Obligatory Comic-Con Post #3: Day 1!

Wow. Just, wow. Yesterday was INSANE.

Granted, it was awesomely so, but still. That was a whole lot of activity.

I set out for ART CRAWL! the Con just before 9 yesterday. I was going to meet up with katiebea at a nearby diner then head over for con-ing.

Of course, the MTA managed to screw me over, royally. I was on the Manhattan Bridge for over HALF AN HOUR. FOR NO REASON. When I finally ran off the train at Canal to get a cab (I was so very late), I saw an MTA doofus and asked what happened. "Urrr, durp durp durp, Track Work."

No. See, I've endured track work and train traffic - it's NEVER been that bad. And you can't tell me they can't handle that many trains at once. Hi, it's called regular rush hour. Just further, massive incompetence brought to you by the fine folks at the MTA. My very nice cab driver got me to the meeting spot in just over 6 minutes.

After a hearty breakfast, we made our way to the Javits, got our steekin badges, and decided that since we missed the Terminator/Watchmen/F13 panel, we'd hit the con floor until it was time to get on line for Penny Arcade. Of course, they had a line to get on the floor. In trying to find the line they were (badly) directing us to, we got on the wrong line, and wound up going up the escalator to the Professional Entrance (oops). I told katiebea to just flip her badge around and walk fast. No one bothered us. But we got on the floor quickly, which was nice. I hit a few booths. Met a nice editor at Dabel Brothers who I could squee at about the Dresden Books, and I perused the Marvel and DC booths, but my friends working them were yet to be there. And, we ran into redstapler within 10 minutes of being on the floor, which was hilarious in its own way, as we were literally in the middle of a conversation about going to find her! I also checked out the hardcover of Local, one of my favorite books. (A gorgeous binding, really. Just beautifully done) I bought it later. It was just too big to haul around.

Since I am pressed for time, I will now show you the day's highlight reel:

*Gabe and Tycho from Penny Arcade are exactly like their comic characters in person. They were very funny and cool. Even though some of the people asking the questions in the Q&A were asking kind of dumb ones.

* The Robot Chicken panel involved a HUGE line and we were worried we wouldn't make it in. Somehow we did, and got seats too! We had briefly met up with laughingirl on the line, but she opted to go on an autograph hunt instead of the panel. The panel was hilarious, and I learned a lot about their process. And it was the second panel in a row where donuts were heavily mentioned.

*The Javits actually has a nice cafeteria, and doesn't gouge too badly on prices. There was some gouging, don't get me wrong, but nothing egregious.

* Dead Like Me panel was not something I stayed at long. The cast had no idea what to talk about, so they were all but re-enacting the new movie on the panel. I left, because I'd actually like to see the new movie. Blah!

*I was paneled out, and decided after a debate with this guy I know from Trivia named Brad, I didn't think I was going to hit up the Torchwood panel. Still, I was bummed about not connecting with dkellergrl and ozzdo. (Couldn't they get Gareth David-Lloyd to show up? I know John Barrowman would be too much to hope for.)

* I was happy to see that many celebrities were really super nice about laughingirl's bears. However, I was equally appalled by Ed Westwick's publicist (Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl). He was signing posters, but she waved us off like we were some kind of nuisance. But I guess she's going to make sure that the weird, straight-to-video Donnie Darko sequel her client is in will make his ENTIRE career. No, really. *eyeroll*

*Many thanks also to laughingirl for letting me crash at her pad for an hour or so (and for feeding me cheese!) after the con. I was going to meet up with J and some friends, and I so needed the break. I had a blast hanging out. I also have to wrap this post up, as I have to get in gear to meet up with her for the Dollhouse panel today!!!

* HUGE thanks to katiebea for being my con buddy all day yesterday. I had a total BLAST with her. Which isn't a surprise, as she is rad.

And now - time to get dressed and ready for CON DAY 2!!!!

Obligatory Comic-Con Post #3: Day 1!

Wow. Just, wow. Yesterday was INSANE.

Granted, it was awesomely so, but still. That was a whole lot of activity.

I set out for ART CRAWL! the Con just before 9 yesterday. I was going to meet up with katiebea at a nearby diner then head over for con-ing.

Of course, the MTA managed to screw me over, royally. I was on the Manhattan Bridge for over HALF AN HOUR. FOR NO REASON. When I finally ran off the train at Canal to get a cab (I was so very late), I saw an MTA doofus and asked what happened. "Urrr, durp durp durp, Track Work."

No. See, I've endured track work and train traffic - it's NEVER been that bad. And you can't tell me they can't handle that many trains at once. Hi, it's called regular rush hour. Just further, massive incompetence brought to you by the fine folks at the MTA. My very nice cab driver got me to the meeting spot in just over 6 minutes.

After a hearty breakfast, we made our way to the Javits, got our steekin badges, and decided that since we missed the Terminator/Watchmen/F13 panel, we'd hit the con floor until it was time to get on line for Penny Arcade. Of course, they had a line to get on the floor. In trying to find the line they were (badly) directing us to, we got on the wrong line, and wound up going up the escalator to the Professional Entrance (oops). I told katiebea to just flip her badge around and walk fast. No one bothered us. But we got on the floor quickly, which was nice. I hit a few booths. Met a nice editor at Dabel Brothers who I could squee at about the Dresden Books, and I perused the Marvel and DC booths, but my friends working them were yet to be there. And, we ran into redstapler within 10 minutes of being on the floor, which was hilarious in its own way, as we were literally in the middle of a conversation about going to find her! I also checked out the hardcover of Local, one of my favorite books. (A gorgeous binding, really. Just beautifully done) I bought it later. It was just too big to haul around.

Since I am pressed for time, I will now show you the day's highlight reel:

*Gabe and Tycho from Penny Arcade are exactly like their comic characters in person. They were very funny and cool. Even though some of the people asking the questions in the Q&A were asking kind of dumb ones.

* The Robot Chicken panel involved a HUGE line and we were worried we wouldn't make it in. Somehow we did, and got seats too! We had briefly met up with laughingirl on the line, but she opted to go on an autograph hunt instead of the panel. The panel was hilarious, and I learned a lot about their process. And it was the second panel in a row where donuts were heavily mentioned.

*The Javits actually has a nice cafeteria, and doesn't gouge too badly on prices. There was some gouging, don't get me wrong, but nothing egregious.

* Dead Like Me panel was not something I stayed at long. The cast had no idea what to talk about, so they were all but re-enacting the new movie on the panel. I left, because I'd actually like to see the new movie. Blah!

*I was paneled out, and decided after a debate with this guy I know from Trivia named Brad, I didn't think I was going to hit up the Torchwood panel. Still, I was bummed about not connecting with dkellergrl and ozzdo. (Couldn't they get Gareth David-Lloyd to show up? I know John Barrowman would be too much to hope for.)

* I was happy to see that many celebrities were really super nice about laughingirl's bears. However, I was equally appalled by Ed Westwick's publicist (Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl). He was signing posters, but she waved us off like we were some kind of nuisance. But I guess she's going to make sure that the weird, straight-to-video Donnie Darko sequel her client is in will make his ENTIRE career. No, really. *eyeroll*

*Many thanks also to laughingirl for letting me crash at her pad for an hour or so (and for feeding me cheese!) after the con. I was going to meet up with J and some friends, and I so needed the break. I had a blast hanging out. I also have to wrap this post up, as I have to get in gear to meet up with her for the Dollhouse panel today!!!

* HUGE thanks to katiebea for being my con buddy all day yesterday. I had a total BLAST with her. Which isn't a surprise, as she is rad.

And now - time to get dressed and ready for CON DAY 2!!!!