Jason DeBord – Page 8

July 24, 2016 By Jason DeBord

San Diego Comic-Con 2016: Marvel Entertainment “Misses” with Exhibitor Booth (#SDCC #MarvelSDCC)

This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2016. In my 2015 feature on Marvel Entertainment, I opened by noting that “they elected to not have much of a presence or major announcements at Comic Con this time around” and compared their display of one Ant-Man costume to that of historic competitor DC Comics and their more impressive display of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman costumes as well as television costumes, all in stand alone displays that allow fans to get up close to check them out. The divide between the lackluster and the impressive was widened further this year, as Disney-owned Marvel seems to have lost any sense of self awareness and their 2016 Comic Con presentation felt like it was invented by a hype machine-driven PR company. Trying to get a glimpse of what was going on with Marvel this year had all the charm of a clumsy Target clerk trying to pressure you into signing up for one of their Target-branded credit cards (“make mine Marvel” is becoming “make mine MasterCard”). They did put a few things from upcoming movies on display on their stage, but with overflowing crowds they would take it away and hide it before you could even snap a poor photo by trying to hold your camera over the heads of the crowd. I guess the upside is, I can’t imagine a worse showing next year, so it leaves tons of room for improvement. But 2016 seemed crafted for generating hype among those who weren’t there rather than those who were, as reading Twitter paints an entirely different picture (see #MarvelSDCC). [Read more…]

July 15, 2015 By Jason DeBord

San Diego Comic-Con 2015: Travel/Hotel/Resort/Ferry Travel Advice for Staying on Coronado Island for Comic Con (#SDCC)

I have been going to San Diego Comic Con (AKA Comic-Con International) since 1987, when I was 14 years old, but have until this year always stayed in Downtown San Diego apart from one time I stayed at Humphrey’s By The Bay on Shelter Island. Planning my travel and accommodations for 2015 was actually the first time that not only did I not get my first choice with the Travel Planners “lottery” style system for reservations and special rates for booking rooms, I did not get any room with them at all. As registered press, it has always been convenient for me to stay at the adjacent San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, which is where I’ve stayed in the previous four years. With not a lot of options, I ended up booking a room at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort on Coronado Island (see my review here). While I was disappointed with the service of the hotel, and the distance to Ferry Landing (which offers a short five minute boat ride directly from Coronado Island to the Convention Center), I did find that not only is staying on Coronado feasible, but there are some significant benefits as well. So I thought I would share my findings with those who might consider staying on Coronado in future years. [Read more…]

July 15, 2015 By Jason DeBord

San Diego Comic-Con 2015: Photography Journal & Photos of The Convention, Cosplay, Exhibit Hall (#SDCC)

This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2015. As in past years, this is a photo journal showcasing photographs of the exhibit hall, around the convention center and the Gaslamp District, and some of the popular cosplay participants. Images are from Wednesday (Preview Night), Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. [Read more…]

July 13, 2015 By Jason DeBord

San Diego Comic-Con 2015: HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ Exhibit “Experience The Realm” (#SDCC #ExperienceTheRealm)

This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2015. 2015 marks the second consecutive year that HBO is hosting a Game of Thrones exhibit. This year it is called, “Experience The Realm” (you can see my coverage of last year’s “Survive The Realm”). Again, it was held offsite at the Omni Hotel in the Gaslamp District, a short walk to the Convention Center. “Experience” is a good moniker, as they evolved more toward having a primary focus on popular and fun experiences. While there were some costumes on display again, it was a smaller grouping compared with last year. Also not making a return was the tattoo shop, though they still provided a free t-shirt to participants on the way out. [Read more…]

July 11, 2015 By Jason DeBord

San Diego Comic-Con 2015: Prop Store Exhibit of TV and Movie Props, Costumes, Models, Memorabilia (#SDCC)

This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2015. Prop Store has an excellent exhibition this year, featuring a preview of material from their second annual live auction coming to London later this year. Heavy on action and sci-fi, it drew a constant crowd of Comic Con attendees, many of which are fans of these genre films. As with Star Wars Celebration earlier this year, Prop Store continue to find new and exciting Star Wars material, such as the stormtrooper helmet – the first time being offered to the public. [Read more…]

July 11, 2015 By Jason DeBord

San Diego Comic-Con 2015: Profiles in History & McCune Masterworks Exhibit of Movie Props and Models (#SDCC)

“Cocksucker”… “Motherfucker”… “Asshole”… Just a few of the expletives shouted at me by Joe Maddalena, President of Profiles in History, on the floor of the main exhibit hall at Comic Con yesterday. I was in the midst of a friendly conversation with Brian Chanes and his 9 year old son, with my own 14 year old nephew standing behind me when Mr. Maddalena approached me and interrupted us, attacking me with “R-Rated” language in front of a crowd of onlookers. As registered press with Comic Con International, I had additionally been personally invited via e-mail by Profiles in History’s own public relations agent to do my annual report on their exhibit this year – “[w]e would appreciate your coverage” – so I have no idea what prompted the very public barrage of insults and being told “get out!” and “leave!”. He even shouted “you can quote me on that!” following some of the expletives. Regardless, their overall exhibit is probably the best it has ever looked, with fewer items, some nicely showcased in well-lit closed displays and larger ones in open air, with room to walk about and explore the collection of material associated with McCune Masterworks, who are co-branded with this year’s exhibition. The key piece on display was the fantastic screen-used Blockade Runner from the original Star Wars film, Episode IV: A New Hope. [Read more…]

July 10, 2015 By Jason DeBord

San Diego Comic-Con 2015: Mattel’s “Ghostbuters” Proton Pack Movie Prop at Exhibitor Booth (#SDCC)

This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2015. Mattel has what appears to be an original movie prop of the newly redesigned proton pack for Paul Feig’s reboot of Ghostbusters, coming July 22nd. [Read more…]

July 10, 2015 By Jason DeBord

San Diego Comic-Con 2015: Marvel Entertainment’s “Ant-Man” Costume at Exhibitor Booth (#SDCC)

This is part of my ongoing coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2015. This is an off year for Marvel Entertainment, meaning that they elected to not have much of a presence or major announcements at Comic Con this time around. They do have a giant space on the exhibitor floor, so rather than vacate it completely, they brought their stage and one costume for display – one of the Ant-Man costumes from the film of the same name, due to hit theaters on July 17th. DC Entertainment, in contrast, have a lot going on at their own space within Comic Con, with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman costumes (duplicated at their two booths) from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as well as a variety of costumes from their television series The Flash and Arrow (see prior article). With Disney owning both Marvel Entertainment and Star Wars, it might be more about competing with Comic Con than anything else (there is not much Star Wars activity this time around, and with the conclusion of Celebration in April, they announced the 2016 Celebration will be held in London just a week after next year’s Comic Con. [Read more…]

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