The Hitchhiker’s Guide to ComicCon (Don't Panic)!

Day two of ComicCon 2007-and this being Friday-the number of attendees swells to include those fans of all things geeky who were unable to take Thursday off and had to wait for the weekend to pay homage to the gods of pop culture iconography. Based on advanced ticket sales it’s estimated that this year’s Con will attract in access of 120,000 visitors.

As large as the San Diego Convention Center is, somewhere in the neighborhood of six city blocks, the vast numbers of conventioneers clogging its hallways has not escaped the attention of local officials. Concerns for everyone’s safety headline the news in the local papers.

“What I'm most trying to avoid is panic,” Fire marshal TamarahCastañeda told a reporter for the San Diego Union Tribune. “People getting out of control, that's my concern…”

“When fire strikes in a crowded venue, panic can kill more people than the flames and smoke. Fleeing patrons are knocked to the ground, trampled,” the Union Tribune story went on to say.

“It's happened in various places in recent memory, at a nightclub in Argentina two years ago and at a concert in Rhode Island two years before that – hundreds dead or injured both times,” the Tribune concluded.

And that doesn’t include how thousands of non-Californians are likely to react if the city experiences one of Southern California’s famous earth shaking temblors.

These People, Dressed as They Are…

Friday is also Star Wars Day and the number of costumed ComicConers skyrockets as well. While many dress as their favorite Star Wars characters hundreds of others embrace their inner comic book hero, fantasy character, wizard, warlock or elf.

Even ComicCon can't escape political protest.

Someone told him how Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows ends.

Director McG demonstrates how to direct two male actors, Joshua Gomez and Zachary Levi of NBC's new series chuck, in the proper way to mount one another.

Son of Zorro, Guy Williams Jr.

Not in costume actors Joe Flanigan and David Hewlett of Stargate Atlantis.

Some ComicConers invent their own fantasy characters.

We always thought the Rocketeer was taller.

Actors Joe Morton and Ed Quinn from the SciFi Channels hit series Eureka.

Colin Ferguson star of the hit SciFi Channel series Eureka sign autographs.

Actor Lee Arenberg Pintel from Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean films.

Some movie stars need no introduction.

The gown on the left is made entirely of Tarot cards.

Author and director of the upcoming PBS animated TV series Car Talk, Tom Sito.

This was the third costume change for this trio of super heroes that day.

And, yes everyone's favorite animated movie stars are also a big part of ComicCon.

 

The last word.