Countdown to @Comic_Con: 18 Weeks!

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @AdamReisinger

Note: This is the first entry in an ongoing series looking ahead to San Diego Comic-Con 2011, as contributor Adam Reisinger prepares to attend the convention for the first time.

18 weeks.

Seems like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not that long at all.

Even in the less grand scheme of things, San Diego Comic Con is really right around the corner. Badges are already sold out, hotels have already been booked, and many of the people I know who are attending the show have already booked their flights (I have not, but when I do, I'm sure I'll let you know all about it right here).

For those not in the know, SDCC is by far the biggest comic book and related media convention in the nation, attracting more than 100,000 attendees annually It's at the top of just about every nerd bucket list, and I finally get to scratch it off this year.

While I may be getting my SDCC V-card punched for the first time this summer, I'm far from a convention virgin. I popped that cherry "way back" in 2005 -- which may not seem like a long time ago to some SDCC attendees, but to put that in perspective, back then, Mary Jane Watson was still Mary Jane Watson-Parker, Bruce Wayne was still the lone Batman and Twilight was neither a book/film series nor a "Buffy" villain. Still, I've managed to make my way to a few shows since then, so let's run them down.

2005

My first convention was the ill-fated Wizard World Boston 2005, which had a great guest list, but DISMAL attendance, leading Wizard to abandon the New England market for four years.

2006

 

The following year, I attended both Wizard World Philadelphia and Wizard World Chicago. I was at the latter for nearly a full week, helping one of the exhibitors set up their booth, then attending the show as a fan. I was only in Philadelphia for a day, but I did pick up my most desired piece of comic book art, which remains the centerpiece of my living room to this day (and hopefully will until the day I die).

2007

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", I spent three days at New York Comic Con. The show -- run by a different company from SDCC -- has morphed into something of an East Coast version of San Diego, but back in '07 it was still relatively small scale, giving me time to meet and actually converse with Hayden Panettiere, who was promoting the first (and only watchable) season of "Heroes".

2008

Ahh, my lost year... let's move on.

2009

After nearly 20 months away from the convention scene, I returned at Baltimore Comic-Con, where I had a very Buffy-centric time, meeting Dark Horse editor Scott Allie, cover artist Jo Chen and primary interior artist Georges Jeanty. I also picked up a Mary Jane piece by Stephane Roux that remains the centerpiece of the OTHER side of my living room (my living room is something of a nerdvana if you're a fan of female Marvel comic characters).

2010

Hell, where didn't I go?! (Aside from San Diego, that is...). The year started for me in Boston, with the appropriately named Boston Comic-Con, where I got to cross "meet Amber Benson" off my nerd bucket list. That was followed by a return trip to Baltimore Comic-Con, where I spent WAY too much money on original art, including four pages from Buffy #33 (SPOILER ALERT: Angel is Twilight). A couple months later it was time for New York Comic Con again, which was an incredible experience, highlighted by waiting two hours in line to meet Morena Baccarin and Laura Vandervoort (TOTALLY worth it!). Convention season wrapped up for me a week later, at New England Comic Con, where I was a "Buffyfest" VIP, and immersed myself in Sunnydale glory for an entire weekend.

And now here we are in 2011. As of right now, that little show out west in 119 days (technically 118, but I'm not going to Preview Night) is the only one on my calendar, but I'm very excited for it.

And, ya know, if anyone wants to sponsor my trip by paying for my plane ticket, I wouldn't object...

#nerdsunite

Check back next Thursday for the next installment of "Countdown to Comic-Con", and be sure to follow Adam on Twitter @AdamReisinger or visit his website, www.adamreisinger.com