SupermanHawaii.com

by Kerry Yoshida

"Twilight ruined Comic-Con."

Strong words, and a sentiment reflected by more than just a few at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International. Now, I'm fairly sure that one pop-culture phenomenon can't be singled out as being the sole ruiner of the Con. Sure, the literary and motion picture behemoth drew a legion of fans to the San Diego Convention Center. But to claim that Twilight single-handedly ruined the Comic-Con? Ouch! But, I digress...

The San Diego Comic-Con's history spans thirty-nine years. 1970 found a group of approximately 300 people attending what was then named the "Golden State Comic-Con." Attendees reveled in the multi-day gathering focused on comic books, science fiction film and television, and other related arts. Fast forward nearly forty years, and you've got an attendance nearly 467 times the original number. That's right, July 2009 found approximately 140,000 people converging upon the San Diego Convention Center for the 40th San Diego Comic-Con International. Through the years, other forms of entertainment began to fill the expanse of the exhibition hall. Toys, anime, and video games became part of the extravaganza. Add all of those extra elements, mix in hundreds of thousands of people, and you've got a recipe for one packed convention center.

I had a few reasons for wanting to go to Comic-Con. Comic books being very low on that list, admittedly. The prospect of getting my hands on an exclusive Egon Spengler Ghostbusters action figure and stealing a sneak peek at TR2N (now known as Tron Legacy) took much higher priority. I found myself constantly checking the website to see what kinds of exhibits and panels would be featured. Ooh, a Disney animation panel! Wow, a Burn Notice panel featuring Bruce Campbell! Awesome, a Family Guy panel! Hmm, DC Wednesday Comics? I'll pass. It's at this point I'd like to make something clear -- I have nothing against comicbooks, I just don't take too much interest in them. So, I spent my weekend juggling panel attendance, browsing the many action figure booths, and making frequent bathroom stops.

Through my constant wanderings through the exhibition hall, I found myself taking more than just one trip through Artists' Alley. I noticed some individuals behind the tables were fervently sketching in a book, while others merely sat and chatted with one another. To be honest, I had no idea if they were the actual artists, or just friends minding their booth. Some artists had lines of people waiting for an autograph or sketch. Some of them sat there patiently waiting to entertain anyone who would stop at their spot. I smiled at them, and walked on. But, seeing all of that got me thinking -- these folks are the heart and soul behind the Comic-Con. Where would we be without the creative and artistic minds behind the characters? What would happen if Siegel and Shuster never turned "The Superman", at one time a bald villain, into one of Comicdom's most recognized superheroes? What if Bob Kane never thought up the concept that became Batman? And, if Stan Lee never teamed up with Jack Kirby or Steve Ditko -- well, let's not even think about that.

Now, I did feel a tad guilty about being at Comic-Con and not knowing some names other people seemed to be very familiar with. Sure, I knew Stan Lee, and even Jim Lee! Todd McFarlane... Spider-Man and Spawn! But -- who's Ramona Fradon? Neal Adams' importance to Batman's universe meant very little to me. I knew Usagi Yojimbo, but Stan Sakai? Didn't ring a bell. Fortunately, my friends came to the rescue. I heard them speak so highly of these people of whom I had little to no previous knowledge. With their help, I've come to learn just how much of an impact these individuals, among countless many others, have had on our lives. They've helped create and maintain the stories, worlds, and characters we've grown up with, latched onto, and continue to cherish to this day. Without them -- there would be no Comic-Con. There I stood in the middle of that madness, weary from the sheer insanity. But, I had a new-found respect for those who weave those tales and bring them to life through their artistry. As I took another lap around Artists' Alley, I felt bad for those who had no line of people to meet. For now, they remain the unsung heroes of the comicbook world. I hope they have their day, soon.

So, did Twilight REALLY ruin Comic-Con? In my opinion, no. At least, not for me. I waited in many lines, for hours at a time. I got bumped around, and barked at by security. I tasted the sweetness of victory (Hello, Egon Spengler figure!), and tasted the bitterness of defeat (Bye bye, Smallville panel). And most importantly, I learned a lesson, an important one, in comic book history and the writers of its history books, thanks to my friends. Now, after all that jostling, fatigue, and frustration, would I ever consider attending another San Diego Comic-Con? You bet.

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