In the seemingly eternal struggle between San Diego and the greater Los Angeles megalopolis (nay, Orange County) for the soul of the popular media fan and, in particular, the mega-event known as the San Diego Comic-Con International ("SDCC"), Wizard Entertainment has fired another salvo by setting up their own comics convention in Anaheim. Venued at the Anaheim Convention Center, which would love to entice SDCC 90 minutes north in Interstate 5, what is being called "Anaheim Comic-Con" is slated to begin April 16, 2010, and run through the weekend over what is promised to be a fun-filled and exciting three days. Wizard Entertainment, best known for their monthly magazine, Wizard, chronicling all things comics (most notably, all things Marvel, DC, and Dark Horse) has a bit of checkered history with comics and popular media conventions, holding them in an on-again-off-again pattern in other cities such as Baltimore and Toronto to very mixed reviews.
One of the things that sets SDCC apart from other conventions, aside from its sheer mammoth size, has been the non-corporate feel that is has been able to portray despite its wildly uncontrolled popularity. Indeed, with 125,000+ raving fans, a San Diego Convention Canter filled to capacity for five and a half days, and an army of media vans and reporters, it is surprising that SDCC has been able to maintain its small town sensibilities and loyalties. In contrast, I understand, many of the Wizard events have come across as haphazard and hackneyed with the profit motive barely hidden behind the Batman cowl or Superman cape. Still, it will be in my backyard and I am still smarting from the loss of Gen-Con West, the West Coast version of the Indianapolis-based Gen-Con gaming convention, so I will almost certainly attend, if for no other reason that to quench my thirst for another few months until July and the real Comic-Con returns.
For details, visit their Web site at www.wizardworld.com.
If you go, let me know your thoughts and impressions.
David Baker
The Airsoft Lawyer
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