STACK NZ Aug #76

EXTRAS COMIC-CON

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Words: Scott Hocking GEEK OUT! Convention season was in full swing in the United States during the last week of July. The Republican National Convention was under way in Cleveland, but more importantly, San Diego Comic-Con once again transformed the Californian city into the centre of the pop culture universe and proved a welcome diversion from the Trump campaign trail.

2016 T he RNC may have had Chachi from Happy Days and a guy from Duck Dynasty as special guests, but Comic-Con once again attracted a who’s-who of the film, television and gaming world, as studios, networks and developers presented forthcoming releases directly to their core audience via panels, screenings, signings and special events. Unlike trade shows, Comic-Con really is the best marketing tool in the galaxy in terms of promoting the slate of films, TV series and video games scheduled for the coming year, with subsequent buzz from fans crucial to their success. One of the joys of Comic-Con is seeing Downtown San Diego transformed into a geek's paradise

EXTRAS

Comic-Con fact... The first comic book

convention in San Diego was held for three days in August 1970, and attracted 300 people.

Pokémon – both physical and virtual. One of the joys of Comic-Con is seeing

intrinsic to Comic-Con’s DNA. San Diego was also in the grip of a summer heatwave, which wasn’t conducive to standing in line for long periods, nor cosplaying as Chewbacca or Totoro. However, the faithful were undeterred and the attendees proved as eclectic as ever, with Suicide Squad characters

This year security was tight, with a ‘Costume Weapons Check’ enforced upon entry. One concerned citizen even called for a ban on cosplay, but fortunately the First Amendment protects

Downtown San Diego transformed into a geek’s paradise, with hotels and trolley cars adorned with artwork. You couldn’t really miss the vampiric Statue of Liberty dominating the Hilton Bayfront to promote the new season of The Strain , or the building banners featuring the Son of Zorn , an intriguing new sitcom about an animated He-Man-like warrior attempting to win back his live-action ex-wife and son. Attendees with a four-day badge that

a popular choice this year, as well as the inevitable

heroes and villains of Marvel, DC and Star Wars. Unsurprisingly,

those who wish to dress up, so it was business as usual for the thousands of cosplayers who are

the Convention Centre was also swarming with

AUGUST 2016

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