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For 50 years, people have been coming together in San Diego for Comic Con. It wasn’t always in the convention center but it was always where fans would congregate for a good time about the things they loved. It certainly has changed over the years but there’s also a lot to enjoy still amidst the chaos. So what was the 50th anniversary of Con like? Let’s find out!

Crowds, that’s probably one of the first things you’ll hear talked about when it comes to San Diego Comic Con. There’s so many people who come to San Diego for the convention, it exceeds the number of people who can enter the convention center. The Gaslamp District becomes an extension of the con and is like a theme park in its own right. Ferris wheels, giant inflatable characters, costumed employees, music, and more surround the epicenter.

Even without a ticket there’s plenty of events going on outside for all to take part in, if you can get through their even bigger lines. There’s often experiences for all manner of show to be seen, feel like you’re visiting the worlds of your favorite shows. Get drinks and food based off your favorite characters. Even the pedicabs are wrapped in comic book panels, just in case you forgot where you were. Buses drive by with TV screens promoting shows or have people singing karaoke on top of them. Roads are blocked off to help ease the foot traffic from getting hit by cars.

If you make your way inside, you’ll be scanning and showing your badge until you get onto the floor or into a panel room. The floor feels like an arcade in its prime, loud, lights, and plenty of people eager to partake in the events going on. You’ll find lines, statues, and all manner of merchandise, exclusives galore abound. You can probably play video games that aren’t even out yet or look at the next latest toy or show coming out soon. The panel rooms are a great way to rest your feet while learning about all sorts of cool stuff. Hall H is that concept pushing your patience to the limit as the line is massive and makes Disney park waits seem quaint by comparison.

The end segments of the exhibitor hall are where you’ll mostly find the actual comics of this comic con. You get artist alley on one side and comics vendors on the other, with most of the multimedia conglomerates taking up the middle. If you’re new to the convention and need to get from one end to the other, always take to the lobby to travel, you’ll move much faster instead of fighting the crowds of the floor. It practically feels like fast travel compared to working your way through people who are trying to get their autographs and exclusive toys, let them do that, you have the lobby on your side.

Then there’s the cosplay, this is often one of the biggest cons many cosplayers will go to, so A games are brought. You can see characters that look like they’re coming right out of the page or screen. Some are mishmashes of ideas that form a new concept altogether. You’ll see heroes, villains, and things that just defy most categories. If you want photos of cospayers it’s best you ask them for a photo if they aren’t already posing and respect them if they say no. Don’t harass anyone, a costume doesn’t invite any ill will, this place is too crowded and it’s best to look out for one another rather than being selfish.

While the convention may be over, the coverage isn’t. There’s still more to come, we got the chance to visit some booths and get some lovely tours of their content. So tune in next time for that and then we got an interview set up with Toho, the folks that have been bringing us Godzilla for 60 years. With that, see you next time!

Dr. Bustos
drbustos@gmail.com