Comicon 2012 Preview

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rom July 11 to July 15, the San Diego Convention Centeris hosting Comic-Con International, a sold-out emporium of all things comic. Though the first night, Thursday July 11, is a preview night and features sneak screenings from Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television, the rest of the convention features exhibitors, art shows, portfolios, anime and game displays, an award ceremony, and fan tables where you can meet some of your favorite artists.

Among the most-hyped appearances are Charlie Adlard, an artist for The Walking Dead; Audrey Kawasaki, a renowned artist who is making her first appearance at Comicon this year; Katie Beaton, the cartoonist for Hark! A Vagrant!; Mike Carey, the writer of Marvel's X-Men Legacy; Geof Darrow, an artist for Shaolin Cowboy and other works; Steve Englehart, writer for Avengers, Dr. Strange, and Batman; and nearly-countless other cartoonists, writers, historians, and artists.

Along with singular people appearing at the event, there will be hundreds of exhibitors, from Chronical Books to Cartoon Network to Cyanide and Happiness, and that's just from one letter of the alphabet! You'll want to write up a schedule to bring with so you don't miss anything.

You'll want to dress comfortably—that is, if you're not going in costume...in which case, why aren't you going in costume?

As far as films are concerned, don't miss the Independent Film Festival, which features the year's best short independent films in a variety of categories. If you're looking for something to bring the kids to, there's the San Diego International Children's Film Festival.

If you're more interested in gaming, there will be tournament events for Pokemon leagues, Tekken tag, Dungeons & Dragons, and Magic: The Gathering, as well as others.

But aside from checking out all the happenings, how does one truly prepare for Comicon? Make sure you bring enough water to drink; this sounds silly, but let's be real: Comicon can be a little intense, and you're probably not going to want to leave your spot in the lines just to get something to drink. This is especially important with the heat wave that's been sweeping the country, but also just because it's July and there will be tons of people there—it's going to be warm. Plan accordingly.

Likewise, you'll want to dress comfortably (that is, if you're not going in costume...in which case, why aren't you going in costume? There's a masquerade at 8:30pm on Saturday, don't miss it!) and it might not be a bad idea to think about bringing a blanket or pillow with in case any of your events have you waiting overnight.

Comicon is a huge event every year, but there's no reason you should get overwhelmed by it. Make up a schedule, bring only what you need so you don't have to lug around a big bag, and have fun.