WonderCon 2010 (or "oh ten", as countless people called it)
Took the bus in to SF, since the $8.40 round trip is much much MUCH cheaper than the $50 I'd spend on gas, bridge and parking. Weather had been changing a lot in the last few days, so my bad knee and back are just killing me. I know I'm not ging to be able to be as active as I normally am at a con. Since I only am going for 1 day, instead of the three I usually do, I know that there's just stuff I won't be able to so, people I won't be able to see.
First thing that happens? I get in line at the WonderCon booth, and end up with a pass to meet Ali Larter, Paul WS Anderson and Milla Jovovich. Don't get to take a picture of them (studio rules), but I get autographed pictures of them, and get to speak with them for a couple minutes! Let me tell you, Ali is stunning on person. And Milla? Good god, her beauty defies description! They seem to really like the opportunities to meet the fans.
Went to a few panels. Both DC panels, and the Reseident Evil panel. Got a couple sketches (Randy Milholland and Ethan Van Sciver). Got most of the autographs I've been missing these last few years, including Gail Simone, Geoff Johns and Adam Kubert. Spent a LOT of time in various lines. Lost about an hour to them. Probably lost another hour having to just sit. No matter how many painkillers I took, I just couldn't do it. Had to rest more than I'd wanted.
I also did something really good. One of the booths was selling (of all things) a Zhu Zhu Pet hamster. FOR FIVE DOLLARS!!! Of course I bought it! And I became the greatest uncle in the world on Sunday, giving it to my 4 year old niece.
I asked a question at the Brightest Day panel which seems to have garnered a lot of internet discussion. I asked Judd Winick that since he's writing the new JLI book, which character was going to be gay? Because he's earned the reputation, fairly or not, of making at least one character gay in every book he writes (even tho he really doesn't).
I want to take a moment to discuss the way I asked it. I asked who he was going to make gay, and he responded "Make?". So I changed the wording to ask who was going to be declared gay. My point, in asking the way I did, was this: They are fictional characters. As such, they have no sexuality of their own until a writer decides that they're gay, straight, or otherwise. So yes, the writer (and possibly editorial staff) makes the character gay. Or straight. Or whatever. Since I didn't feel that the panel was the proper place to get into a philosophical discussion on the sexual habits of fictional characters, and they way they're chosen, I let it go for a bit. But if you saw or heard about the question, I just want to set the record straight. I worded the question the way I did for the afore mentioned reasons.
Ok, back on topic.
I ended the night the best way a true nerd can. The United States premier of Matt Smith's run as Doctor Who.
I was in the WonderCon crowd Saturday night for the debut. It was a LOT of fun. I was really worried about Smith as The Doctor when I saw the original publicity stills of him.
I needn't have been. He did a terrific job. Obviously, this was his introductory episode, so we haven't really seen him as the Doctor yet, but it was a hell of a way to get to know him. His introduction, trying to find out what food he wanted, it was was comic gold, with a terrifically disgusting payoff.
Another thing I noticed is that watching Craig Ferguson so much made me not even notice Amelia/Amy's Scottish accent.
In all, the story in this episode is secondary. The point of it, as with the previous "new doctor" episodes, is to introduce us to the new Doctor, and start to settle him into the role. This time around, it was done with an entirely new cast. No Rose, no Sarah Jane, no Donna, Captain Jack or even K9. This is the first time since Christopher Eccleston's debut. It worked, and it worked very well.
{the following is a spoiler of sorts, but won't make any sense whatsoever until you see the episode} When the Doctor is speaking to the eye, and they show all the images, that was something special, something unique that hasn't been done at all since the show returned. It was a very important moment in really bringing back history for us. And it looks like a little clever foreshadowing, too.
Not the best episode of Who (that would still be Blink), but a solid 8 out of 10.
Oh, and Gail Simone complimented my Justice League shirt. That really made my day!
Took the bus in to SF, since the $8.40 round trip is much much MUCH cheaper than the $50 I'd spend on gas, bridge and parking. Weather had been changing a lot in the last few days, so my bad knee and back are just killing me. I know I'm not ging to be able to be as active as I normally am at a con. Since I only am going for 1 day, instead of the three I usually do, I know that there's just stuff I won't be able to so, people I won't be able to see.
First thing that happens? I get in line at the WonderCon booth, and end up with a pass to meet Ali Larter, Paul WS Anderson and Milla Jovovich. Don't get to take a picture of them (studio rules), but I get autographed pictures of them, and get to speak with them for a couple minutes! Let me tell you, Ali is stunning on person. And Milla? Good god, her beauty defies description! They seem to really like the opportunities to meet the fans.
Went to a few panels. Both DC panels, and the Reseident Evil panel. Got a couple sketches (Randy Milholland and Ethan Van Sciver). Got most of the autographs I've been missing these last few years, including Gail Simone, Geoff Johns and Adam Kubert. Spent a LOT of time in various lines. Lost about an hour to them. Probably lost another hour having to just sit. No matter how many painkillers I took, I just couldn't do it. Had to rest more than I'd wanted.
I also did something really good. One of the booths was selling (of all things) a Zhu Zhu Pet hamster. FOR FIVE DOLLARS!!! Of course I bought it! And I became the greatest uncle in the world on Sunday, giving it to my 4 year old niece.
I asked a question at the Brightest Day panel which seems to have garnered a lot of internet discussion. I asked Judd Winick that since he's writing the new JLI book, which character was going to be gay? Because he's earned the reputation, fairly or not, of making at least one character gay in every book he writes (even tho he really doesn't).
I want to take a moment to discuss the way I asked it. I asked who he was going to make gay, and he responded "Make?". So I changed the wording to ask who was going to be declared gay. My point, in asking the way I did, was this: They are fictional characters. As such, they have no sexuality of their own until a writer decides that they're gay, straight, or otherwise. So yes, the writer (and possibly editorial staff) makes the character gay. Or straight. Or whatever. Since I didn't feel that the panel was the proper place to get into a philosophical discussion on the sexual habits of fictional characters, and they way they're chosen, I let it go for a bit. But if you saw or heard about the question, I just want to set the record straight. I worded the question the way I did for the afore mentioned reasons.
Ok, back on topic.
I ended the night the best way a true nerd can. The United States premier of Matt Smith's run as Doctor Who.
I was in the WonderCon crowd Saturday night for the debut. It was a LOT of fun. I was really worried about Smith as The Doctor when I saw the original publicity stills of him.
I needn't have been. He did a terrific job. Obviously, this was his introductory episode, so we haven't really seen him as the Doctor yet, but it was a hell of a way to get to know him. His introduction, trying to find out what food he wanted, it was was comic gold, with a terrifically disgusting payoff.
Another thing I noticed is that watching Craig Ferguson so much made me not even notice Amelia/Amy's Scottish accent.
In all, the story in this episode is secondary. The point of it, as with the previous "new doctor" episodes, is to introduce us to the new Doctor, and start to settle him into the role. This time around, it was done with an entirely new cast. No Rose, no Sarah Jane, no Donna, Captain Jack or even K9. This is the first time since Christopher Eccleston's debut. It worked, and it worked very well.
{the following is a spoiler of sorts, but won't make any sense whatsoever until you see the episode} When the Doctor is speaking to the eye, and they show all the images, that was something special, something unique that hasn't been done at all since the show returned. It was a very important moment in really bringing back history for us. And it looks like a little clever foreshadowing, too.
Not the best episode of Who (that would still be Blink), but a solid 8 out of 10.
Oh, and Gail Simone complimented my Justice League shirt. That really made my day!
heartbaker:
Wonder Con was full of awesome this year
rdpixie:
I thought new Who was awesome sauce!