Every year a little bigger, every year a little different, and every year more CROWDED. My friend, Nelson, and I started going to the con in the late 80’s, and back then it was in a little convention center in old Town San Diego. It only took a couple of hours to see everything, and everything then was comics, books and some really cool toy and collector booths. In recent years it has turned into a giant mega platform for the TV and movie industry and all the latest gaming companies, and the emphasis on comics is almost only by name in the title of the con. The shear size of the con, and especially the incredibly huge unmaneuverable crowds has really taken a lot of the fun out of the show, and you find yourself more exhausted trying to get around to see things than ever before! Don’t get me wrong. I love this show, but the crowds are ridiculous! Anyway, now that I have recovered from the show, here is a cornucopia of images of some of the coolest things available on the planet. The standards of execution of the collectibles has leaped by 1000 % in just the last few years and so have the prices$$$$$ So I acquire all of my collecting foder now with my camera…well that is in most cases!! HAAA! So sit back and enjoy the slide show of all the kits, crowds and costumes that made up Wednesday and Thursday at the Mighty Comicon!
the crowd builds on approach to the convention center
the con could also be called the Ryan Church show, and I would have to say he is responsible for more products, art and collectables than any other artist represented at the show!!! Great work Ryan, and your designs keep getting bigger every year!
Here's the movie I am working on, and it was a race to get this car ready for the con unveiling.
one of four, full size versions of the iron man suit
Ryan/JJ's Enterprise has been made as a diecast by Mattel
in the works, a diecast of James Kline's Nurada
shoved in the corner of the Mattel booth was the full size actual movie prop of my Iowa State Police cycle from Star Trek...I couldn't find a way to sneak it out though!!!! ARGHHHH!
here's another view
the original master sculpt of the idol with the glass eyes!!!
the Rocketeers back pack...another item that would look better at my home!
one of the many artists that brought and displayed their talents live at the show
the big Quantum Mechanix Enterprise on display at the sideshow booth
the extravagant and very large model of Serenity from Firefly, also by Quantum mechanix
here's a full view of this beauty
a great little Jessica Rabbit
tink
ooow-wah this thing was great...and full sized
an incredible sculpt of Conan
Conan again
this was an unbelievable life sized bust that was so very real looking even up close!
it's true!!! Luke's dad is Humpty Dumpty!
Hellboy
Hellboy's heat
they had these in every scale imaginable from 1/12th scale to full sized..more things that need to be at my home!
more goods that I need!!!
one of the costumed couples at the show with an incredible Commando Cody outfit and jetpack
here's Nelson posing with some Ghostbuster babes!
and the Busters themselves
one of many Supergirl outfits at the con!!! Awesome!
the full size prop from Avatar
this was one big and beautiful model!
this was a full figured sculpt of C. Reeves at about 1/8th scale!!! Huge!
another view of the batwing
over at the WETA booth the display of Professor Grordborts ray guns continues to grow
this is the case the ray gun comes in...if only I was rich! HAAAA!
steam runners, these were some awesome homemade costumes!
there were a lot of really good costumed attendies this year and these gals were having a good time shopping the booths, check out the pile of goodie bags at their feet!
clone wars was a huge addition at the con and so were these full sized characters!
a beautiful bust of Leia!
Darth Mahl's sister Betty!
the exposed Vader was a theme that was all over the place this year
one of the few Trek couples I saw at the show!!! Great job with the costumes you two!
by far the most popular of themes was Twilight!!! Giddy teen girls by the uber-thousands were there trying to buy merchandise that wasn't available yet!
one of the many Coraline figurines that Were incredible to see!!
another fine Conan sculpt
Arnold was everywhere!!!
this little rocket man had an illuminated fire base that was pretty darned cool
By far the best Leia slave girl ever seen at Comicon!!! WELL DONE YOUNG LADY!
more fun costumes
the Black Beauty is finally unveiled!
the only other shot I got before the crowd consumed every inch of this space!
Nelson with yet another con babe!
these bloody zombie gals were everywhere!
I had to take this shot because it was the only momentary gap in the crowd I saw the whole day!
even the little ones decked out with some cool suits
overwhellmed, fried and burnt out, we're trying to get out of the con and go get some dinner. The next shots are of what we saw on the way out...this gal had a great costume and struck a quick pose!
we asked this gal for help and she blasted a hole thru the crowd with her phase plasma in the 40 watt range
another great Supergirl accompanied by her pal Wonder Woman
forbidden to sit in the hallways this year the crowds thinly line the walls in what was once another sea of fans, They funneled everyone upstairs who needed a break
this gal did the final blasting of the crowd and we made it to the next building and out to freedom!
I finally got a fanboy shot of myself with Cindy Morgan from Tron and Caddyshack! No news yet but we are all hoping that Cindy will have a cameo in the new Tron movie!!! I met Miss Morgan at the con two years ago and she is one very kind and funny lady, great to see her again this year and thanks for the autographed picture Cindy!!
free at last we run into another Supergirl and her partner in crime!
looking back and vowing to never return!!! Well, until next year!
a new super hero was seen on the streets of Diego...and she was hailed as Cupcake Gal
one of the local theaters was hired by the con to show Twilight...yes the one that's already on DVD and this is a shot of block # 1 of the crowd
another shot of block #1
the third block of the line had to wait across the street
across another street was block 4 of the line
and finally across one more street was block 5 and the end of the line...Nelson waits in vein because he thought this was the line for "UP".
Eavesdropping with Johnny 
Awesome review John! Just faboulous, I know what you mean by the crowds, I went over ten years ago and the crowds were too much then! Special thanks for all the hotties in your pictoral that was fun!
thanks and the most fun was catching up with Nelson and talking about our families and how fast our kids are growing up!!!
Interesting impressions. But it would be better to first get permission from your ladies before you bring home half the convention with you. 😀
Not sure what your getting at but everyone I took a picture of got my biz card and knows to look for themselves here on the blog!
Awesome photo’s. I’d totally forgotten about Green Hornet, I used to have the toy car of it way way way back! Really wish they had more events like this around Europe, Next time I come over to the States I’ll have to arrange it so one of these big events is on at the same time!
yes you should and you’ll take back some wild memories that’s for sure!
Great pics John, did all the costumed attendees give you and ideas for future photo shoots at home?
Terry
Thanks terry and yes It did,,, Penny and I are going to do a Supergirl shoot very soon
Wow! Those Weta rayguns look fantastic! Manmelter 3600 ZX sub atomic disintegrator pistol – you’ve got to love that!
Looks like you had a great time – thanks for posting!
it’s a long post for sure and it was a real fun time! got back in time to go to Magic mountain with my family!!! more good times!
Awesome range of collectibles.
I definitely have to try and attend Comicon at some point. I can easily imagine bankrupting myself at that place!
I have a budget and a definite map of where Im going and once it’s gone that’s it,,, happens fast too!
Way-cool, dude.
Coupla thoughts:
1.) Contrary to geek-griping that KAHN!!! is a soul-less shadow of its former self, doesn’t seem like there’s any lack of geekoids going due to KAHN!!!! being co-opted by the film industry.
2.) I’m thinkin’ those better be the TOS Trek bobble-heads and/or figures in Nelson’s FUNKO bag, that I emailed you about. They’re awesome!
3.) Lots of of geek-babes, eh.
4.) Lot of crowds.
5.) Remind me, I gotta write a book like Twilight. Thanks.
6.) I love San Diego. Dogs everywhere. Dog friendly town. Great Air & Space Museum. Great Balboa Park. However, due to great weather all year ’round, tons of homeless that unfortunately like to use the street(s) as their toilet. God the streets smell like urine walking around town! Don’t know why the city doesn’t do something like London did with those auto-hide urinals that come out at night and retract come dawn. Of at least some porta-poddies in the alleys.
7.) You been liftin’? Looky those guns!
8.) Great pics all, thanks for sharin’, dude!
LLP,
deg
PS. KAHN!!!!!!!!
it was a good time and almost all of the costumes were girls this very few dudes in outfits,,, unless your a stormtrooper,, plenty of those walking around but never where I was with the cam.
Sorry about the downtown smell, but we are glad you enjoyed the San Diego Air & Space Museum and Balboa Park.
I didn’t even know there was an air and space museum IN SD!!!! I’m coming back to town as soon as I can for this!!!
It’s actually in Balboa Park…along with a lot of other great museums and such. I’m dying to get back there; it’s been a long time! When I worked a couple of miles from Balboa Park, I squandered my time not realizing I would be moving away from there…should have gone there on my lunch hour more often!!
I haven’t had time to look at all the amazing stuff, but I just had to say Thank you! Thank you! for the great look at the Serenity model with Inara’s shuttle taking off…so cool!! I would have like to be there just for that, but then I didn’t realize how much other really great stuff there would be!!!
I’ll get a better look in a little bit!
Yep, Comic-Con’s evolved over the years where it use to be pure Comic Books and Anime. Then when the Marvel Movies started coming out, CC evolved into a place where Hollywood debuts it’s movies and where gaming companies show their stuff. (E3 isn’t the place to be anymore, CC is!)
I have a dream of being at Comic-Con and debuting my story-turned-movie, with some awesome displays. Now I only need to become rich to pull it off! 😀
MAN, I still ache that I couldn’t go and
see my girl at the show !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😦
If you want more pics of the SERENITY go here…
http://www.quantummechanix.com/Serenity-Gallery.html
{ Hope you don’t mind John ? }
Oho!! Thanks for that link! I followed the link at the top of the page, Firefly Ship Works and found a pic of Nathan Fillion and the story that he made an unscheduled appearance at the CA Browncoats table to promote his charities! Oh man, I missed seeing my “girl” and my guy! 😉
Again,thanks for the link!
Oh, and in the words of Inara…”just Serenity”, no the. She is a member of the cast, after all. 🙂
THANKS.. 🙂 I’m just happy everyone seems to be liking her !
She was DEFINITELY one the the ” toughest ” nuts to crack
{ pattern wise } and I tried my best to get her
as close as I could to the Movie version..
I’d love to go to the San Diego Comicon one of these years, but I’d definitely would want to go with someone who knew the ‘ins and outs’ or perhaps a native guide. Awesome modeling!
Great post, John. It felt like I was there (minus the long, long waits in the huge, huge crowds). Was there one item (i.e., a statue, toy, etc.) that really impressed you more than others?
ps: Nice shots (and design) of the life size ST police hoverbike.
Oh! This is me being so very jealous! I wish I could go to Comicon at some point in my life. Perhaps when I move out to CA it will be a little easier to convince my wife and work that I should really be there. 😀
Great photos, John! Thank you so much for sharing them with us! Can’t wait to see Green Hornet! The car looks awesome!
I’d love to have that Rocketeer jetpack! Another one of my all time favorite movies! 🙂
This was the first Comic Con I’ve missed since… gosh, I don’t know when. I’m so bummed that I didn’t get passes this year and that I had to move to San Jose right before the big shindig. Oh, well, next year.
Your photos make me homesick tho’. Looks like you had a great time.
Green Hornet. Didn’t know you were working on that, Mr Eaves. The whole thing about Stephen Chow is just stupid.
great pics!
You just let slip a very cool nugget John 😉 You’re working on The Green Hornet. While I have no idea how the new movie will turn out, I’m sure the art direction will be great.
I’m a sucker for the Van Williams ’60s show, short lived as it was 😦
Gotta wipe the drool from my face…love the pics John! those shots of Vader are incredible, i could almost hear him breathe!
The Serenity model looks amazing, I’d loved to have seen that! Your police bike looks really cool too.
Hoping to go next year with a few friends, but I don’t know if it’ll work out in the end.
which is the manufacturer of the second figure of conan?
Sorry, my english is bad.
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