Howdy! After three full days at the world's largest comics convention, I'm starting to fade. I honestly thought that my healing from West Nile was about 90% complete, but, today I am reluctantly coming to the realization that I simply may never recover entirely. After I wrote my copy for yesterday afternoon's newsletter, I tried to continue being a gracious host to all the wonderful fans coming to visit our booth. As the day drew to a close, however, I started feeling some serious wobble in my leg muscles. That has continued this morning, as well as a general feeling of weakness and disorientation. Drat. I'm going to suck it up, and make it thorugh the convention, but I have a feeling that most of next week is going to be dedicated to just trying to get back my energy and cognitive abilities. While my physical state isn't all that I would hope for, I'm feeling remarkably enthused about the convention overall. As has been my tradition for many years past, I spent an hour today standing in the center of the convention hall at noon, simply absorbing the sights and sounds. After 33 years of attending the SDCC, I am no longer particularly interested in the convention from a business perspective, but I have become fascinated with the evolution of this unique gathering from a sociological perspective. Frankly, at this point in time, this event is only peripherally about comics. As I've reported in past years, there is still a small area of floor space in the hall devoted exclusively to old-fashioned Golden Age and Silver Age comics booths, and the comics publishers (excepting Marvel) still put together some very nice exhibits. Given the overwhelming prescence of other types of products and immense booths operated by media giants such as LucasFilms, however, we've essentially become guests at our own party. (click on image for larger view) There was a point in time a few years past when this trend first started to clearly manifest itself, that I vehemetly railed against this co-opting of our world. During the past couple of years, however, my perspective has mellowed dramatically on this subject. You see, the SDCC has years, the SDCC become such a unique event that it has long since transcended being a mere comics convention, and has instead become a nationally and internationally recognized mecca for the adherents of a plethora of popular culture genres. Where else, for example, can the general public see 300,000 square feet of exhibit space devoted to existing and upcoming film, gaming, comics, and video projects? Where else can you see world-reknown creators from a distance, but can also frequently meet them in person? There may be a slew of private trade shows where the stars show up to hustle people in their respective businesses, but the SDCC is the only place of which I am aware where the general public is invited to the party. The net result of my observations for this year is that I got the distinct feeling today that this convention is rapidly transcending being a shopping and object-driven event, and has become much more of an experiential social exercise. That's certainly not to say that there are not fans here searching for choice collectibles to add to their hoards, as the enthusiastic crowds in our booth are a testimonial to the avid continuing pursuit of acquisitions. In my journey today down the center aisle of the convention center, however, I became quite aware that the attendence at the comics end of the convention was dwarfed by those filling the 30' wide aisles in the media portion of the building. It was so crowded in media, in fact, that I could not bend over to tie my shoe without fearing that I would be accidentally knocked over, and subsequently trampled. I noticed, too, that mothers near the LucasFilms booth were not only holding their small children in their arms so that they could see better, but also so that they would not be injured by others in the crowds.. (click on image for larger view) It was in this area of the building that I saw almost no purchasing taking place (though people were perfectly happy to take freebees...), but rather just a constant milling about and gawking. Imagine, if you can, 100,000 people transported off-planet to visit an Intergalactic County Fair. Terry Moore (the creator of the wonderful STRANGERS IN PARADISE series) made the very cogent observation to me that this show has become more like Woodstock than an actual comics convention. I completely agree with Terry's observation, but I would take it a step further. To my way of thinking, Woodstock was not nearly so much about music, as it was a social gathering in which hundreds of thousands of people came to a single spot with a huge number of differing personal adgendas. In the melding of all those personal priorities into a single social synthesis, however, something transpired which created a unified energy flow that was so powerful that it is still remembered nearly 40 years later as an unprecedented social event. In my opinion, the San Diego Comic-Con International has somehow managed to replicate that ability to meld people's positive energies. That why I think that the initially causual visitors who attend the show from the San Diego area have become such vociferous advocates of the convention to their families and friends. The primary reason why this show is becoming so immense is that these folks who only dropped in out of curiosity not only return each subsequent year, but they also convert others into joining the fun. I have no idea where this path will eventually take us, but I have no doubt that we have yet to see the ultimate manifestation of this unbelievably powerful new social interaction. I'll provide you with more observations in tomorrow's newsletter, but for today I have to stop. I would like to remind everyone who hasn't been able to attend this year's SDCC, however, that our 30% off SANDIEGO codeword sale is still in effect for another 72 hours. If you would like to purchase almost any back issue comic book or magazine in our online inventory at prices ranging from 65%-86% off of our usual list prices, just type SANDIEGO into the codeword line, and our computer will deduct an additional 30% off for you from the prices listed in the database, even if those items have already been discounted. Free shipping is also still availalble for all domestic orders over $40, and all International orders over $100 (no express carriers). Order from us today and you'll save substantially on the cost of your comics, and also help us to cover our remaining costs from attending the convention. Thank you for your support! (click on image for larger view) I'll now leave you today with a large number of photographs that Pam took today of various folks in costume. Fun, fun, fun! Happy collecting! Chuck Rozanski, President - Mile High Comics, Inc. Advance Previews of next weeks comics from Marvel and DC Saturday Pictures Batman takes time to pose for a picture. Chatterbox from the Hellraiser series. Electro shows off his electricity. Frog-g-g-g Holly Golightly in the Braodsword booth. The Joker in all his evil glory. A group of girls dressed as characters from Kill Bill. What's a Con without a Klingon? Princess Leia dances with V for Vendetta. Lord of The Rings Spider-Man shops Storm is posing pretty. Wonder Woman, Batman & Robin World of Warcraft Dark Elf Shadow Priest Wolverine makes an appearance. Wonder Women! Jedi with Baby Yoda. How cute!