The world’s grea
test multigenre convention is about to take place. San Diego Comic-Con International 2012 officially starts Thursday, July 12, and runs through Sunday the 15th. Actually, a preview night occurs Wednesday, July 11, for professionals, exhibitors, and press. That’s me. Press. I’ll be there for the whole shebang, and I’ll report what I see related to our terrific hobby through tweets and blogs on Astronomy.com.
Comic-Con started in 1970 as a three-day gathering called the Golden State Comic-Con. The event drew 300 people. That’s astounding. In 2010, the attendance had swelled to 130,000. Wait. That’s astounding!
In fact, “popular” just doesn’t begin to describe Comic-Con. Preview and daily passes went on sale March 3. Every last one sold out within 90 minutes!
The central area of Comic-Con features the exhibitors. Here’s where you’ll find the booths set up by comic book companies, video game producers, movie studios, specialists in online programming, and more collectible manufacturers and dealers than you can shake a lightsaber at. Nearby, Artist’s Alley features the best illustrators from each genre producing sketches for sale and signing already completed works.
Surrounding the exhibitor area, rooms large and small (and I’m not kidding here: Capacities range from 280 to 6,500 seats) host panels, seminars, and workshops featuring some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry and pop culture. At Comic-Con 2011, directors, producers, and casts from more than 80 television shows and 35 films attended.
And how, you might ask, does all this pertain to Astronomy? In fantastic ways, my friends. Science fiction often has preceded science fact, and the magazine has covered the relationship (see, for example, “The science of Star Trek” in our January 2012 issue). Besides, I still have a burning desire to ask comic book authors or screenwriters, “What’s it feel like to create a whole race of extraterrestrials?”
First and foremost, however, this is a vacation, and I plan to have fun. Of course, I’ll be on the lookout for anything related to astronomy (and Astronomy), but that’s just second nature: My number one hobby is observing, I write astronomy books unrelated to my job, and most of my lifelong friends have celestial interests. Heck, when I walk into a grocery store, I scan the shelves for anything with an astronomical name.
So watch out, Comic-Con! Here I come. I’m looking to explore strange new worlds that will presage comics, movies, and magazine articles yet to be written. And if you’ll be at Comic-Con, email me at mbakich@astronomy.com. Maybe we can get together to talk astronomy … or comics … or movies … or …
If not, follow my blogs here or my tweets that will overflow with child-like enthusiasm on Twitter. Excited? This nerd is jazzed!