Comic-Con International has sold out two months earlier than it did in 2009. The 41st annual San Diego Comic-Con runs July 22 – July 25, with Preview Night on July 21. Over four days, 400 events fill up the San Diego Convention Center--from presentations and panels to art shows, autographs, and film festivals. While the event is a hot spot for Southern Californians, comic book, anime, and film fans from around the country flock to Comic-Con each year.
To make the most of your experience, it's important to plan ahead for Comic-Con International. With so much to see and do, if you don't have at least some sort of schedule in mind, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Remember, single day memberships sold out at the end of March, but four-day membership passes sold out in November 2009. At-capacity crowds are expected.
About two weeks before the conventions you can print out the complete programming schedule online. The Exhibit Hall is over 460,000 square feet, so knowing where you need to be, and at what time, is important. It's easy to get distracted as you navigate through the elaborately costumed attendees and alluring exhibitor booths. Some of 2010's new special guests include legendary comics creator Neal Adams and award-winning cartoonist Vanessa Davis. Featured events include the celebration of DC Comics' 75th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of Peanuts.
Booking a hotel room is another large part of the San Diego Comic-Con planning process. As with any major event, beware of scams and deals that seem too good to be true--they usually are. The folks behind Comic-Con have already issued a warning against a company that identifies itself as Elite Locations. They are not associated with this suspicious agency, and all the hotels listed in Elite Locations advertisements have indicated that the company does not have the right to book hotel rooms on their behalf.
Once logistics are out of the way, you can focus your full attention on the details of your costume. For all the latest Comic-Con International news, make sure to follow the event on Twitter.
