Howdy! Today's message is the first of five consecutive daily newsletters that I will be sending you from the wonderful San Diego Comic-Con International. Each year for the past several we've been putting together daily photo essays on what's transpiring here at the largest comics convention in America, and the feedback we've received about those reports has been universally positive. So, we're going to continue to try and give you a real sense of what it is like to attend this wonderful show by sending you a newsletter during each day of the convention. Before I begin today's SDCC daily report, however, I have a special announcement for all of you. Effective immediately, I have asked Lynne to put into effect a new codeword: SANDIEGO. What makes the SANDIEGO codeword particularly noteworthy is that this is the first codeword sale that we've initiated in a long, long time that will provide you with a full 30% off (!) each and every back issue comic book and magazine listed in our entire online inventory! As crazy as it may seem, this 30% discount is in addition to the individual item discounts that are already reflected in the website listings! Given that the vast majority of our online listings are currently discounted between 50%-80% off, typing the 30% off SANDIEGO codeword into the line provided on our online order form will instruct our computer to grant you 30% more in discount! In most instances, your discount from list will end up being an astounding 65%-86% off of list price! (click on image for larger view and ordering) Simply put, I am giving you this opportunity to shop our online inventory at these givaway prices so that those of you who are not fortunate enough to be able to attend the SDCC can still benefit from the convention. Ironically, because over 90,000 fans are expected at this year's show, other dealers in attendence have hiked some of their prices for this convention well above other recent shows. That makes my odds of being able to purchase any back issues at wholesale prices almost nil. Given that I was able to purchase so well in Detroit, Philadelphia, Knoxville, and Charlotte, however, I feel quite comfortable in offering all of you a chance to buy books at prices at, or below, San Diego Comic-Con International prices for this weekend. Please do be advised, however, that the 30% Off SANDIEGO codeword is only through next Tuesday morning, at 10 AM. This is not a sale that will be extended... Returning to today's report about this year's convention, the impact of what was once a little fan gathering on the San Diego community is becoming somewhat overwhelming. While running around town frantically during the past two days gathering up materials for our booth, I kept running into local people who not only already knew about the convention, but were also eagerly anticipating the positive benefits of having so many outside visitors come into town. One negative impact of all that fame, however, is that the already difficult task of finding an affordable hotel anywhere near the convention center has become darn near impossible. Even the local MOTEL 6 (a very spartan chain of bargain priced hotels which typicallly charge about $39 a night) has marked their rates up for this week (only) to $79. The hotels near the convention center are $200-$350 per night. We have a bargain hotel deal in a hotel 5 miles away for this year, but I have a feeling that next year we'll have to pay a lot more. I love this convention, but it sure has become an expensive exercise to try and bring out a full crew, and set up a large booth. With a little luck, however, our book sales at this show should more than justify all those darn annoying costs. We'll just have to all keep our fingers crossed that the huge crowds show up again this year. (click on image for larger view and ordering) Speaking of fans showing up, I was stunned to see early this morning that a line had already formed of fans waiting to come into the convention. Wednesday afternoon and evening is a special pre-show viewing limited to celebrities, dealers, and fans who have purchased four-day memberships in advance. This pre-show has become increasingly popular, with about 10,000 attendees arriving early last year. To be the first in line for the convention, a young man by the name of Eiya D. Nassr began the line at 7 AM this morning. By 10 AM, he had been joined by about a dozen other eager fans. They passed the time by playing Magic The Gathering, and a variety of board games. With a little shade, and the temperatures in San Diego running in the low 70's right now, they seemed pretty comfortable and happy. Sean just told me that the line had grown to 500 by noon! I just went outside to check, but all those folks are now gone, in all probability moved by the convention staff into some cooler spot than the front of the convention center. This is all becoming so huge that it is just amazing! (click on image for larger view) So you can get some sense of the scale of this convention, here are some photos that Pam took of our stand being constructed. We'll provide you with a lot more photos over the next four days. That's it for today. I hope you liked our first report and photos. I also hope that you enjoy the benefits we've provided for you with our fantastic 30% off SANDIEGO codeword sale. Even if you can't attend the convention in person, we want to make sure that you still enjoy some of the wonderful benefits! TOO MUCH COFFEE MAN: HOW TO BE HAPPY TPB (2005) Retail Value $12.95 Sale Price $7.95 ULTIMATE X-MEN: MOST DANGEROUS GAME TPB (VOL. 11) (2005) Retail Value $9.99 Sale Price $5.95 ESSENTIAL KILLRAVEN TPB (2005) Retail Value $16.99 Sale Price $10.95 (click on image or links for larger view and ordering) Happy collecting! Chuck Rozanski, President - Mile High Comics, Inc. Advance Previews of next weeks comics from Marvel and DC Wednesday Pictures Mile High Comics booth before set-up. Books being put away by Karen. Will Moulton shows the correct position to assume when viewing Mile High Comics website. Happy Sean Scott. Wall of red! Our good friend Eugene helps us out. Chuch writes his column. Our 20'x 20' banner makes a statement! Elyad Nasser got in line at 7am!