Elveen @ Stan Lee's Comikaze with PICS

[Elveen]

Ok, so I went on Sat to Comikaze, and I'll guess I'll start at the beginning. I'm about 50 min from the LA Convention center (where the show was) and I wanted to get there before it opened to maximize my time there. So I head out early and to my joy, the traffic was limited and I made good time..... until I got to the offramp! crazy backed up and crazy long. So I'm waiting in line.... and waiting and waiting..... fully uggh! So if was 1 lane for the off ramp and we have been waiting a long time. I did see some peeps pulling off (which is what I should have done) but honestly, I'm not so familiar with the area so I waited and waited..... slowly I was getting closer..... and when I got up to the front of the off ramp peeps were pulling over to our line and trying to cut in!

Simply.... homie don't play that! Me and this chick 2 cars in front of me were not going to let it happen. She was screaming and waving her finger..... (unfortunately) I was hanging out of my car and yelling (not proud of it) but we dis not let anyone in. It was the first time in a while I had a bit o the road rage. So, not quite the start I wanted but it is what it is. So off the freeway more traffic and more traffic. Bottom line it took me about 50 min to drive what SHOULD have taken me 5 min.

So as I drove in front of the con to get to the parking I see TONS of lines OUTSIDE the con...... I was shocked! This is not SDCC, there should not be that many people. I was a bit perplexed. So I finally get to park ($15). and I start heading over to the con. I'm thinking I have to go to where all the people are, the front of the con. But as I walk up I see a side door and decide to go in. The inside of the lobby is a big ole hot mess. Line everywhere, you can just tell it is total confusion. I had prepaid with ticket leap (so glad I did).

I notice that ticket booths and they have different signs on them, apparently there were different ways to get tickets and each way had their own booths. ( ) I see that there are only 2 ticket leap booths, and tons of people in a line that had over 10 turns. and apparently the lines started outside. But the lines inside had an end, so the line had breaks (like at SDCC when they break lines so the isles are not blocked). BUT there was not a clear beginning or an end or people in charge or ropes or anything. Just some angry and confused people (there was for sure some hostility in the room). So I do what I usually do and find someone to be nice to. 2 mins later I gave them my printout with barcode and got my wrist band. I mean I was in the lobby for a total of 5 min and I'm in. Apparently there were people outside for like an hour.

The morale of the story = be nice.


So I had printed out a map of the room so I had a good idea of how it was laid out. I will say, it was very confusing. They did not really have anything grouped together like at SDCC. There were artists next to comic booths next to clothes next to wodden swords next to steampunk stuff..... confusing. I will also say that there were a good amount of people. More than I thought. Much more actually. Here are a few pics.

Blurry

[Elveen]

Ok, so I do a basic lay out of the con and then I'll get to some commentary.

They had a big stage set up at the back of the con. This was apparently was where the "panels" were. They also seemed to have some contests going on. They were also using the sound system in the entire room, so when they made announcements you could hear it wherever you you. One thing that DID get my attention was at one point (apparently) they put up a number and had a texting contest, I missed what they wanted to be texted but they were giving out prizes to the winners. 5 winners were going to get tickets to a Stan Lee meet and greet BUT the lucky winner was going to get a Hulk #181 signed by Stan. (pretty cool I thought) I think she said it was from Stan's personal collection.

Here is a pic with the stage in the back. When I took this pic Kevin Smith and Stan Lee were on stage.

[Elveen]

Another thing they had was a Zombie survival course. First off, it was NOTHING like the Walking Dead Escape at SDCC (that was A-MAZE-ING!!!!!!!) This not as much, but honestly it still looked kinda cool. I didn't ask anyone but from what I could tell, there was this big area fenced off with tons of blow up bouncer type things and the goal was to not get infected. People had football flags on and if they got their flags pulled then you got infected. So it was more a big game of "it" or tag. One BIG bummer is that the "zombies" were full on running after peeps. So really just tag with bouncy things. I could see it being fun, but after the WD Escape at SDCC...... it looked hokey. A few pics:

[Elveen]

More general Con stuff.

One cool thing was the Stan Lee Museum. Apparently Stan had brought a bunch of his personal Marvel collection. It was movie props and busts and statues and marvel cool things. I'm not a Marvel guy and did not grow up with all that stuff, but I still thought it was cool. I can see people really into Marvel REALLY diggin this.

Here are a few pics:

They had cases and cases of statues and busts:





Here is a VERY cool LARGE iron man statue. Probably 3 feet-ish tall. I'll admit, this thing was sweet.


Then they also had some movie props (I'm guessing) Not sure what this is (Thor?) But it did have some writing on it, it looked like someone had signed it.



More movie props. These were actually cool. I did not get to really check these out, there was a bunch of peeps in front.

[Elveen]

Elvira was also there. There was a whole section set up for her. She had a big ole set up. There was a car and coffins and guitars and suits and all type of Elvira things. One thing that totally caught my eye was this pic.




And here she is, Elvira.

[Elveen]

A few more random things:

They had a Quidditch match set up. There were a bunch of kids out there playing. Never seen anything like this before. One thing I can say, if I was holding a comic con, or ANYTHING with comics, stuff for kids is a must! The only way the dads can go and stay (and the dads have the $$$$ to spend) is to have stuff for the kids. So well done an this. Not sure how it worked, but there it was.

[Elveen]

They also had a BIG section set up for Warhammer. Not sure what it is, but it looks like D&D for people that have money. The set up these people had very VERY impressive. They create an entire world and then do it up. I took a bit of time to check this out. It's not something I would do (although I loved playing D&D as a kid and actually played a weekly game that we played ever Sunday for over a year and a half while I was in college. In fact, shout out to my DM who was a member here in the waaaaay back and actually got me into comics by forcing me to read Magnus #1. Fantasyfootballbono...... shout out!)

Check out these set ups:








This last one was for sale in a booth. I mean WOW! Like I said, D&D for rich dudes.

[Elveen]

A few more random pics (then the commentary)

Magic the gathering tables.


There were the usual cosplay peeps. Just a few.

BTW, not my kids. Ha!






Check out this cool gun

[Elveen]

Maybe the coolest thing I saw (besides some cool deals I got)

The poster is cool. I might have chosen some other words, but I dig it.

[Elveen]

Last pic. Me reppin Valiant.

[MarrowMan]

awesome!

[Blood of Heroes]

That looks like a blast!
Thanks for the invite.

[Elveen]

That looks like a blast!
Thanks for the invite.

[betterthanezra]

That looks like a blast!
Thanks for the invite.

-Brian

[Blood of Heroes]

That's ok. I wouldn't have been able to come anyways. I just like to be invited to things.

[Elveen]

That's ok. I wouldn't have been able to come anyways. I just like to be invited to things.

You want to come over tomorrow and help with my garage sale. I'll be putting stuff on on driveway at around 5:45 in the morn.

Wanna come on over then?

[Blood of Heroes]

That's ok. I wouldn't have been able to come anyways. I just like to be invited to things.

You want to come over tomorrow and help with my garage sale. I'll be putting stuff on on driveway at around 5:45 in the morn.

Wanna come on over then?

Well, I've got b!tches in the living room getting it on and they ain't leaving till six in the morn.
So I'll be a little late.

[Blood of Heroes]

B!tches just left. I'm on my way.

[Elveen]

B!tches just left. I'm on my way.

Great. You can help me move the stuff back into the garage.

[Blood of Heroes]

What was your address again? I've been driving around in circles.

[betterthanezra]

What was your address again? I've been driving around in circles.

That's one hell of a circle

-Brian

[Blood of Heroes]

What was your address again? I've been driving around in circles.

That's one hell of a circle

-Brian

No kidding. I've passed through Watts three times!

[betterthanezra]

What's sad, I heard they were charging $30 to go through the Zombie "funhouse" stuff what a fraking joke... I hope it failed because they look like they just through some cheap *SQUEE* bounce houses out there and called it some zombie course. Shame on them.

-Brian

[mrwoogieman]

Thanks for the recap and pics!