ComicCon 2005
Geekfest International, otherwise known as Comic-Con is held annualy at
the San Diego convention center. Artists, collectors and fans overall
come out in droves to hound autographs or get a chance to find that one
issue they’re missing. Over the years though, the con has evolved into
something more that just boxes of psychedelic pulp fantasy-ficiton.
Comic properties have bled so heavily into main stream media that video
games and films seem like natural allies to these gatherings.
Indeed, Hollywood showed up with bells on, taking the opportunity to
hype the latest and greatest of the genre. Paramount Pictures and
Universal Studios were among the largest showing their wares. Paramount
hosted a panel of cast and crew, including Charlize Theron, from the
upcoming Aeon Flux. Theron and others answered questions from the
audience and ended the program with an exclusive theatrical trailer for
the film. Universal’s holdings included Ghost Rider, starring Nick Cage
and Underworld 2, bringing back Kate Beckinsale and her skin tight
vinyl. Dreamworks Pictures had preliminary rendered scenes for their
upcoming CGI flic, Over the Hedge, scheduled for release in 2007 as is
the Aardman stop-motion animated film, Curse of the Were-Rabbit
starring Wallace and Gromit. Finally Tim Burton’s cohorts were on hand
demonstrating the animation tehniques behind this fall’s The Corpse
Bride, using the actual stop motion maquettes from the film in an
elaborate miniature set.
Gaming of the video type was far
from missing. Making a colorful and noisy appearance were the boys and
girls from Alien Hominid, promoting their quirky little flash
game-turned console by handing out deedly-bops, buttons and full
versions of their game. A yet unamed party game in development from the
crew was available for Con attendees, playable on Nintendo’s GameCube.
Activision was on hand with several helpings of their new Gauntlet
title and Midway set up a few stations with their Arcade Classics
volume 3, coming for the Xbox and PS2.
The highlight of my
visit was a recording session of sorts, where some of the best talents
in the voice acting world appeared on stage to do a run through of a
favorite catoon of mine, Teen Titans, on Cartoon Network. The
serialized toon would reach the season finale that night, and the
performers treated several hundred audience members by reading the
first act of the yet un-aired episode. It was a rare opportunity to see
any performers of this type, and an experience I won’t soon forget.
On the whole, the day was something of a bore. Comic books are one of
the few nerdy vices I actually lack, so the day’s main draw simply
didn’t appeal to me. Still, I did enjoy a good laugh at the ridiculous
costumes worn by the uber-fans, so the day wasn’t a complete bust.
