Michael D Hamersky On Comics Is Preparing For... The 2011 Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Part 6 - A Look Back At Shel Dorf's Personal Collection! The Special Exhibit Runs July 8th thru August 1st of 2011!   - Photo Above: At the Special Exhibit in the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park, San Diego California!  The name of the exhibit:  Comic-Con: The Early Years - Memorabilia From The Shel Dorf Collection! (Photos courtesy of my son, Vinnie!) (L-R)  Michael D Hamersky, Matthew (Matt) Schiff, and Jane Kenealy!  Video above:  Jane showing Matt & Michael just some of the items in the collection!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3462 - Part 6 of a series on the 2011 Comic-Con International San Diego:

NOTE: Part 1 of this ongoing series about the 2011 Comic-Con, (Blog #3450),  gave a 'general overview' of why the San Diego Comic Con / Comic Con International: San Diego is very important to me.  Along with multiple links to previous years blog posts, photo albums dating back to 1973, etc, etc.

Part 2, (Blog #3458), pointed out shopping tips on what we are buying to bring to the Comic-Con.  I haven't missed a year since the Comic-Con first moved to the San Diego Convention Center back in 1991.  I first started attending as a comic book dealer back in 1972, at the El Cortez Hotel.  But I still have to plan out what to bring each year, as five days on my feet means a lot of trekking around the convention center and surrounding environs! This con is expanding out every year it seems, with programs being held at two different adjacent hotels now, at opposite ends of the convention center!

Part 3, (Blog #3459), posted the links to what panels / programs I believe are the most important for those of you that are first timers to this comic convention. Plus they are the most 'representative' of what Comic-Con International is, without 'Hollywood' panels / programs being included, UNLESS they are truly comic book oriented.

Part 4, (Blog #3460) posted the links to where I normally would be spending a lot of time at while on the exhibit floor of this comic convention. Where's that?!  Well... When I'm not attending panels / programs with or without my wife Tina, I'll be most likely at the 'Artists Alley' or 'Small Press Pavilion' sections of this convention center.

Part 5, (Blog #3461) posted a link to what is in store for those of you attending the 2011 Comic-Con and wondering about how to beat the online mess of trying to buy memberships for 2012! I don't want to 'repeat' myself here, so please look at the blog #3461 link for the 'news'!

As for Part 6 of this series... Well, Part 5 was about the future, so here I am taking a 'look' at the 'Past'!  And not just a look via my thoughts or collections of memorablilia obtained at Comic-Cons in the past... But from the collection of the 'Founder' of the SDCC himself, Shelf Dorf!

First of all, a BIG THANK YOU to Facebook Friend, Greg Koudoulian, for bringing this special exhibit to my attention!

Secondly, Another BIG THANK YOU to both Matthew Schiff, Multimedia Communications Associate, and Jane Kenealy, Archivist, at the San Diego History Center, for taking time out of their busy Saturday to show both my youngest son and myself the exhibit and the rest of the collection in the reseach library portion of this center!

I'm posting just a couple of photos here from the trip to the Center, and the rest will be posted in a special photo album, 2011 Shel Dorf SDCC Collection - San Diego History Center, at my Facebook fan page, 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics'.

My youngest son, Vinnie, and I spent a total of two hours at the Center, and I know that we will be back to take a closer look at the items that are not on exhibit, but can only be accessed via the downstairs research library.

The exhibit itself? Well, upstairs there are three exhibit cases with items that are more likely to be of a more general public interest  to those coming to the Center.  After all, it is a museum on San Diego History!

There are also banners on the wall in back of the glass cases, where you can stand in front of for photo ops, like we did, as shown at the top right of this blog.

The items presented in the cases include SDCC program books, flyers, photos and other memorabilia.  And even a comic book or two!

For more on this special exhibit... 'right click' on the top left photo, which is the promotional flyer for this exhibit. It will expand to a larger sized flyer that you can see clearer. 

For additional info on hours and how you can access this material, feel free to contact the Center itself, as seen via this link.

Plus, I recommend clicking the 'LIKE' button on their Facebook Fan Page as well!

Again, my personal thanks to Matthew  (Matt) Schiff & Jane Kenealy for taking time out of their Saturday to meet with me to go over this exhibit.

I personally recommend you seeing this special exhibit upstairs and downstairs before it is taken off of display on August 2nd!  Of course you could still see the items via the research library afterwards...! 

That's It for Part 6... And I believe this is the last of the blogs on the Comic-Con prior to the Con as... Comic-Con is only FOUR DAYS away!

Whew, busy week ahead!  And I already have the next four blog slots filled with topics...Just have to write them!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,488 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! 

And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Is Preparing For... The 2011 Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC)! Part 5 - By Preparing for the 2012 Con! Which Will Run July 11th (Preview Night) thru July 15th of 2012!   - Photo Above: Michael D Hamersky at his 20th San Diego Comic-Con International in a row... From when the Con first moved to the San Diego Convention Center back in 1991 to the year 2010 when this photo was taken!  Michael started selling at the 1972 comic con that was held at the El Cortez Hotel in San Diego! Back then it was known as San Diego's West Coast Comic Convention!

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3461 - Part 5 of a series on the 2011 Comic-Con International San Diego:

Part 1 of this ongoing series about the 2011 Comic-Con, (Blog #3450),  gave a 'general overview' of why the San Diego Comic Con / Comic Con International: San Diego is very important to me.  Along with multiple links to previous years blog posts, photo albums dating back to 1973, etc, etc.

Part 2, (Blog #3458), pointed out shopping tips on what we are buying to bring to the Comic-Con.  I haven't missed a year since the Comic-Con first moved to the San Diego Convention Center back in 1991.  I first started attending as a comic book dealer back in 1972, at the El Cortez Hotel.  But I still have to plan out what to bring each year, as five days on my feet means a lot of trekking around the convention center and surrounding environs! This con is expanding out every year it seems, with programs being held at two different adjacent hotels now, at opposite ends of the convention center!

Part 3, (Blog #3459), posted the links to what panels / programs I believe are the most important for those of you that are first timers to this comic convention. Plus they are the most 'representative' of what Comic-Con International is, without 'Hollywood' panels / programs being included, UNLESS they are truly comic book oriented.

Part 4, (Blog #3460) posted the links to where I normally would be spending a lot of time at while on the exhibit floor of this comic convention. Where's that?!  Well... When I'm not attending panels / programs with or without my wife Tina, I'll be most likely at the 'Artists Alley' or 'Small Press Pavilion' sections of this convention center.

So why a Part 5?  And what's the BIG DEAL about 2012?!

Well, first of all, take a look at the Facebook Fan Page for the Comic-Con International, and look at all of the current and previous wall posts and follow up comments by those that wanted to get in, and those that are getting in for the first time.... What a zoo it is!  (And I'm not talking about the world famous San Diego Zoo just a few miles North of the San Diego Convention Center either!)

Secondly, if you are attending the 2011 Comic-Con and even think you want to attend the 2012 event, you need to be sitting down for this, which I first saw at 'The Beat' a couple of days ago, and have been mentioning in my Facebook Fan Page, 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics', as a heads up to my 'fans'!

Here's the link to the article:  San Diego Comic-Con Changes 2012 Pre-registration Procedure.

Okay,  are you back?  And picking yourself off the floor?!!

Yeah, you saw this:

4-day with Preview Night — $175
4 day without Preview Night — $150
4 day Junior ((ages 12–17) and Senior (60 and older) and military badges with previews night — $87
Ditto without Preview Night — $75
1-day pass — $40
1 day pass for juniors, seniors and military — $20
Sunday only — $23
Sunday only juniors, seniors and military — $11

AND, as far as I can see, that article is right... There hasn't been a retraction since it was first posted on July 13th at 5:51 PM....

Plus, it has been mentioned a few times on the Facebook Fan Page for the Comic-Con, but only by the 'fans' up until this point at 10:45 AM on Friday, July the 15th of 2011.

So until something else breaks, I gotta go with this news...

And letting you, my blog readers as well as my Facebook 'fans' in on this, so you can make plans to walk over to where the memberships for 2012 will be sold at!   Just expect there to be a LOT of people there standing in line starting next Thursday morning, the 21st!

Sorry to be repeating 'bad news', but a lot of people are flying to San Diego this weekend to take in next week's Comic-Con, and I wanted them to be informed before getting out here!

So be sure to head to the right spot to purchase your 2012 Comic-Con memberships, during the special hours!

Again, as for photos I'll be taking at this 2011 Comic-Con... Those will first be uploaded to my 'Wall Photos' album, as I can't take the time at the Comic-Con to label and post them while on the Exhibit Hall floor or at the panels rooms during the con hours.

So at first they will post to the 'Wall Photos' album and then later they will be moved to the: 2011 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC after the Comic-Con is over.

Plus I'll be reserving several photos back for use in this blog, as I review blog the publications given to me for possible review.  Yes, I'm usually given quite a few comics & graphic novels at this comic convention, and get backed up for a couple of months afterwards, review blogging!

That's It for Part 5... And I don't believe there are too many 'Parts' left to blog about as... Comic-Con is only FIVE DAYS away!

NOTE: Part 6 (the weekend edition) will be on a 'Special Exhbit' that I will be seeing tomorrow... That is VERY connected to the SDCC, and Part 7 could be blogging on a special issue of a well known publication here in San Diego that is coming out with that special issue on the 21st, but we'll see if it makes it to me in time to blog about it, BEFORE shutting down the blog for my attending the Comic-Con!  Whew, busy week ahead!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,488 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! 

And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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Michael D Hamersky On Comics Is Preparing For... The 2011 Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC)! Part 4 - Artists Alley & Small Press Pavilion! July 20th (Preview Night) thru July 24th, 2011 Photos in the right column:  (Top) Gary Friedrich with Michael D Hamersky in the Artists Alley during 2010.  (Bottom) Alan J Porter in the Small Press Pavilion during 2009!   -

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3460 - Part 4 of a series on the 2011 Comic-Con International San Diego:

Part 1 of this ongoing series about the 2011 Comic-Con, (Blog #3450),  gave a 'general overview' of why the San Diego Comic Con / Comic Con International: San Diego is very important to me.  Along with multiple links to previous years blog posts, photo albums dating back to 1973, etc, etc.

Part 2, (Blog #3458), pointed out shopping tips on what we are buying to bring to the Comic-Con.  I haven't missed a year since the Comic-Con first moved to the San Diego Convention Center back in 1991.  I first started attending as a comic book dealer back in 1972, at the El Cortez Hotel.  But I still have to plan out what to bring each year, as five days on my feet means a lot of trekking around the convention center and surrounding environs! This con is expanding out every year it seems, with programs being held at two different adjacent hotels now, at opposite ends of the convention center!

Part 3, (Blog #3459), posted the links to what panels / programs I believe are the most important for those of you that are first timers to this comic convention. Plus they are the most 'representative' of what Comic-Con International is, without 'Hollywood' panels / programs being included, UNLESS they are truly comic book oriented.

Part 4, (this Blog #3460) will be posting the links to where I normally would be spending a lot of time at while on the exhibit floor of this comic convention.

Where's that?!  Well... When I'm not attending panels / programs with or without my wife Tina, I'll be most likely at the 'Artists Alley' or 'Small Press Pavilion' sections of this convention center.

Why?

Well, for me, one of the most fun activities on the exhibit floor is to meet 'new' comics artists that I haven't met before, and / or renew friendships with others I have seen here at SDCC or at other comic cons I attend.

That's because no matter what the size of a comic con, the comics creators can't afford the time or the costs to attend all the comic cons that are running nationwide now, let alone the international comic cons!

So I make it a point to at least stop at each table in Artists Alley to check out what is being produced either for illustrations, covers, or comic book covers.  If I see that the artwork or project is 'commercial' enough to warrant my spending extra time at the table with the creator(s), I'll do so... If the creator(s) is receptive.  Too often the creators are busy cranking out commissioned sketches to pay for their costs to attend this con!

Yes, I used to be a 'mainstream' only comic book reader back in the days when it was Stan, Jack, Steve, Don, Gene and others at the 'House of Ideas', but today with all the rebooting of universes and title numbers... They have lost me as a ongoing fan of actually buying their product, as I am no longer a 'completist', buying a title simply to continue my run of a complete series to date... 

I of course will go to the 'Big Screen' to see their films, and blog about them here, but it is the 'indy comics' that grab my interest now.  After 50+ years of reading, accumulating, collecting, buying & selling comics, I need more than what the mainstream comics offer nowadays....

So do yourself a favor as well... Check out the 'Artists Alley' section over at the Hall 'G' entrance.  There are many tables there  to visit, so give yourself a few hours or even days to go back & forth to it.  There are a lot of artists there for you to stop and see, as well as purchase original art, commissioned sketches, etc.

When using the .pdf map shown at the Comic-Con web site, it is at the far left of the map (on the other side of the wall of Hall H).

Here is the link to the .pdf map.

Unfortunately... The Small Press Pavilion is at the end of Lobby B2 entrance.  Which is quite a ways to travel from the Artists Alley section!  However, there are several Small Press Publishers that I enjoy reading, and there are quite a few titles that are printed for select audiences who enjoy reading multiple or different genres of comics.

What publishers are going to be there?  Here's the link to them.

I personally enjoy reading and blogging on several titles from several Small Press publishers.  Who?

Well, let me tell you, finding those publishers is just half the fun when at this comic con... So I'm not going to ruin it for you!  But you can get an idea from my Blog at this link:  Publications & books reviewed at ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com.  I seem to run into several each year at this comic con that I've never heard of, and I like I said, I've attended straight through since 1991!

As for photos I'll be taking at this Comic-Con in the Artists Alley and Small Press Pavilion... Those will first be uploaded to my 'Wall Photos' album, as I can't take the time at the Comic-Con to label and post them while on the Exhibit Hall floor or at the panels rooms during the con hours.

So at first they will post to the 'Wall Photos' album and then later they will be moved to the: 2011 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC after the Comic-Con is over.

Plus I'll be reserving several photos back for use in this blog, as I review blog the publications given to me for possible review.  Yes, I'm usually given quite a few comics & graphic novels at this comic convention, and get backed up for a couple of months afterwards, review blogging!

That's It for Part 4... And it is 4:30 on Wednesday afternoon... So I'll post this tomorrow, Thursday!

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,484 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! 

And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Is Preparing For...The 2011 Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC)! Part 3 - Suggestions On The Programming Schedules July 20th (Preview Night) Thru July 24th, 2011   - Photos: (above) When attending the San Diego Comic Con International, be prepared for news trucks and crews, both at the curb, at the entrances, and in the exhibit hall itself. Plus they are there from the wee hours of the morning till late at night! (Above top left) The really nice thing about this comic convention is that since the Comic-Con has been at the San Diego Convention Center since 1991... The con promoters have learned that good signage is the key to keeping the crowds happy! (Both pics from 2010 SDCC)

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3459 - Part 3 of a series on the 2011 Comic-Con International San Diego:

Part 1 of this ongoing series about the 2011 Comic-Con, (Blog #3450),  gave a 'general overview' of why the San Diego Comic Con / Comic Con International: San Diego is very important to me.  Along with multiple links to previous years blog posts, photo albums dating back to 1973, etc, etc.

Part 2, (Blog #3458), pointed out shopping tips on what we are buying to bring to the Comic-Con.  I haven't missed a year since the Comic-Con first moved to the San Diego Convention Center back in 1991.  I first started attending as a comic book dealer back in 1972, at the El Cortez Hotel.  But I still have to plan out what to bring each year, as five days on my feet means a lot of trekking around the convention center and surrounding environs! This con is expanding out every year it seems, with programs being held at two different adjacent hotels now!

Part 3, (Blog #3459), will be posting the links to what panels / programs I believe are the most important for those of you that are newbies to this comic convention.

Why?

Well... I've already have my schedule planned out through Friday, as of this blog being posted at 10:30 AM Monday, and have multiple schedule conflicts... There are so many panels / prgrams I'd like to see on Friday!

So I've decided to post at my Facebook Fan Page, 'Michael D Hamersky On Comics', the ones I believe that newbies to this comic convention should take in to get a better understanding of this comic con and comics in specific.

Unless the program has a DIRECT connection to comic books, I'm not going to list it as a 'suggestion' at those Note Pages in my Facebook Fan Page.  That's because 'Hollywood' has enough exposure for their films and TV shows as it is!

The Comic-Con name is becoming a 'generic name' for more than just a convention with comic books, so I'm just listing what I believe con goers can learn more about comics / comic books / graphic novels / cartoons / etc., and have FUN doing so!

I'm trying not to repeat myself in this blog with the same links over and over.  So I will only mention links here that have to do with the topic of this blog.

Here's the links to the programs I'm suggesting you check out while at this Comic-Con. Please note: Some of these overlap others, but I do describe who I think should take these in.  Each day of the Comic-Con has its own Notes Page:

Wednesday Highlights! - You should just take in the Exhibit Hall Floor, as there will be multiple 'Exclusive Comic-Con' items that will be sold out the first night of the con! Oh, and be sure to buy your memberships for the 2012 Comic-Con before going into the Exhibit Hall!

Thursday Highlights with 6 suggestions!

Friday Highlights with 9 suggestions!

Saturday Highlights with 8 suggestions!

Sunday Highlights with 7 suggestions! 

Again, those links will only take you to the Notes Page for that day.

Plus here is my 'disclaimer' for the Notes Pages:

"This list of panels is NOT to slight anyone, these are just some panels that are really ones that needed to be pointed out! I'm going to several other panels that are not included below, but those are 'personal preferences', not 'specific hi-lites' to be seen by those that have never been to Comic-Con! Also:  I may not personally be at all of these, these are ones that I believe are the Hi-Lites, but not necessarily meant for me this year!"

As for photos I'll be taking at this Comic-Con... Those will first be uploaded to my 'Wall Photos' album, as I can't take the time at the Comic-Con to label and post them while on the Exhibit Hall floor or at the panels rooms.

So at first they will post to the 'Wall Photos' album and then they will be moved to the: 2011 San Diego Comic Con International SDCC after the Comic-Con is over.

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,483 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! 

And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

Make It So Marketing Inc., PO Box 130653, Carlsbad, CA 92013

 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

---

Michael D Hamersky On Comics Is Preparing For... The 2011 Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC)! Part 2 - Shopping FOR the Con! July 20th (Preview Night) Thru July 24th, (My Birthday), 2011   - Photos: (above) When attending the San Diego Comic Con International, be prepared to stop at any moment for a quick photo! No, it's NOT the TSA checking security at the SDCC! (Above top left) My wife always spots 'Wonder Woman' for me at this con, but WW wasn't to be seen at the DC booth at the time of this photo! (Both pics from 2010 SDCC)

TODAY'S FEATURE - Blog #3458 - Part 2 of a series on the 2011 Comic-Con International San Diego:

Yesterday, my wife Tina and I spent most of the day shopping for the upcoming Comic-Con International: San Diego.

That's right... I said shopping 'for' the Comic-Con, not shopping 'at' the con!

That's because after 11 years of attending the Comic-Con, Tina has learned to be prepared, as we arrive very early to the convention center, and don't leave the premises unless we have an 'after-con party' to attend in the evening!

So we spent the day buying multiple items at multiple stores. Being an experienced attendee at this con, (I have been attending since 1991 straight without missing a year at the convention center, and actually started attending officially back in 1972, when I bought out a comics dealer at the El Cortez site), as mentioned in blog #3450!

I ordered new walking shoes, as I have very wide feet, and don't want any problems walking the massive convention center PLUS the hotels next to the convention center that are also having 'panels' and 'programs'. Trust me... Comfortable shoes are the #1 item to bring to this convention! 

Next I purchased new blue jeans, to match my new 'ComicBookCollectorsBlog.com' Navy blue colored polo shirts that you will be seeing more of in this blog in the weeks to come! (Yeah, I still have a half-dozen of the indigo colored shirts... But those were getting a little worn, as I wear them to all of the conventions I attend, for easier recognition.)  Here's a link to Semantink's Comic Savvy in Mission Valley, San Diego, where I 'premiered' the Navy Blue polo shirts at earlier last month.) 

Tina also bought new shoes, pants, and tops for the Comic-Con.  Yes, in the past we have bought t-shirts on the exhibit floor from dealers that peddle those, but we also have to remember that we want our photos taken with certain individuals and groups while at the Comic-Con, and at any 'after con parties' we attend.  So being comfortable is the priority, but also feeling that we can fit into any crowd scene we find ourselves invited to.  There isn't a 'dress code' for most of the events. Hey's it's 'laid back San Diego' after all!

We also bought plenty of snacks, which will be lugged around the convention center in small quantities.  I say 'small quantities', as the swag we pick up on the exhibit floor, plus the comics / graphic novels / TPBs that I am given by comics creators in Artists Alley & the Small Press sections for possible review in this Blog, get very heavy after a while!

As an additional note on food... Ever since Tina came down with food poisioning at this con, we have been very careful as to what we purchase there.  She missed a whole day of the con, and after looking forward to attending all five days, that was a big disappointment for her that year!   So we stay away from non-cooked food there, (hint!).

We already bought pre-paid parking under the San Diego Convention Center three months ago, but the first day, 'Preview Night' was already reserved for those setting up at the Comic-Con. Thus we are nearby, but not where we can easily take items back to the car that night.

I also want to remember to mention that there have been quite a few mentions of the Comic-Con in this Blog since it started in 2006...!  Here's a link to all of the mentions of the SDCC during the years of this Blog and its predecessor in the eBay Blogs platform, which were copied overr!  There are several lists of what to bring in some of those also!

Talking about links, in the previous blog #3450, I posted links to all of the photo albums that have photos from previous Comic-Cons I've attended. I'm not going to repeat them here, except for the current year:

BTW, You can 'follow' this blog by clicking the 'Follow' Button at this NetworkedBlogs app!  We currently have over 2,483 'Followers'!  Thanks to ALL of YOU that have already clicked that button! 

And for those of YOU that haven't yet... I would appreciate it if YOU would!!!

~ Michael D Hamersky

If I have it... You can find it 'Under The Big Top Of Comics' at:  

http://www.ComicBooksCircus.com/ 

Web Page Note:  This blog post is written for the IE Browser standards.  Chrome, Safari, Netscape, Firefox and the other browsers serve the page up differently, sorry about that!

The screen display resolution is best seen at the setting of 1024 x 768 on your laptop or desktop computer.  Note:  As of Monday, June 27th, 2011, I'll be using my new laptop, where the default resolution is 'higher', so there may be some temporary glitches until I am used to the new resolution.

NOTE: All images and characters within this blog post are copyright and trademark their respective owners.

Comics Creators: If you are breaking into, or already work in the comic book industry or other pop culture productions, you are welcome to email or mail us press releases, news items, and updates that you feel would be of interest to our blog readers. Including YOUR own works!

To mail printed items to us for possible review, send to:

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 Also, if you are a Facebook member, I would have liked you to send me a 'Friend Request'. However, I have reached the maximum limit of 5,000 Facebook Friends and Fan pages already, so I've added a New 'Facebook Fan Page' so that even more of YOU can 'Like' what I am doing, and be interactive with me and others there.  Here is the link to that 'Facebook Fan Page': Michael D Hamersky On Comics! Please click the 'Like' button on that page! 

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