Original broadcast date July 23, 2011. The original podcast post is here: https://pixelatedgeek.com/2011/07/comic-con-2011-comic-issues-day-1/
The first official full day of the San Diego Comic-Con is now over, and though Wednesday was preview night, Thursday is when everything really kicks off. For me today was about panels, Arkham City, and Darksiders 2, but I got so much more than that. This Comic-Con marks a return after a five-year absence due to travel and the rising cost and availability of the convention itself. It was a sort of homecoming for me as this is the convention for my home town of San Diego. SDCC was my first convention and, though some things have changed, much has happily stayed the same.
Recapping the day, I recorded myself going over vaguely the highlights of the 1st day of the convention. Though heartfelt and impromptu, for a more in-depth telling of my day, read on below.
This morning I packed my microphone, some snacks, a water, and a Rockstar, and began my Con day. After a shoulder-to-shoulder trolley ride I made an indirect route (I had to roam around a little) to my first panel of the day: a DC spotlight of Grant Morrision. I sat in on the end of a "Breaking into Comics the Marvel Way" panel, a staple at the SDCC, and listened to aspiring writers and artists ask for advice from some of Marvel's top talent and power players such as Humberto Ramos and Joe Quesada.
The next panel was on DC's Flashpoint event. Many questions that were asked related to the ending of Flashpoint and the beginning of the New 52, so everyone on the panel (led by DC Comics Executive Editor Eddie Berganza and also including talent such as J.T. Krul and Sterling Gates) was tight lipped about anything that could be considered "spoilers."
The following panel was honestly more of a delight. Grant Morrison's talk surprised me and changed my mind about the man's work! His Scottish accent does wonders for his audible entertainment value, but he immediately opened the floor to questions for the fans. Morrison was very kind to every fan who asked questions, greeting and thanking each of them. He would answer each question thoroughly to the best of his ability and often with a frankly surprising sense of humor. For me the highlight of the panel had to be when Morrison made a playful joke at the expense of New Jersey, only to jokingly admit that he perhaps watched "Jersey Shore" religiously. The particular fan who provoked the joke about Jersey then challenged Grant Morrison to attempt his best "Jersey accent." Morrison shyly denied the request only to immediately summon the most stereotypical "Jersey accent"; the only features missing were spiked hair, a gold chain, and a tank top. The moment was priceless, and my only regret was not being ready to capture it on video (or at least on audio). Morrison was not coy, though, when it came to some aspects of his upcoming run on Action Comics, leaving hints and clues as to what fans could expect of the younger Superman in the New 52 that launches late next month.
(Continued on original post: https://pixelatedgeek.com/2011/07/comic-con-2011-comic-issues-day-1/)
