Ah, Comic Con.
Possibly the best people-watching weekend ever invented.
Having missed last year’s event, the Sister Unit and I headed up to Baltimore early on Saturday, arriving just after the doors opened. Unlike two years ago when we waltzed right in and began browsing comics, we spent almost 45 minutes waiting in a line that wrapped around the building. It was amazing to see the growth of the con in such a short period of time. For someone who’s never attended the SDCC or NYCC (yet), it was also heartening to see our little local con gaining popularity. Part of that might have been due to the scheduled appearance of Stan Lee who, due to health reasons, canceled just days before the event.
Never-the-less, a slight sun-burn and two bottles of water later, we were inside. And the insanity began.
Okay, that’s a bit of a stretch. In all honesty, it was a wonderful day and almost everyone attending was in a friendly, optimistic mood. Cosplayers were out in force (see picture gallery below) and most of the costumes homemade. You could tell a lot of thought and love went into them.
Maybe that’s why I love going to events like the Baltimore Comic-Con. Everyone there had a passion for comics and were able to share their enthusiasm in a large setting. There were entire families in costume, dads helping their daughters count out allowance money to buy a Totoro, and men and women debating plot arcs, character growth, etc. Granted, there are tools and jerks at every con, but almost everywhere I looked, I saw only collective love. Both for the comics themselves and the camaraderie found in sharing a common bond.
Overall, my experience was amazing. I found the handful of comics I needed to round out a few series (including some elusive Booster Golds!), met Mike Mignola (of Hellboy fame), met my agency-sister Lela Gwenn (@LGwenn) and Clovia Shaw (@CloviasLawn), chatted with some amazing folks, and soaked in the sense of community and belonging that filled the convention center.
Not a shabby way to spend a weekend.
2013 Baltimore Comic Con Picture Gallery:
Until now.
