my one day at Comic-Con and comprehensive reading of the schedule, comics and books, are alive and well, and women are very, very busy writing, illustrating, and presenting them.  I met the creators of “Girl Genius“, the most awesome web comic ever, and if I had gone on a different day I could have attended a zombie book panel with Mira Grant, an Urban Fantasy Panel with Seanan Macguire (AKA Mira Grant – she was having an especially busy time), a steampunk book panel with Gail Carringer, and a celebration of Ray Bradbury with Margaret Atwood.  Even Joss Whedon talked more about comics than any other project.  Comic-con remains a reader's paradise.

If you want to hear more about Joss, the women who kick ass, or the pilot for Arrow (it's cheesy), give me your questions in the comments and I'll do my best!  Also, if you went to the Con this year, let us know what you thought was awesome, especially as pertains to reading.

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General Bitching...

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  1. Darlynne says:

    Man, I’ve wanted to attend for the longest time and I even have family in San Diego. Maybe next year. Thanks for the update. I have no questions; typically I’m struck stupid in the presence of writers whose work I admire.

  2. M_E_S says:

    I was there Wednesday and Friday-Sunday and it was SO. MUCH. FUN.  I had more fun than last year (I was new to the con then and super stressed) and talked to waaaay more fascinating and awesome people.  I miss Nerd Prom already!

  3. Jimthered says:

    Speaking as a massive geek, I am completely envious of your trip there.  I’m always impressed by the small local conventions, so Comic-Con must be nirvana.  I’d probably split my time between photographing the awesome costumes and telling celebrities how impressive they are.

    (And I’m glad yout Friday the 13th didn’t have any idiotic slasher villains.  Hopefully.)

  4. CarrieS says:

    I did sort of encounter a slasher villan – in a way…This guy at a booth was yelling “Free Action Figure” and when I went up he was giving away little stick people made of popsicle sticks with white styrofoam ball heads.  On request, he would make a “Commemorative Friday the 13th” Action Figure by using a black marker to make a Jason Face.  Cutest slasher freak ever! 

  5. CarrieS says:

    This was actually my first trip to Comic Con – I was in San Diego visiting my in-laws when my brother in law gave me the best surprise ever – I ended up with about 10 min to make a costume using only what I had at my in-laws’ house.  It’s made of regular white printer paper and safety pins and says “super mom” on the front and I made a cape for my back pack that said, “Real Heroes Carry Snacks”. 

  6. Musingsallie says:

    Joss Whedon *swoon*. He is a genius

  7. Scrin says:

    Girl Genius! Gail Carriger!

    Allright, everyone, I will say this:

    Go read Girl Genius. It’s free. Your life will be enriched if you life steampunk and such at all.

    And go read Gail Carriger’s first novel, Soulless, aka “THIS IS HOW YOU DO ALPHA MALES, DAMMIT”

    *WHOOP*

  8. CarrieS says:

    Girl Genius rocks!  The writers are incredibly nice and we had this great chat about Victorian underwear and also why GG is appropriate for eight year olds despite all that underwear.  Kaja’s daughter is the same age as mine and is a total sweetie.  Also the other women working the booth were so sweet to me while I lurked around waiting for Phil and Kaja to come back from getting some lunch – I forgot to be starstruck because they were so nice.

    Joss went out at 2AM and signed autographs and hung out with the fans who camped to see the Firefly panel.  2 Frickin’ AM.  By the time I saw him talk at 5:30 the next day he was so tired he could hardly talk and he was still warm, funny, and able to make pretty freaking profound statements about the division between the rich and the poor in our society as well as the need to “make some female action figures that aren’t posed like porn stars”.

  9. cate says:

    I’m sick with envy – not only Comic -Con …but Joss(the genius) Whedon !!!! You jammy so & so !!!

  10. MissB2U says:

    Even though you weren’t able to attend did you get any info on what was discussed at the Urban Fantasy Panel?  That would have been great to hear!  How do you get into Comic Con anyway, can just anyone buy entrance?

  11. Definitely geek jealousy. Did Joss talk about what’s up next for him?

  12. Sugarless says:

    Also in the jealous camp! I’ve always wanted to go, but one thing or another always gets in the way. Usually either lack of funds or inability to take time off work. 🙁

  13. Bnbsrose says:

    Yes, just anyone.

  14. CarrieS says:

    How I got in is a long story, but yes, anyone can get in provided you buy a badge before they are sold out – and they are usually sold out a year in advance.  I was totally floored that my brother in law had a badge for me.  I didn’t get any info re the panel.  If I ever get to go again, I’m going to try to resist the allure of the big name panels that you have to wait in line for and stick to the smaller ones – they all looked fascinating and a lot of them were specifically about different genres of literature and about different aspects of writing.

  15. CarrieS says:

    Re Joss’s projects – he is looking for a distributor for his production of “Much Ado About Nothing” (a movie he shot at his house in the middle of filming “The Avengers”.  There are many more Buffy, Faith and Angel, and Firefly comics in the works although he sees himself more as co-ordinating the big picture on those comics than as a writer.  Biggest news is that he is working on Doctor Horrible 2! 

  16. The Other Susan says:

    Joke I read somewhere on the Interweb about ComicCon last week:  IT departments all over the country will be understaffed during ComicCon.

    So funny, I wish I’d made it, or could remember where I read it!

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