Some things really do get better with age.
There’s Scotch, Hillary Clinton and, 40 years after it first modestly opened its doors in San Diego, Comic-Con.
Comic-Con has become the Cannes of blockbusters.
(See: Scenes From "Preview Night" -- a Slideshow)
To many, it’s the only film festival that matters. Sure, more snippets than full films are screened, a few purists declare it actually has gotten too Hollywood -- and the populists wish the geek stain would finally wash off.
(Also read: "Top 10 Things You Must See at Comic-Con.")
But it undeniably has become one of the most important stops on the Tinseltown circuit.
Why?
Unlike what fills the schedule at most film festivals, Comic-Con is where the movies that most of the world will actually see make their debut. And it’s no longer just comics and movies. Comic-Con also features TV – hello, Seth McFarlane! -- collectables and merchandise, anime, and videogames -- all things that thrive in American youth culture.
This year, from Thursday through Sunday, over 100,000 fans and exhibitors in a variety of mediums will be packing the halls and corridors of the San Diego Convention Center.
Here’s why you should be one of them.
1. THE STAKES
Do the math -- the studios do. Comic-Con is where the movies that keep the lights on and the flames burning for Hollywood see their first light of day. Mainlining the tip of their target market iceberg, the studios and stars have learned that good buzz from the fanboys at Comic-Con can translate into stellar box office down the line.
Last year, James Cameron talked up “Avatar,” Robert Downey Jr. and director Jon Faverau previewed “Iron Man 2,” “Twilight Saga: New Moon” revealed its fangs and Tim Burton and Johnny Depp hyped “Alice in Wonderland.”
Those four movies have made over $1,690,737,928 domestically and $5,079,845,630 worldwide. Was it all thanks to Comic-Con? Of course not, but Comic-Con certainly fueled the fire -- and that flame, to put it mildly, burned very bright.
2. THE SPECTACLE
Getting a glimpse of Ryan Reynolds’ “Green Lantern” suit in Hall H on Saturday is something. But just wandering around the cavernous San Diego Convention center and seeing dozens of Darth Vaders, Vikings, Wonder Women, Steampunks, leather bound forces of Cobra, Ninjas, Cookie Monsters -- and my all-time favorite from 2009, the Boba Fett bikini -- is something pretty special.
3. JON FAVREAU
Cameron might be King of the World -- and All-time King of the Box Office,” thanks to “Avatar’s” $2,730,924,867worldwide haul -- but there’s no doubt that Jon Faverau is the King of Comic-Con.
The director won over a skeptical crowd with “Iron Man” previews in 2007.
