Comic-Con 2009 Guide

Editor’s Note: We are attending Comic-Con 2009 and it is an amazing exeperience!

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Comic-Con 2009 is the world’s premier comics and popular arts convention complete with special guests, themes and anniversaries, and comic-related programming. This annual festival of animation and creativity begins on Thursday, July 23th and concludes on Sunday, July 26th, 2009.

We have designed this guide to accommodate the needs of a variety of people, including people that will be attending the event, tourists that will be visiting Downtown San Diego during the event, as well as people that live in San Diego and are interested in learning more about it.

What is Comic-Con?

During the four days of Comic-Con, there is an amazing influx of creative people that practically take over the whole downtown area and beyond. No other annual convention in San Diego has quite the visual impact like the Comic-Con attendees themselves and most of them come year after year.

Thousands of people, many dressed as their favorite comic or video game characters, will gather at the San Diego Convention Center (111 W. Harbor Drive) to interact with each other, to buy and trade collectibles, go to special autograph sessions, preview upcoming science fiction and action films, try out soon-to-be-released video games, and attend lectures featuring famous actors, writers, and directors.

For those of you not familiar with the Comic-Con phenomenon in San Diego, listen up. It all started in San Diego in 1970 when some avid fans of the animated arts gathered at a 1-day meeting. First known as San Diego Comic-Con, the Comic-Con we know today is entering its 40th year, making it the longest continually running comic convention in the world.

How Big is Comic-Con?

In 2008, over 125,000 eager fans, professionals, and exhibitors attended Comic-Con in San Diego.  Unlike other conventions around the country, Comic-Con 2009 appears to have weathered the tenuous world economy quite well. This year, all the 4-day festival passes and 1-day passes have been sold out. From what we experienced during last year’s Preview Night, many families flock to this event and make a family vacation out of it. In other words, there is something for everyone and for every age group.

Exhibit Hall Map

Celebrity Spotting at Comic-Con 2009

In recent years, major movie studios and TV networks have come to Comic-Con to show previews and make presentations that showcase cult, favorite and brand new shows.  From what we have seen in the press releases, we can tell you that this year, it’s all about the vampires.

The special guest appearances are being finalized as we write this guide. Bookmark this guide and check back with us or go to Comic-Con’s ever-changing special guest list.

Comic-Con 2009 will also be featuring a wide spectrum of guests that will be on hand to sign autographs.

Autograph Schedule

We have heard that the following celebrities have been confirmed to attend Comic-Con 2009:

Summit Entertainment presents the panel  (surprise members of the cast) for “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” the sequel to last year’s box office smash “Twilight” on Thursday, July 23, 2009 from 1:45pm to 2:45pm at Hall H

“Wonder Women: Female Power Icons in Pop Culture,” moderated by Entertainment Weekly editor-at-large Ben Svetkey.  It will feature a discussion with Sigourney Weaver (”Avatar”), Elizabeth Mitchell (”Lost”, “V”), and Zoe Saldana (”Avatar”, “Star Trek”) about the actresses who have redefined the rules, and the female characters who have shattered the glass ceiling for all women.  This panel will take place at 1:15 pm on Thursday, July 23, 2009 in Ballroom #20.

20th Century Fox and James Cameron present “Avatar” with this first public screening of footage in 3D from this action/adventure/fantasy film on Thursday, July 23, 2009 from 3pm-4:15pm at  Hall H.

Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of both Comic-Con and Monty Python, Terry Gilliam’ comes to Comic-Con 2009 to introduce you to his new film, “The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus,” on Thursday, July 23, 2009 from 4:30-5:15  at Hall H.

Making its Comic-Con debut is the original series, PSYCH, which will feature the entire cast. Confirmed to attend are James Roday; Dulé Hill; Corbin Bernsen; Maggie Lawson; and Timothy Omundson. This panel will take place on Thursday, July 23, 2009 from 3:45pm-4:45pm in Ballroom # 20.

STARZ will bring the cast and crew of “Spartacus: Blood and Sand” on July 24, 2009 which includes Lucy Lawless (”Xena: Warrior Princess”).

Stars of AMC’s mini-series “The Prisoner,” including Jim Caviezel (”The Passion of the Christ,” “Thin Red Line,” “Pay It Forward”), will participate in a panel event and exclusive sneak preview scheduled for July 24, 2009 at 11:30am.

Animation greats Hayao Miyazaki and John Lasseter and directors Robert Zemeckis and Tim Burton will take part in their first ever Comic-Con from July 23-24, 2009 from 11:30am to 12:30pm at Hall H to help Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures showcase 3D versions of   “Alice in Wonderland,” “Tron,” Disney’s “A Christmas Carol,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Ponyo,” and  “The Toy Story Trilogy.”

Fans of Showtime’s “Weeds” will be stoked to listen to featured panelists, Jenji Kohan (creator/executive producer), Hunter Parrish (Silas), Justin Kirk (Andy), and other cast members on Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 8pm to -9pm at the Indigo Ballroom / Hilton Bayfront.

David Tennant (“Doctor Who”), will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russell T. Davies during  a BBC America-sponsored “Doctor Who” panel moderated by Los Angeles Times television critic, Robert Lloyd, on July 26, 2009 at 10am. Ballroom 20.

“Dexter” fans are invited to attend an interview and Q&A session with the stars and executive producers of “Dexter,” including Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Julie Benz (Rita), and Jennifer Carpenter (Deb).  This panel is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, 2009 from  5pm-6pm at Ballroom 20

Stars of “24,”Kiefer Sutherland, Mary Lynn Rajskub and new cast members ,Anil Kapoor and Katee Sackhoff, will be offering a special sneak peek at the premiere episode of Season 8 on  Friday, July 24, 2009 from 2:15pm to 3pm at Ballroom 20.

Sony Pictures Entertainment presents “Legion” and “District 9″ panels on Friday, July 24, 2009 from 3:45pm to5pm at Hall H. Appearing on stage for “Legion”will be Paul Bettany, Adrianne Palicki, Tyrese Gibson and Doug Jones.  Peter Jackson will be making his first visit to Comic-Con to introduce “District 9.” Mr. Jackson will also takes questions after an initial screening of the movie.

Entertainment Weekly is sponsoring a discussion with iconic filmmakers James Cameron (“Avatar”) and Peter Jackson (“District 9″) on the future of film on Friday, July 24, 2009 from 6:30pm-7:30pm at  Hall H.

Fans of “Ghost Whisper” will want to attend this preview on Sunday, July 26, 2009 from 1pm to 2pm in Room 6BCF.  Panelists include: Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Christoph Sanders, Jamie Kennedy, and Camryn Manheim.

And we keep hearing that Warner Brothers Studios is rumored to be bringing Guy Ritchie and Robert Downey Jr. to for “Sherlock Holmes” as well previewing “Jonah Hex” with Josh Brolin.  Speaking of Robert Downey, Jr., he will also be attending Comic-Con to promote “Iron Man 2″ with the movie’s creator, Jon Favreau.

What’s Happening at Comic-Con and When?

Full Program Schedule

Comic-Con 2009 will feature more than 400 events during its 4-day run.  Programs include major comics publisher presentations, “Spotlight” panels featuring all the special guests, and a plethora of events geared toward the entire spectrum of comics and animation.

The Japanese animation style of anime draws legions of fans who come to Comic-Con. So many fans, that the organizers of Comic-Con 2009 made sure that special anime-focused programs would be running throughout the four-day event.

Anime Schedule

Additionally, Comic-Con 2009’s celebration of animation will pay particular focus to the following special themes and anniversaries:

• 75th Anniversary of the Great Adventure Comic Strips
• 50th Anniversary of the Green Lantern
• 50th Anniversary of Rocky and Bullwinkle
• 25th Anniversary of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• 25th Anniversary of Usagi Yojimbo

In addition to the regular programming, Comic-Con 2009 also features special themed nights. On Thursday night, it’s the return of the Star Wars Fan Film Awards; on Friday night, it’s the comic book industry’s version of the Oscars, the Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards; on Saturday night, it’s the gala Comic-Con Masquerade and on Sunday, it’s the San Diego International Children’s Film Festival.

While the regular events go on at Comic-Con, a special film festival will be taking place. The Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival (CCIIFF) commences on Thursday, July 23th and culminates in an Awards Program on Sunday, July 28 in Room 26AB at 11:30am. The Awards Program will be followed by a line-up of more films on Sunday afternoon. There is no extra charge to attend the CCI-IFF if you already possess a badge to attend the Comic-Con.

San Diego Convention Center Exhibit Hall Hours:

Wednesday, July 22^nd (Preview Night) - 6pm to 9pm (4-Day Memberships ONLY)
Thursday, July 23^rd - 9:30am to 7pm *
Friday, July 24^th - 9:30am to 7pm *
Saturday, July 25^th - 9:30am to 7pm *
Sunday, July 26^th - 9:30am to 5pm

* Additional nighttime events and programming run until after midnight.

What Has Changed in Downtown San Diego Since Comic-Con 2008

The Hilton Bayfront Hotel is the new kid on the block.  In fact, the Eisner Awards will be held at this new venue, located just east of the San Diego Convention Center. This hotel has great views and it has various restaurants, including the Fox Grill Sports Bar.

Hotel Indigo - Set to open on July 16, 2009, the newest kid on the block, the Hotel Indigo is San Diego’s only LEED certified hotel. Aside from having a green roof and a commitment to sustainability, this lovely hotel is very dog-friendly. They even have their own resident pooch.

UPDATE: The Broken Yolk Café in the Gaslamp (355 6th Avenue) opened recently and is serving up BIG breakfasts, lunches and dinner.  The Broken Yolk  is will be open 24 hours for Comic-Con on Friday and Saturday. Otherwise, meals are served from 6am-3pm.

Kansas City Barbeque Restaurant Re-Opened - Last year, Comic-Con attendees might have missed smelling the aroma of barbeque wafting through the air vents of the San Diego Convention Center because Kansas City Barbeque had burned down.  In 2009, you can follow your schnoz again to Kansas City Barbeque restaurant located just across the street from the Comic-Con venue at 600 West Harbor Drive.  They do not have a website but they do have a phone.  (619) 231-9680

Old Spaghetti Factory left downtown San Diego in 2005 after being in business since 1974. This family-friendly, casual, inexpensive Italian favorite has re-opened at the original location just up 5^th Avenue from the Hard Rock Hotel at 275 Fifth Avenue.  They do not have a website but they do have a phone.  (619) 233-4323.

Happy Hours Abound in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter - Let’s face it, the downturn in the economy has multiplied the availability of happy hours at most of the Gaslamp Quarter’s popular restaurants and bars. When you need a break from all the hoopla inside the Convention Center, make a dash across the trolley tracks and check out the happy hours. The Gaslamp Quarter Association maintains a current list of happy hours in the Gaslamp.

Comic-Con 2009 Parking Information

Parking in downtown San Diego is limited but there are a number of paid parking lots that you can secure a spot if you arrive early. Don’t bother trying to park at a meter because there aren’t enough long-term meters near the San Diego Convention Center, although you can always give it a try.

Here is a map to help guide you to the various parking lots.

Comic-Con Can Shuttle You for Free

If you are one of the thousands that plan to travel to San Diego for Comic-Con, please take advantage of Comic-Con’s free shuttle service. Comic-Con knows just how impacted parking can get in the downtown area. In order to ease congestion and increase convenience, Comic-Con has chartered specially marked buses to shuttle between various convention hotels and the San Diego Convention Center.

The good folks at Comic-Con have also taken locals into account - even if you’re not staying at a downtown hotel, you can still utilize this service by parking your car at a structure away from the Convention Center and taking the shuttle.

Comic-Con and Public Transportation

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit Service (MTS) will be providing Red Line special event service from Qualcomm Stadium to the Convention Center every 15 minutes all four days of Comic Con. Parking is free at Qualcomm Stadium.  More information on public transportation in San Diego is available in our recent article.

TIP: Riders can also purchase a four-day pass and save money - 4-day passes are $15.

Comic-Con Transit Schedule:

Wednesday, July 22^nd-   6pm - 9pm
Thursday - July 23^rd 9:30am - 7pm
Friday, July 24^th 9:30am - 7pm
Saturday, July 25^th 9:30am - 7pm & 8:30pm - 11:30pm
Sunday, July 26^th 9:30am - 5pm

Hotel Accommodations

If you have not booked your hotel room yet, be sure to call the Comic-Con Travel and Housing Desk at 1-877-55-COMIC.  Outside the U.S., please call 212-532-1660.  Last minute discounts for hotel rooms may be available.

Information for the Disabled

Wheelchairs are available for loan in 2-3-hour increments on a first-come, first-serve basis at the San Diego Convention Center with a picture ID and a $20 deposit. Comic-Con will have a special rest area for the disabled, elderly, expectant moms, and parents with babies. Comic-Con also provides for cold storage of medications. American Sign Language interpreters for the deaf during the  large panels and the Masquerade. There will also be special limited seating for the disabled for large programming events and the Masquerade.

Comic-Con and Children

Comic-Con is very accommodating toward families. In fact, Comic-Con has a long-standing tradition of providing a childcare vendor to service those who wish to give their kids a break from all the action.

KiddieCorp will be on site to provide childcare services during Comic-Con daytime hours. The childcare services will be provided on Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm, Thursday-Saturday from 9:30am to 7pm and Sunday from 9:30am to 5pm. The on-site registration rates are as follows: $11/hour for children ages 6 months - 2 years and  $9/hour for children ages 3-12 years.

To find out more about Comic-Con’s on-site childcare services, please call KiddieCorp at (858) 455-1718 or send them an email at info@kiddiecorp.com.

If you have managed to make it to the end of this Comic-Con 2009 Guide, we salute you. If you have any comments that you would like to share with us and the rest of the public, please feel free to provide relevant comments below.

Tags: SDNN

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 9th, 2009 at 6:34 pm and is filed under Visitors Guide . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.