Comic-Con
2007:
Preview Night - Attack of the Clowns
Downtown
San Diego, Wednesday July 25. The first unofficial night
of Comic Con 2007, or also known as preview night, and usually
a night reserved for press, professionals and pre-registered
goofballs to check out the convention floor before everybody
else. Usually known as the most tranquil of convention nights,
Comic Con’s 2007 Preview Night was a flood of convention
goers, stroller pushers and just about every fanboy knucklehead
that ever crawled out from under a fraggled rock.
Extremely
crowded due to a record breaking attendance and a sold out
Saturday, the biggest story of Comic Con 2007 was, “If
it’s this crowded on Preview Night, What’s Saturday
gonna be like?”
The crowd at
this year’s preview night was full of what seemed
to be less press and professionals, and more fans and posers.
What is usually a night meant for press to meet and network
with industry professionals, and exhibitors to set up and
prepare, turned into a mad dash for swag and sweat. Shoulders
were bumped, luggage was tripped over, and tempers were
flared.
Not
only that, but the floor of Comic Con 2007 actually resembled
the floor of Comic Con 2006. There were the same floor presentations
from Sci Network, Warner Bros. Fox Atomic and so on…
But
Comic Con 2007 was not without its thrills. There were also
great presentations for Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean,
and both Marvel and DC. Unfortunately, the floor was too
damn crowded that anything could really be enjoyed.
The biggest hit
of preview night seem to be the gigantic yellow and red,
“Swag Bag” from Warner Home Video, promoting
both Smallville and Superman:Doomsday. Many a happy hoarder
were spied with not just one, but various quantities of
those bags, as well as many a sad fan who were denied when
the booth ran out.
Another
discouraging aspect of this year’s convention was
the mainstreaming of the overall event. It appears the convention
mainstays, ie: the nerds, are staying home, and more and
more “normal” fans are taking up valuable floor
space.
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| Lon
finds two reasons to come back tomorrow. |
It also
appears that downtown San Diego has been embracing the convention
as well, with much more signage than last year and a more
welcoming attitude. Whereas in previous years, where convention
fans were strangers to the social aspects of the Gaslamp
district, this years convention goers are tossing them back
and laughing it up with the locals.
Comic
Con 2007 may be the most crowded its ever been and the most
successful. With more and more fans coming to the convention
every year, comic con may have outgrown its britches. However,
Comic Con is always known for surprises, and with this only
being the unofficial “first” night of the convention,
the rest of the week could be something to look forward
to… or to avoid.
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