Comic-Con International San Diego – Preview Night: The Long and Winding Line by Janet L. Hetherington

This week we follow special PCA correspondent Janet Hetherington from the front lines of the San Diego Comic Con!

Hello, my name is Janet Hetherington, and I’m a Pop Culture Addict.

Me and a whole lot of other PCAs were out in full force (and yes, that is Luke Skywalker style) at the Comic-Con International preview night on Wednesday evening. While the show officially starts on Thursday, the exhibit hall was nevertheless packed with freebie and collectable hunters.

(Left) one of the exclusive Galactus "hats" being given at the San Diego Comic Con Preview Night

This year’s must-have freebies include overlarge swag bags and funky purple Galactus paper crowns.  There were plenty in sight as I made my way through the crowds to the Entertainment Earth booth, where Sam Tweedle’s sought-after Barnabus Collins and Angelique collectible figures were to be found.  I waited an hour in the long and winding line for these special toys, but I did score the Dark Shadows dolls. After Sam wrote about them and his Comic-Con shopping list, how could I not?

"Hair High" animator Bill Plympton

The trek through the exhibit hall did yield other treats. Animator Bill Plympton was promoting his animated gothic comedy, Hair High (www.hairhigh.com), now out on DVD. He took the time to do a little sketch of a Plympton-style agitated dog.  Bill is also bringing out a new animated feature film, Idiots and Angels, about “an asshole guy who wakes up one morning to find wings sprouting out of his back that make him do good deeds, and he doesn’t like it.” This film features music from Tom Waits and Pink Martini. In addition, the artist is showing his original work at San Diego’s Chuck Jones Gallery.

While the most popular booths (and the ones with the longest lines) seemed to be TV and movie-related, the spirit of Comic-Con’s graphic storytelling roots could still be found.

Eisner Award Nominee Troy Little (Angora Napkin)

For example, comic book artist and animator Troy Little (Angora Napkin) was over the moon for being in San Diego. Troy has been nominated for a 2010 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award, and the Eisners are the “Oscars” of the comic book industry. The award winners will be announced July 23.

Comic-Con kicks off in earnest on July 22. The crowd will be bigger and the lines will be longer.

I can’t wait.

POP CULTURE ADDICT NOTE:  Thanks for picking up my Dark Shadow figures for me Janet!  Whoo hoo!  Saves buying them from e-bay!  Barnabas Collins can kick Edward Cullen’s butt!  You’re the greatest! - Sam Tweedle

Janet L. Hetherington is a writer, screenwriter and graphic storyteller. She is a pop culture addict who shares a studio in Ottawa, Canada, with artist Ronn Sutton and a ginger cat, Heidi.  For more of Janet’s musings make visit @ Best Destiny.