Today was epic.
Maybe it was yesterday’s post but I achieved things today that I did not think I was capable of doing.
First of all I entered Comic Con the first day very intimidated by the idea of Hall H. This is the hall people wait for days to see their favorite of huge celebrities. This was not something I wanted to do, and I didn’t have too. There were a few panels in Hall H that I did want to see including the new “Snow White” live action movie and the new animated Oz film, “Dorothy of Oz.” Also, the last event in Hall H that night was “An Early Evening with Kevin Smith,” an event he’s done the last 3 Comic Cons where he pretty much just talks for two hours. He tells stories, jokes and answers several questions from the public and I wanted to go this year, so I did plan on waiting early.
Just before the first panel of the day I planned to start to wait in the line to Hall H, but there wasn’t one. I got in! I couldn’t believe how easy it was really, especially since the first panel starred Francis Ford Coppola and his new 3D horror “Twixt.” He was a good start to a long day of Hall H panels, but I also had something very important to do, that was nowhere near hall H.
Along with the theme of yesterday, there was a very important man I needed to give thanks to who persevered when his educators were against him. Mr J. Michael Straczynski was once told by Southwestern College professors, that he would never succeed as a writer. Now he has an hour-long line of people waiting for his autograph because he never gave up. He fought for his talent to be noticed and as a writer for superhero screenplays like “Thor” and “Spiderman,” hundreds of marvel comic books of the same names plus more and countless other projects like “Babylon 5.” He tells the stories of characters that fight for what is right. Most fantasies share the same good versus evil plot but Straczynski applies this theme to real life.
At Southwestern College we know him as the man that made it possible for our first issue go to print when others wouldn’t let that happen. The administration ceased funding early in the fall of 2010 and Straczynski couldn’t let them stand in the way of the first amendment, paying for our first issue and letting our voices be heard, unlike the teachers in his college years.
Here’s where things get exciting. I had a bathroom pass from Hall H that would allow me to leave the building and not have to wait in line again as long as I came back within the designated panel time. This time was from 2:15-3:15pm. Straczynski was signing from 3-4pm. I was willing to give up my seat in Hall H to see him, but I was hoping I wouldn’t have to. As soon as the panel started I left to wait in line for him and hopefully be the first, but I had to be the second. A nice gentleman really wanted his Thor comics signed so we waited together. I thought for sure I’d be able to make it as long as Straczynski finished the 2-3pm panel he was part of and made it on time. My heart started to beat fast around 2:45pm. I was nervous about meeting him and anxious about the time.
He showed up five minutes early. I was safe. I thanked him and gave him the issue he made possible. It felt good. But then I had to run half the length of the convention center and made it with five minutes to spare.
“Snow White” looks fantastic, but not your typical fairy tale. Think more of the new “Alice in Wonderland” battle scenes. “Dorothy of Oz” is super-cute and the music won’t let you down. Neither will the story, written by original Oz writer L. Frank Baum’s great-grand son, Roger S. Baum.
I’ve never seen anyone more involved with his fans than writer/director Kevin Smith, nor anyone who can talk for so long and remain interesting and funny.
I feel extremely accomplished today. I think I’m getting the hang of this.