All right, everybody sing along: Here comes Comic-Con! Here comes Comic-Con, right down Comic-Con Lane! I can even hear Elvis singing it!
I often think of San Diego Comic-Con International (SDCC) as an early Christmas (if you celebrate that holiday) for fans of comics, TV, movies, gaming and anything even remotely related. This year, it will be held from Thursday, July 21, through Sunday, July 24, with a Preview Night starting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20.
Once again, here at MajorSpoilers.com, coverage of the event is already underway. To check out news from SDCC, just click on the button in the right-hand column of the site that has the SDCC logo that says, “Major Spoilers Coverage Here.” You’ll get as close to being there as possible if you can’t attendn!
GET READY FOR THE INFORMATION ONSLAUGHT!
One of the things that makes San Diego such a big event is all the news and other information released during the con. I know some companies hold their big news until the convention is underway. When I was there a few years back, I found it very tough to even try to cover all the news releases that came out each day. In fact, the people I knew who were NOT there knew more about these things than I did because so many of the information was being sent out via the Internet.
Some folks have already begun sending out news releases, trying to get ahead of the game. But you can expect websites around the world to be spending the next couple of months trying to publish/post news releases from SDCC, as if they could ever get caught up!
I’ve noticed that at least one cable network is going to be broadcasting from SDCC. That’s Syfy, who will be showing Live from Comic-Con, hosted by Will Arnett. Here’s the description: “Syfy will invade the world’s largest pop culture convention this summer with a three-night telecast directly from the heart of the San Diego Comic-Con. The special – Syfy’s first-ever live broadcast from Comic-Con – will air on the network Thursday, July 21, through Saturday, July 23 at 8/7c.” Check your local cable provider for the channel number!
I’ll watch this just to remember the time I attended SDCC, but there’s no way they can match the immediacy of coverage by our very own MajorSpoilers.com!
If you can’t be there and your local store is holding a Comic-Con event, I’d go and support them. It’s MUCH cheaper than going to SDCC, after all! To be in step with the people in San Diego, be sure to take only baby steps on Saturday, which they have to do because it’ll be so packed in there!
EXCLUSIVES
One of the biggest reasons for attending SDCC is to get your hands on the exclusives available at the event. Granted, these days more and more of them are appearing in local comics shops around the same time (smart move!), but not all!
For example, the LEGO booth will be making available the first-ever figures in their Brickheadz line, and these will only be available at SDCC. The sets will feature DC and Marvel characters, and only one set will be available each day. They’ll retail for $40 per two-pack, and they won’t appear in stores until 2017.
Here’s the schedule: July 21 – Batman and the Joker, July 22 – Doctor Strange and Black Panther, July 23 – Superman and Wonder Woman, and July 24 – Captain America and Iron Man.
If you can’t get those, LEGO will once again be distributing free mini-figures upstairs on the Pavilion Terrace, beginning at 12:30 p.m. daily. There’s a limit of one drawing per person per day.
Of course, MANY more exclusives will be available for those who simply can’t wait!
OFF-SITE EVENTS
If you aren’t completely exhausted by the happenings taking place in the convention center and hotels nearby, you can go to parties at restaurants and locations within walking distance.
I couldn’t possibly begin to list them all here, but some come with food and beverages. When I was there, I attended a horror channel’s event that offered alcoholic beverages and M&Ms, the perfect combination for some folks! They were debuting a new show, and the stars attended, encouraging all in attendance to support this new program. (I haven’t heard anything about it, and in fact forget what it was called now, so it may not have been as successful as they hoped it would be. It happens.)
Many nearby clubs and restaurants get “taken over” by some networks during SDCC. There was a pizza place that was “owned” by Cartoon Network while I was there, and Syfy changed a restaurant into one found on Eureka, a show they were airing at the time. I’m sure fans will find more current restaurant happenings this year! Fun stuff!
ARE YOU READY?
I highly recommend checking in with MajorSpoilers.com several times a day, if possible. If real life gets in the way of SDCC, you should do your best to stop by at least once a day to at least catch a glimpse as to what’s been announced that everyone will likely be talking about.
The layout for these pages is particularly great, I think, since the graphics and the headlines help one quickly decide what stories are of interest to you.
You’ll also find agencies providing reports that local newscasts will air during their nightly programs. Sometimes they actually report real news, but most of the time, it seems they feel their job is to cover the “spectacle” of it all – meaning, “How weird is this!”
Still, it’s only about two days before the doors open at SDCC 2016, and the cheer rises from the crowds who are there, and even many of us who are miles away. Can’t wait!
What are you looking forward to taking place during this year’s SDCC? Be sure to share your thoughts below!
