Comic book characters make for great retail merchandise too. Every year San Diego Comic Con has several exclusive action figures, statutes, vehicles, and other various retail items released. The biggest one this year, was literally the biggest - a 19" Galactus action figure from Marvel Comics, available exclusively at San Diego Comic Con in a limited edition. Other big items were DC Comics' Starro vs. the Justice League figure set, a 1:64 scale Ghostbuster's Ecto 1 from Hot Wheels, a limited edition Comic Con only My Little Pony, Dexter and Twilight bobbleheads, and much more. One of the funnier items came from Hot Wheels; every year they release one of the many DC Comics Superhero vehicles. This year they released Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet. It was really invisible! You got an actual Hot Wheel package with Wonder Woman's cartoon jet pictured and a title of the included vehicle, but when you looked inside there was nothing to see. But it wasn't just an empty package, there is a plastic piece inside appearing to be holding the jet and its weighted so there feels like a Hot Wheels car inside. I'm afraid to open one of them to see if there is a real jet in there. For only $5 this Comic Con exclusive was easily affordable and great way to remember the imagination necessary to be a comic book fan.
I've talked about movies, celebrities, toys but you ask what about the actual "comic books at Comic Con?" With DC Comics celebration 75 years of superheroes there was plenty of coverage on their current comic book properties. Batman is preparing to return from the dead (SPOILER ALERT! highlight the next line for more info on Batman),
he didn't really die, just sent on a journey through time
and there is all kinds of craziness going on in the DC Universe after the recent Blackest Night series that has led to the new series, Brightest Day, focusing on Green Lantern but it involves the entire DC comics line of characters including the Flash, Aquaman, Deadman, Hawkman, Sinestro, and many more. Check out Brightest Day at your local comic book store to find out why DC Comics has had a successful 75 years! Marvel talked about new Avengers comic storylines, as well as, comics pertaining to their 2 new upcoming movies of 2012, Thor and Captain America that will help with the continuity from graphic novel to the big screen. Other smaller comic companies released books and introduced new characters this year. The extremely popular TV series, True Blood had a special edition of their new comic book series released during the convention. Stan Lee announced that he'd be writing new characters in the coming year with his company Pow Entertainment and Boom Studios (watch for Soldier Zero this October). While Hollywood might have hogged the spotlight, true comic book fans were able to get their fill of fanboy news on all their favorite heroes.
SWAG. Its not the ONLY reason to go to Comic Con, however it is definitely one of the coolest perks. In past years, Warner Bros., Sony, Marvel, DC Comics, Entertainment Earth, Capcom (video games), Summit Enterntainment and many other were giving away handfuls of items. The Warner Bros. booth is famous for handing out 100s of thousands of these giant tote bags that you could collect your SWAG in. In past years, I wouldn't bring a bag to the exhibit hall floor each day, I would just stop by Warner Bros. and pick up a new one (or a dozen) bags to fill up that day. This year, the "bad economy" finally hit Comic Con. SWAG was not as easily available nor passed out in the quantities that it normally was. Warner Bros. teamed with Comic Con International this year and gave out one bag to each attendee when they registered. Booths handed out only 100 (instead of 1000s) of special items each day. Now, I know I sound a little greedy, but it was sad to not have the free-for-all atmosphere that has existed in the past cons. On the brightside, the SWAG passed out this year gained more value because there were fewer items available. Many people discovered an item and would seek it out each day. My item was a mini tote from Warner Bros. with a picture of Clark Kent from Smallville on it. Warner Bros. passed about 100 out each morning with various special goodies inside. One day they had a reusable coffee mug inside, another day was a little flashlight that projected a Superman symbol, and the day I finally got one was a Harry Potter lego keychain and various other items. It was an awesome feeling to get one of the great bags (and during the con they were selling on eBay for upwards of $150). Other giveaways included superhero buttons, Star Trek watches, free comic books, Starro masks, Red Hood masks, shields from Clash of the Titans, and the usual posters, stickers, and postcards. The really good SWAG was being given away during panels, for those in attendance only. I walked away with more Tshirts from various movies and TV shows this year than any year passed. I have shirts for the Expendables, Green Hornet, Captain America, Burn Notice, True Blood, Harry Potter and Cowboys & Aliens. Other SWAG passed out during Panels included sunglasses for a new movie called Paul, Megamind gave out watches and a tote bag, RED gave out a special edition poster, and Disney gave away 999 posters (to represent the 999 ghosts on the ride) for their upcoming Haunted Mansion movie (a very valuable piece of SWAG this year). All in all, the SWAG was less in amount but bigger in excitement and rarity.
to be continued...again... :)
No comments:
Post a Comment