We left Santa Rosa Wednesday after I said goodbye to all friends, new and old, at the Tribes Summer Institute. It was a real privilege to get to listen to Jeanne Gibbs, the very special person who began over 40 years ago to challenge the status quo of education and to start asking questions about how teaching and learning was happening in our schools. I only hope when I reach her age I am stilled filled with such vitality and strong desire to keep learning.

So we landed in San Diego yesterday evening and managed to check in with the badge acquisition area and picked up our badges for Thursday and Sunday. We then caught a cab to our hotel which is located on F Street very close to 5th Avenue and about four blocks away from the San Diego Convention Centre where Comic Con is being held.

Comic Cons are held all over the world but the San Diego one is acknowledged as the biggest in the world with over 125,000 people visiting and hundreds of vendors. Anyone who has ever had even a passing interest in comic book stories, graphic novels, fairy tales, movies, television shows, art, illustration, graphic design, costuming, writing, video gaming, collectibles, pop culture, board games and more would find this expo absolutely fascinating and a great event to be a part of.

We had badges for today but didn’t want to line up for any particular panels or Q&A’s held in any of the assigned rooms or halls. We decided to do the Exhibit Hall which literally takes HOURS to get around and not due to the number of people but simply due to the sheer size and the amount of vendors and stands and stalls to check out. I took quite a few pictures. I wish we managed to score badges for every day but no such luck but I am glad we got a Sunday badge as the panels on Sunday in Hall H starting with Fringe and then Supernatural will be great to attend even if it does require hours of queuing to make sure we get in. Only 6,500 get let into Hall H (the biggest hall) and apparently there are always people who are turned away, so you have to line up early.

Here’s a selection of the photos I took.

Even the transport round town gets in on the act. Buses wrapped in ads for TV shows and Movies.

Adults get dressed up. A lot of adults get dressed up. I’m not quite sure what the appeal is but it seems lots of random strangers come up and ask for photos either of you or with you so maybe that’s the appeal.

We get these massive “swag” bags when you get your badge and lanyard. There’s about 13 different designs on the bags. I managed to secure the Supernatural one so all is right with the world.

Though I quite like this Man of Steel one. Superman being one of my early fictional heroes.

There was a Lara Croft strolling by.

Not sure who this is supposed to be but she looks worried.

Artwork being done LIVE. Spray cans always seem a risky media to me.

Couldn’t miss the opportunity to capture the best superhero suit in the world.

The Warner Bros stand.

Not a well girl this one, but the hair looks a little incongruous.

Lots of artists had their work on display.

I was sensing a theme in the genre of the books on display. Haunted with a vague sense of having a distinct lack of preparation for something.

One of the best shows on TV.

The display for the new reimagining of Total Recall was pretty cool.

Dexter was everywhere. Looking forward to the new season 🙂

At least that Colin Farrell dude is better looking than Arnie.

The new Joseph Gordon Levitt movie called Looper looks interesting too.

One of my FAVOURITE sci fi series by Orson Scott Card is being made into a movie! Hope they do it justice.

Must give Shameless a go, if it’s as good as the other two up here it’s a winner.

The Walking Dead had a big display too.

Suitably Supes was EVERYWHERE.

Then there were Trolls.

Definitely had a menacing feel to them.

The infamous Boba Fett.

Optimus looking especially Prime. 😉

Hulk always looks cross about something.

But he does have good dental.

The X Men Women – for Daisy. 🙂 No Phoenix though.

Wolverine – yellow is not his colour.

This bad guy is called Red Skull. Bet you never would have guessed.

This Iron Man bust will only set you back a nifty $350.

This one had a more male model type pose. Such well defined musculature.

Those damn robots are everywhere.

For all my friends with Dogs – the Alien breed not recommended for bidability.

Predator!

Alien!

Extreme Dog Alien close up.

I’ve always thought Batman was a little too emo for his own good.

Those Ring Wraiths of Mordor ride some fierce Equines.

The Boba Fett was also many places.

HAN!! You’ve been carbonised!!

Plenty of cool artwork for sale.

Classic Looney Toons! BEEP BEEPS

And a final word on how to solve all the world’s problems.