Review San Diego Comic Con 2007

[Michaelangelo]

Surprise!

Fae and I decided to go down to San D con, wanted to leave it as a surprise for everyone so haven't posted anywhere online about this.  Though if anyone noticed American Idol try outs down here are the same weekend as San D con than you may have caught on to our little surprise  So there was a hidden hint *G*

Wednesday was the drive down here, we left at noon and drove till 5:30am.  The drive was pretty, as we got to see a lot of mountains some of which were snow caps, and others looked like they could be Valcanos.  We didn't stop much, infact we only stopped a total of 4 times, 3 times were just to get gas and if at that time we needed a bathroom break we'd take it, the 4th was when we were almost here I needed to rest my eyes for 5 minutes and move around a little to wake myself up for that last half hour of the drive, so we stopped at the only Rest area that we stopped at on the way down here.   So 17 hours and a half after we left we got down here.

The original plan was to go straight to the convention center and park down in the parking garage.  But we got some upsetting news about our hotel on the way down here, for some odd reason they didn't have the reserv for us!   But Fae booked it!!   Once we got in, it was straight to the hotel and going over the problems at hand, like "Here's the email showing us that we got a room here for these dates!"    Fae booked it through a 3rd party, and while the 3rd party confirmed July to Fae, they booked the room for June with the hotel!   So the hotel didn't have the room marked down for us, for this weekend!!!!!!!!!!!    Lucky for us they were able to squeeze us in.  Just meant a lot of confusion in the hotel cost and stuff we're going to be going through.   Oy I hate when things like this go wrong.    We couldn't check in till 4pm, and we wanted to get to the convention so after we got things settled here we decided to make our way to the con.

Now how to go....

Cab?  -   Not sure maybe...
Bus? -  Sounds good... wait, people at the front desk tell us traffic is thick it'll take forever on the bus.
Trolly? - Ask the front desk... "Is it in walking distance?"   "Well I can walk there" was her reply.  So I looked at it on the map and talked it over with Fae.  So we both got some money out of a cash machine and started the walk.   First there was a side walk for us, as we walked over the express way on a bridge with cars speeding  by.  Than we walked passed the park and ride, and realize the side walk is gone... there's people with golfing stuff getting out of a car so I asked them "Is this the right way to the Trolly?"  "Another 6 blocks that way" the guy said pointing towards the street with no side walk that people are speeding down.   So hoping back and forth across the street to stay with a side that had a curb, we finally made it to another side walk and could see the Trolly all the way down the street.  The walk felt like forever, and the no sleep at all factor on top of it was eatting us alive.

We get to the Trolly station and next thing I knew things were a bit more annoying.  They won't break a $20 unless you buy something and they make you use the machine to get the train ticket, and the machine won't give back more than $5 change!  We didn't need that many tickets and the ATM we went too only gave us $20s!  I asked people around the station for a few minutes if they could break a $20, no one would.... so Fae ended up going in and buying something for 25 cents to break the $20... annoying, I could understand if we were asking to break a $50 or $100, but a $20?  *sighs*

We took the Trolly and got to the convention center, than had the long line of Pre Reg standing out in the sun, just waiting for it to move.  I was so happy to get in, and get our badge, the set up for badges is a lot different than what I'm use to.  They send you into a room, and there's all these tables where you can go stand in any line and just pick up your badge.  LOTS of tables, so Fae and I got our badges and went in.  

We were lucky enough to make it to our first panel, the Biker Mice From Mars panel with Rob Paulsen.  I video taped the panel, though as the rules on videos state I did not record any of the video they were playing.  Man I wish I could of, they showed a lot of clips from the new series, including a music clip from an episode done like a Rock Concert as they put it.   Than they showed something from a horror type cartoon called "Freak Show" and lastly they showed a short where Rob did the main character's voice called "Change for a Dollar" THAT WAS GREAT!!!!!!  I don't want to get in detail about it here on TMNT-L, but if anyone wants to ask me on IM sometime, I'll tell ya about it... let's just say it's a guy needing to break a dollar for something *G*

After that we did as told and went and sat in the hall on the exit side to see Rob after the panel, others stopped him in the room so it was a bit of a wait.  Brinatello joined us, so we got to say hi to her for a little bit, and Tokka called her while we were there, so we waited for him out there.  When Rob came out I got his autograph on a Zak cell, and I got to talk to Jess (the voice of Wakko) and get his autograph as well!  Yay!     Wish Dot made it!!!!

Tokka showed up shortly after that and we visited with him, but he had a meeting to go too so he couldn't stay too long.  Fae and I were both tired so we didn't think we'd stick around any how.  We went down to the dealer room, it is huge, and a lot of stuff going on.   Fae wanted a Harry Potter bag so I told her to go and check on that and I'll meet her at the Heavy Metal booth.  I went over there and Kevin has stepped away for the moment, so I just hung out and talked with some of the staff members I know.  When Brin and Fae got back to me, we walked over to the Stylin booth so far no new shirts that I don't have or that I'd want.   I talked to a worker there I never met before, he normally does the Chicago show he told me, I haven't been there in 10 years!   Than we went back to the Heavy Metal booth, Fae picked up Kevin's TMNT book and I introduced her to Kevin.   He picked on us a little, than we went on our way.  

We said our good bye to Brin and caught a taxi back to our hotel, where we ordered a pizza... watched a little Ranma 1/2... after eating though, we crashed.   It was EARLY!   Maybe even 5pm... but I was too tired to stay awake.  I wanted to get a nap in than wake up for a bit, and charge batteries and stuff, and than get back to sleep... didn't work that way.  I've been up since 3:30am here (7:30am Easteren) and can't get back to sleep.

I'll give a review on our hotel room, later.  I don't think it'll be the nices review for a hotel, I can say that right now.   We are happy we got a room, just wish it was somewhere else.

Any how, here's the review topic please post your reviews, pictures and videos here!!!!!!  

Take care everyone!

[Raphael]

Sorry you had room issues...I've heard so many horror stories about booking through a third party company that I won't do it. Glad you at least got a room - considering how crowded the area gets, that's a miracle in itself.  Hopefully the rest of the con goes smoothly.

[CriticalCrittles]

I wish I could be there with you guys, getting to meet Yakko AND Wakko!! lol I'm sorry you guys had trouble with your room though. And I thought that was pretty funny, the one time you don't want me to answer I do lol...I can't wait to see those pics of those Hank and Dean cosplayers!!! My phone totally lost it's signal, so sorry if you couldn't call me back...and I called you from my house phone btw, in case you don't reconize the number heh. You guys don't forget to get your sleep now! Have fun, and can't wait to hear more stories!

[Shredder]

Rumor has it TMNT sequel news is coming out of San D, and it seems too be good news.  What's been said, and is it OK too report?

Tell Kevin I said hi .

[CriticalCrittles]

Hey Ivey, hope you guys are having a blast! I was flipping through late night tv tonight and totally found the con on tv via G4! And I watched and watched just in case you might randomly pop up! If you see people from G4 wandering around say hi and you might get on tv! lol I'm thinking of you guys and wishing so hard I could be there!

[Buslady]

Someone who we can not say, says things do look positive for another movie.

I had a blast friday. I was sure surprised you were there Ivey! I had fun being Leo's technical assistant

Meeting Kevin finally was nice, I asked for a Raph drawing(naturally!) and for him to sign the copy of the Artobio book i got last year. It was funny though, later when me and Chris were leaving we drove up Gaslamp...we're in traffic and I look over to a chow house restaurant and on the patio was a familiar person...I go to Chris, hey there's Kevin! I looked again, putting the window down...Chris suddenly yells "HEY KEVIN!"  OMG I about died. I was like 'chris dont bother him when hes on his own time!'  But Kev is such a good guy; he waved and motioned what he was up to, a few drinks and such. I go "I'll join ya!" hehe  I think he remembered us, Chris rambled while he drew my Raph pic so he might've. He sees a gazillion folks during these events I don't expect him to remember us.
Driving home though, that was an adventure...I was so tired I had to get off the 15 & stop 2x to rest a bit. somehow we got home. it really is a long drive, just about 100 mi...

I was THRILLED to have finally seen the Biz...OMG what a character Simon Bizley is.....and I got my Lobo sketch I've always wanted.


I was happy to see a whole table with all the new DrWHO toys and stuff, my TARDIS usb thingy is SO FREAKING COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My cat missed me.

for getting friday off, i had to suffer and work tonite...fair shuttle...bleah. its 2.30a and im still up
i better get off and sleep

[cynlee]

I've never known the Con to be "sold out"-- I've seen it way more crowded on a Sat. than it was yesterday, but then I did panic when the line for Ballroom 20 (which was hosting "Heroes", "Battlestar Galactica", "Futureama", and the Joss Wheadon thing) stretched out all most as long as the first day I was there to pick up my four-day pass-- which I had never seen a line THAT long and took me over 90 minutes just to get my pre-reg. badge.

When I heard Ivey was there, it floored me.

Anyway, it was a cool Con, but I have to miss today's-- which means missing VA panel part two.  The Futurama thing was great but I couldn't get closer than the middle of the room.  VA was good, FINALLY got the nerve to ask someone to let me take a pic with him (Rob P!).  Zkarlette was there with me on Friday, and that made it extra-fun to have someone to walk around with.  Some of the pics I took for Leonardo I forgot to take with my own camera, so Buslady or Leo or Zkarlette, I'd appreciate seeing the ones we took at Stan's booth-- and I didn't get a pic of Leonardo with the rep. from Playmates.

Hope you all have/had fun today on this last day.  The drive wiped me out, and coupled with the strange walking patterns one has to adopt to wade through the millions, my right ankle is wrecked-- even this morning it's still giving me trouble.  

*sobs*  I wanted to go one more day!  Ah well....

[Michaelangelo]

Part 1 of Friday at San Deigo Con, being written while in line with Fae for American Idol, what am I doing up this early?  

I woke up very early Friday, 3:30am.  I started to do computer stuff, and loading the videos onto the spare hard drive.  Than checked a few of the videos, and after that started to get ready during the day.  While Fae got ready, is when I posted my last review.  So I will pick up there.  

I went back to the room, and had a fast breakfast with Fae than we went to the bus stop which is about a block away at the Motel 6.  The wait was getting annoying as not one bus has come into site.  We both wanted to the convention center faster than this!  So while waiting, others were around as well but no one was that talkative, most of them had IPods or phones in their ears.   So I picked on Fae with the video camer, than a double decker tour bus pulled up asking if we were heading to the Trolly station and we all said yes.  She told us to jump on, and gave us a FREE ride to the Trolly station!!!! YAY!   Instead of the $1.75 the bus would of cost!   So we jumped on, and even got to ride on the top part of the bus, as we went over.  I had my tense unit on, though it didn't help too much against the wind I still couldn't pass up this chance!  I always wanted to ride up stairs in one of those!!!!!

We got on the Trolly and met a young man from FL who was also going to Comic Con, so he hung out with us till we got into line to get in, there really wasn't a line, you just stood near the door you wanted to get in.  But the crowd got thick behind us, and everyone around us was getting worried about my arm and saying the crowd will plow me down.   This made us a bit more nervous, since we were right at the door.   I stood there, ok till somebody went by and tapped my arm really hard.  It was the actor who played the Hulk in the old TV series, he just wanted by and even was saying excuse me, though the pain shot through as if he broke my arm and it felt bruised for hours later... that was kind of the main worry point to the people around us to see how fast I'd go down.   So one of the guys went and got premission for me to get to wait inside so I'm not stuck in the crowd.  I didn't like this too much, cause I hate specail treatment, but they all wouldn't let up on it.  So Fae and I went in, but it didn't seem like it helped too much.   Main thing it helped with, was getting us into the air so we weren't dieing from the heat.

Once we got in, we raced towards this booth that was giving out Harry Potter bags, where I got my right arm touched again, hehe this time it was our Leonardo who was trying to get my attention cause I wasn't hearing her.  She was standing with Leah-nardo!   Whom I haven't had the honor of meeting before.  They were in the front of the line that we were just trying to get into.   Than we went and stood in line for the bag, just a few people in front of us was Brinatello and Roseangelo.  Leo got her bag fast, than came back and said hi to us real fast, and left since our line was taking forever to even move (just for bags they're already passing out???)  than they moved the line on us, seemed their was confusion on what happened to the the line.  So a group of people came through our line finally with boxes of bags and just passed them out, so both Fae and I got Harry Potter bags.   Than we went on our way, I wanted to find Leo because I remember Michael S saying he was going to be here, and I thought I knew a panel he'd be in.  But everyone was like 'That panel room is too hard to get into' so we didn't even go into the room.   We were going to wait around the exit for when they came out, but Brinatello wanted to shop and we just got to the shopping area around the time the panel let out.  

While in the shopping area we got in touch with Buslady, Cynlee, Buslady's son, and Zkarlette!   We walked around and talked for a bit, I'm embrassed to admit this, though my reading skills are HORRIABLE!  So sometimes, I don't really relate how things are said to how they are spelled.  When Zkarlette was introduced to me, it sounded like she was a more personal friend of their's that was tagging along, and I didn't realize this was Zkarlette from here   I'M SO SORRY!!!!   And you know I kicked myself even harder when I did realize, cause I remember reading all the post about her coming on Friday with Cynlee.   *sweatdrop*  It was GREAT to meet you Zkarlette and I'm sorry we didn't get that much time to talk one on one.     I'm really sorry that I didn't match up with your nick name, I didn't really realize till I got back to my room that night and thought about it.  I'm so sorry!!!!

I took out my Kermit puppet during this time, and had a lot of fun just goofing around with that.   Kermit became a fun part of my San D trip, I only thought I'd bring him that day, though seeing the reactions and having as much fun as I did with him, this made me decide to bring him each day.  We realized it was 12:30 and told Brin we're going to head back and hope to see Mike coming out.   We would call Brin if we saw him.

We did get over the area but it was about 15 minutes after the panel let out, and we didn't see him.  I don't have a clue if he was in there, though I was really hoping to help some of the West coast fans to meet him.  I had Brin trying to call some of the other fans that were there, though they were not answering their phones, I really wanted everyone there to get this chance.  Though since we didn't see him, I guess it's good that not everyone made it to the exit area to wait.  

Leonardo had to go get on her Leonardo costume, so Fae and I offered to go with and help.  So we hopped onto her bus and road it to her hotel, wow a real nice  hotel... blows the motel that Fae and I over.   We went up to her room, and started to help with putting on the costume.   The process of this is a lot different than I would of excepted, a lot more loop tieing and new tricks than I've normally seen for Turtle costumes, so it was fun and interesting to watch Fae help Leo get the costume on.  I helped when ever I could, which wasn't much.  A tuck here, a pass a strap through the shoulder here, and a grabbing the cell phone and handing it over to Leo when it rang type thing.  Fae was on the ball though, keeping up with every beat of getting the costume on and it was great team work at the pace.

After getting Leo's costume on we got to ride the bus back to the convention center, Fae went with Leo to the Dark Horse both to TRY and make it for the Stan meet up, I ran to the Henson booth to get an autograph, and met the creator of a new series the creature shop is working on, Skrumps!

- More later with Part 2 of Friday

[mrpliggins]

sounds like everyone had a blast! I watched the coverage on G4....it seems this con is getting more "mainstream" every year.....I've heard the comics have started to take a backseat to everything else. I wonder if I would enjoy this con as I mainly go to look at comics!

[Buslady]

i love that kermit puppet...sooo cuutttteee

[zkarlette]

Yep we did have a great time or at least I really did I had a lot of fun going with Cynlee and also it was really fun meeting you guys some of you for the first time.

 And don't worry Ivy I may be hard to remember since I barely even post lately (damn schedule *kicks a can*) as you can see I'm finally posting this until now but oh well better late than never I guess...

some pics of Leo at the con

[cynlee]

OOOO you should really share that one pic with Stan Sakai's site!!

And I truly LOVE that second one of Kim and Kevin!  *swipes!*



LOL!!

[Michaelangelo]

When I got to the Henson booth, the same guy who told me to come to this autograph session was the one doing the autographs.   I found that funny, so I grabbed up a post card and noticed there was toys of the characters.  At the time, I didn't know what the characters were, so I didn't mind that they were only giving the toys to kids.  I walked up and got him to sign my post card and he smiled seeing that I made it, as I was standing there I heard the people at the booth saying "this is the last autograph for now" so I made it really just in time.  After he signed it, I thanked him and said I'll see him at the Henson panel.

I ran down to the Dark Horse booth, it was crowded so I had to call out asking anyone if they've seen a Ninja Turtle, a guy said "Over there" and I looked to just see Leonardo through the crowd only a few feet away from me.  So I walked over and started to video tape Leo, while pictures were being taken.  I hung out with Leo for a few minutes, but when they went to head to Kevin's booth, I ran upstairs to get seats for the Henson panel.   It was already crowded, the first group of seats we got was in the middle of the room blocked by the conventions camera.   So they were bad seats, and than we start trying to make our way forward.  Problem was, there was other people doing the same thing, so to save seats was nearly impossable.  I got in the first section middle, but as soon as I sat down like 5 other people sat next to me taking up all but one seat, so I was a bit annoyed, but they got there the same time I did, so I couldn't say those seats were saved.   I figured it'd be a decent spot to video tape from, but Brin and Fae were up in the front row and pointed out that Michelan was in front of them.  That was the reason I was at this panel, so I decided instead of having strangers by my side to join them.

Sadly though we were not able to save seats for everyone else like I wanted to.  I do feel bad about this, cause I really enjoy being able to do events with others, though really it was a very tight fit with everyone.  Once we got our seats I'm happy to say that Michelan was right in front of us.   Next to me was Fae, than Brinatello and than Roseangelo.  Once the others got to us, I had to break the news.  I really did feel bad about that

The panel started, and we watched as Michelan played with the puppeteer computer stuff in front of us.  He was so funny.  They talked about up coming Projects, including Skrumps where they showed us clips from it.  All the clips we saw can be found at http://kids.yahoo.com/experiences/skrumps/index  They also put Raisins up on the screen live, showing just how the CGI Puppet worked, that was amazing, Michelan was working the body movements of her.

After the panel we went up and talked to Michelan, he had work to do though was willing to go out in the hall and give autograph to the fans that were around him.  We got some photos taken, and Thanked him for doing this for us.  Though after Michelan went back in the room, we realized Tokka did not get Michelan's autograph.  We felt bad about that, I was hoping everyone got the chance to get it.   So we stood around trying to work out our plans, this was my first time getting to meet GreenWillow so we wanted to do dinner as a group thing.   After talking for a bit, they decided to go back to their room to get ready for dinner, and headed out.  I resorted my stuff so that it'd be easier to carry around for the evening.  Fae and I stood up and I turned to leave just in time to see Michelan and some of the other puppeteers walking by.  I called him over and asked if he could do one more autograph for a friend, and dug through my stuff for something to give Tokka, and found a TMNT 2 trading card of Michaelangelo.   Michelan signed it and I gave him my card and asked him if he'd be interested in being a Guest at Turtle Con 2009.  Here's hoping.  We said good bye so he could catch up with the others, than we headed down stairs and walked a little bit around the dealer room till closing time, than we had to find our way to Brinatello's hotel, cause that's where we were doing dinner.

Once we got there, Brin and them had a table, but no one else could sit with them so we had to get a different table.   Leo and Leah was standing up at the counter so we got it so we could at least sit with them.  Which was great cause it was the most time I got to talk and see Leah.    We had to wait 45 minutes to an hour before we even got a table!  While waiting Mica, Mandy & Mandy and another friend (I remember her real name, but not the nick name of this friend) showed up and tried to get in line for a table as well.  Though I swear these people didn't want us eatting there with how long it took.  After we finally sat down at the table, we looked over the menu, Fae and I decided to split a dish to help on cost.  

Mica and crew ended up splitting cause of how long it was taking to be seated.  Really that was a clue that this wasn't the best place to eat, esp when you look and see most of the tables open.  True I understand enough people to work a section, though if they see a group that wants to sit together and there's enough table and chair, the same waiter can take care of them and look forward to the tip.  I eat out at a LOT of places and I've seen places where they'd open closed sections to sit a big group down and have one of their waiters take care of the group just to make sure the people were happy.  Though this place was like slow, with barely anyone there!   I give this place an F in their customer service.  

Tokka showed up and sat at the bar with a friend.   I got to give him the card that Michelan signed, and I hope he's happy with it.  We talked a little bit, than I went back to the table as they're taking our order.  Fae already ordered our dish, so I placed my drink order and we sat around talking till our food got there.  I asked for a water not long after the food got there, and even that took awhile before they brought it back to the table.  I was really disappointed with the place.   Fae and I had to go, she had to wake up early for American Idol stuff on Saturday and we still had to get our way back to our hotel.   The wait for our check was insanely long!  Than the first check they brought us was the WRONG check!   So we sent it back and got the right one, and paid our stuff.   We traveled back with Leo and Tokka to the convention center than headed to the trolley Station, taking it to our stop than a taxi the rest of the way to our hotel.   We didn't get to the room till 12:30am, and crashed for a few hours only to wake at 3:30am the following morning, though more on that next time.

[Michaelangelo]

And don't worry Ivy I may be hard to remember since I barely even post lately (damn schedule *kicks a can*) as you can see I'm finally posting this until now but oh well better late than never I guess...

Awww I didn't forget about you, it was really the name that threw me off.  Cause I remember reading all the posts that you were coming.   Though really I was excepting the name to have a Z... sound to the start of it.   And I do feel bad about not really getting to chat with ya, I love meeting fellow fans.  So I'm truly sorry.

[Michaelangelo]

Saturday Morning at 3am the alarm goes off.... we ignore it till 3:30am than it came rush time. We get a Shuttle to American Idol and get there by 4am, so we were making good time. The line by that time was already long, so we went and got into it. Though to my surprise Fae got registered just minutes before 8am. Things that we learned, she could only bring one friend with her.... lucky enough I was the only one traveling with her. There was of course many other rules, not going to go into them all though.

After that we went back to our hotel and cleaned up a bit. Than headed to the convention center. The bus annoyed us BIG time that morning, as we waited over an hour for it. So at this point we were really getting fed up with San D trans system. NYC is better!!!! We got there, and went to the voice actor panel, and saw them do a fun act of "War of the Worlds" and Rob did the "Yakko's World" song. After that we spent most of the day hanging around the dealer room. I wasn't feeling all that well, my arm did not like this convention at all. While Fae, Brin and I were walking around we learned that Molly and Mark Bode was at the convention, so we called Leo and told her. Leo and Roseangelo came down and met up with us while we were with Molly than we went and talked with Mark for a bit. He did some sketches for those of us who asked him.

After that we said our good byes to Mark and Molly and walked around the con for a bit, though this was not an easy time as someone backed up and their back pack went straight into my bad arm, I was down and the pain wasn't going away. I forced myself back up, and tried to keep going. But with both Fae and I feeling very tired and out of it, along with the pain we realized we were not going to be able to join the others for dinner this night. So we caught a Trolley back to the hotel area, and once again got pizza'ed off by the bus. It was a good 2 hour wait from the Trolley station before we got the 5 minute drive away! We would of walked it, but with us both tired and sore, the walk along the dangerous curve where there is no side walk did not sound appealing.

We once again crashed as soon as we hit the hotel room.