I had already decided to go when it was announced that Russell T. Davies, Julie Gardner, Euros Lyn and David Tennant were coming. This would be David Tennant’s first convention and there was now no way I was going to miss it! The following is a first hand account of this, dare I say, monumental event.
TUESDAY-21ST JULY 17:45
We’re about an hour outside San Diego. We’ve made pretty good time, having set out about 10:00. I will admit to a certain uneasiness, but I’m not certain why. I’ve heard all manner of stories, both good and bad about Comic-Con. I wonder what my experience will be. We’ve just passed an exit for Swansea. This must be a sign. I have too much stuff. My bags are full already. Where am I going to put all of my to-be-obtained goodies, eh? As I was listening to the first of the UNIT audios, a huge military helicopter swung past the car. It looked like it could have opened fire. Never before has audio been so realistic.
WEDNESDAY-22ND JULY
22:00
Morning spent at SD Air and Space Museum, evening at Comic-Con Preview Night. Nerds of two worlds and I am the twain. After snarfing free stuff at the DC and Dark Horse booths, I wander back to Underground Toys, the distributors of Who toys in the US. I immediately purchase the 2nd and 6th Doctor exclusives Lori wanted and a second 2nd Doctor for me. I ask if they have a Tom Baker, but they only brought one and it already sold. One? The most popular Doctor in America and they only brought one? I spent the rest of the evening scouring the floor for another to no avail. I do walk off with a pair of Sarah Jane toys 2 for $15! Oh, and Colin Baker is over at Alien Entertainment, which is pretty cool. $25 for an autograph isn’t bad, but I already have one and I’d like to spend money on other things.
THURSDAY-23RD JULY 09:45
Picked up an amazingly cool Who/Being Human bag from BBCAmerica booth. They also have a Dalek, which is neat but hardly the “piece of the TARDIS set” they advertised. Went across the way to the booth for The Prisoner remake. Was given an ID card for the Village. My number? 5454. Somewhere Scott Appel laughs.
10:15
Partial success! They don’t have the single figure, but Underground Toys now has a 4th Doctor Adventure Pack. No Build-a-K1-Figure for me, I’d rather have Tom!
11:30
Everyday I have set goals. Today I get my Owly book signed by Andy Runton. Owly is the most heartfelt comic I’ve ever read, a feat made more impressive given not only the sheer number of comics I’ve read, but that there are no words! Andy signs my book and I see he’s doing sketches of Owly as various characters. “Are you familiar with Doctor Who?” I ask. “Am I?!?” Andy turns out to be a big fan. We chat for nearly forty-five minutes as he sketches Owly as the 4th Doctor, using my newly purchased figures as reference! His girlfriend is an even bigger fan having introduced him to the series (!) and she pops by at one point to drop off a flyer for ChicagoTARDIS she’s picked up. “Can we go?” “I don’t know.” “But Paul McGann’s going to be there. Paul! McGann!”
18:30
Nearing the end of the day. I race from the end of a Charles Vess panel to catch Dave Gibbons at the Dark Horse booth. While most people have various editions of Watchmen for him to sign, I’ve brought the 5th Doctor epic The Tides of Time. He chuckles and signs it, posing for a picture too. I briefly mention our meeting several years before, but there are people waiting behind me and it’s time to leave for the Green Lantern screening…
FRIDAY-24TH JULY 9:05
This morning finds me in the Neil Gaiman/Coraline panel. While I’ve arrived in plenty of time, my cohort Melissa is nowhere to be seen. She sneaks in right before the wire, various calamities having befallen her upon the way. I have half a mind to ask Neil about the series five rumors, but as soon as question time is announced a throng of people leap up for the line. Oh well. Surprisingly, most of the questions are for Henry Selick. There was a huge cheer at Selick’s suggestion that he make the long gestating Sandman movie. The phrase, ‘A man can dream,’ comes instantly to mind.
11:55
Downstairs, I am determined to meet Roger Langridge. He is, as I’m sure you all know, the regular letterer for DWM, occasionally illustrating a tale or two along the way. These days he writes and illustrates The Muppet Show Comic, which is as worthy a spin-off as has ever been made. Seriously, Jerry Juhl would be pleased. I am, apparently, the first person to ever have brought him a copy of The Glorious Dead to sign. I quickly contemplate which Doctor to have him draw, settling on the 8th. He hadn’t drawn McGann in some time, but was willing to give it a bash. As much as I love it, I wonder if I should have gotten a Muppet instead. Maybe next year…
SATURDAY-25TH JULY 13:45
Morning spent in Chuck/Family Guy/Futurama panels. By the time I get to the BBCAmerica booth, they have run out of bags again. There is, however, a lovely woman dressed as Romana. She is tickled pink that I know who she is.
SUNDAY-26TH JULY 8:30
And now the Whorgasm begins. Coming up to the convention center, I complain to my friend Helen that you can either stand in line for the panel or stand in line for the RTD autograph session raffle, but not both. Before I can finish my sentence, she volunteers to go to the raffle, as she wasn’t doing anything. I thank her profusely and head upstairs.
8:45
In line. A few people in costume. I’m earlier than I was yesterday for Chuck, but the line is still fairly long. At least I know at this point I am getting in! I chat with various people, including someone who bought their ticket on eBay two days ago, specifically for this panel!
9:20
Helen texts me. She got an autograph ticket. Huzzah! Helen, I love you.
9:30
And like that, we begin the slog to get in.
10:05
By the time this will be read, there will be a hundred of detailed reports of this panel on the web. All of the answers will be posted, all the rumors confirmed or quashed, all the spoilers spoilt. So there doesn’t seem much point in capturing every little thing, but I will say this. Sometimes it seems fandom is so divisive. People arguing over favorite stories, RTD’s gay agenda, and just what the title of “Mission to the Unknown” is. Here in this hall there are 4,000 people who love Doctor Who. Love Doctor Who. Old fans, new fans, girl fans, boy fans, everyone is united for this one hour. It’s amazing and I have rarely felt its like before. Must stop before I turn out as inane as the commentator in “Fear Her”…Oh look, there’s my Romana from yesterday!
11:15
A quick meet up with Helen to get my ticket. I stand in line, fairly close to the front. Yea! Someone next to me begins to slag off Sylvester McCoy; it takes all my self restraint not to sock him in the jaw. I merely point out that all of the character building with which the new series is so fond began with Ace and that “Ghost Light” is as good as Doctor Who has ever been. He shut up pretty damn quick. So much for all that love I was talking about.
11:55
RTD, Julie Gardner and Euros Lyn are here five minutes early! I will not be a fanboy, I will not be a fanboy…
12:10
I have them sign my copy of Aliens and Enemies, because I was going to have people draw aliens in my sketchbook. Well, that didn’t happen. I find out how to say Euros’ name, and tell RTD that The Writer’s Tale is the best book on writing I’ve ever read, which is absolutely true. He’s very flattered and tells me that the paperback comes out in January and has an additional 300 pages. Geez, as if you couldn’t bludgeon someone with it before…
12:20
Bizarrely, stupidly some might say, IDW has scheduled their signing for their Doctor Who comics at the same time as the RTD signing. But because I was so far ahead in line, I pop down there with no problems. I have Rick Johnston and Eric J sign Room with a Déjà Vu and Tony Lee and Kelley Yates (good name for a Who artist) sign The Forgotten. As I’ve been taking pictures I tell people to say “Jelly Babies” instead of the standard “Cheese.” Rick and Tony are very amused at the idea that not only does someone want to take their picture, they have to say Jelly Babies. At least they know what they are!
13:00
Running around looking for last minute cheap Who toys. BBCAmerica has Donna and the Ood on sale. Yoink! By the by, how awesome would a band called Donna and the Ood be? Just missed out on a $5 Zygon. Damn. Reoccurring lesson of the con, if you see something you want, buy it. It won’t be there next time.
16:00
Walked out of the most inept panel I’ve ever seen. “Full-time Creative Work on a Part-time Schedule” sounded more interesting than it actually was. Helen and I duck into the Torchwood panel for what turns out to be the last question. And it’s about La Cage Aux Follies. Whee. Oh well. Here endeth the Con!
TUESDAY-21ST JULY 17:45
We’re about an hour outside San Diego. We’ve made pretty good time, having set out about 10:00. I will admit to a certain uneasiness, but I’m not certain why. I’ve heard all manner of stories, both good and bad about Comic-Con. I wonder what my experience will be. We’ve just passed an exit for Swansea. This must be a sign. I have too much stuff. My bags are full already. Where am I going to put all of my to-be-obtained goodies, eh? As I was listening to the first of the UNIT audios, a huge military helicopter swung past the car. It looked like it could have opened fire. Never before has audio been so realistic.
WEDNESDAY-22ND JULY
22:00
Morning spent at SD Air and Space Museum, evening at Comic-Con Preview Night. Nerds of two worlds and I am the twain. After snarfing free stuff at the DC and Dark Horse booths, I wander back to Underground Toys, the distributors of Who toys in the US. I immediately purchase the 2nd and 6th Doctor exclusives Lori wanted and a second 2nd Doctor for me. I ask if they have a Tom Baker, but they only brought one and it already sold. One? The most popular Doctor in America and they only brought one? I spent the rest of the evening scouring the floor for another to no avail. I do walk off with a pair of Sarah Jane toys 2 for $15! Oh, and Colin Baker is over at Alien Entertainment, which is pretty cool. $25 for an autograph isn’t bad, but I already have one and I’d like to spend money on other things.
THURSDAY-23RD JULY 09:45
Picked up an amazingly cool Who/Being Human bag from BBCAmerica booth. They also have a Dalek, which is neat but hardly the “piece of the TARDIS set” they advertised. Went across the way to the booth for The Prisoner remake. Was given an ID card for the Village. My number? 5454. Somewhere Scott Appel laughs.
10:15
Partial success! They don’t have the single figure, but Underground Toys now has a 4th Doctor Adventure Pack. No Build-a-K1-Figure for me, I’d rather have Tom!
11:30
Everyday I have set goals. Today I get my Owly book signed by Andy Runton. Owly is the most heartfelt comic I’ve ever read, a feat made more impressive given not only the sheer number of comics I’ve read, but that there are no words! Andy signs my book and I see he’s doing sketches of Owly as various characters. “Are you familiar with Doctor Who?” I ask. “Am I?!?” Andy turns out to be a big fan. We chat for nearly forty-five minutes as he sketches Owly as the 4th Doctor, using my newly purchased figures as reference! His girlfriend is an even bigger fan having introduced him to the series (!) and she pops by at one point to drop off a flyer for ChicagoTARDIS she’s picked up. “Can we go?” “I don’t know.” “But Paul McGann’s going to be there. Paul! McGann!”
18:30
Nearing the end of the day. I race from the end of a Charles Vess panel to catch Dave Gibbons at the Dark Horse booth. While most people have various editions of Watchmen for him to sign, I’ve brought the 5th Doctor epic The Tides of Time. He chuckles and signs it, posing for a picture too. I briefly mention our meeting several years before, but there are people waiting behind me and it’s time to leave for the Green Lantern screening…
FRIDAY-24TH JULY 9:05
This morning finds me in the Neil Gaiman/Coraline panel. While I’ve arrived in plenty of time, my cohort Melissa is nowhere to be seen. She sneaks in right before the wire, various calamities having befallen her upon the way. I have half a mind to ask Neil about the series five rumors, but as soon as question time is announced a throng of people leap up for the line. Oh well. Surprisingly, most of the questions are for Henry Selick. There was a huge cheer at Selick’s suggestion that he make the long gestating Sandman movie. The phrase, ‘A man can dream,’ comes instantly to mind.
11:55
Downstairs, I am determined to meet Roger Langridge. He is, as I’m sure you all know, the regular letterer for DWM, occasionally illustrating a tale or two along the way. These days he writes and illustrates The Muppet Show Comic, which is as worthy a spin-off as has ever been made. Seriously, Jerry Juhl would be pleased. I am, apparently, the first person to ever have brought him a copy of The Glorious Dead to sign. I quickly contemplate which Doctor to have him draw, settling on the 8th. He hadn’t drawn McGann in some time, but was willing to give it a bash. As much as I love it, I wonder if I should have gotten a Muppet instead. Maybe next year…
SATURDAY-25TH JULY 13:45
Morning spent in Chuck/Family Guy/Futurama panels. By the time I get to the BBCAmerica booth, they have run out of bags again. There is, however, a lovely woman dressed as Romana. She is tickled pink that I know who she is.
SUNDAY-26TH JULY 8:30
And now the Whorgasm begins. Coming up to the convention center, I complain to my friend Helen that you can either stand in line for the panel or stand in line for the RTD autograph session raffle, but not both. Before I can finish my sentence, she volunteers to go to the raffle, as she wasn’t doing anything. I thank her profusely and head upstairs.
8:45
In line. A few people in costume. I’m earlier than I was yesterday for Chuck, but the line is still fairly long. At least I know at this point I am getting in! I chat with various people, including someone who bought their ticket on eBay two days ago, specifically for this panel!
9:20
Helen texts me. She got an autograph ticket. Huzzah! Helen, I love you.
9:30
And like that, we begin the slog to get in.
10:05
By the time this will be read, there will be a hundred of detailed reports of this panel on the web. All of the answers will be posted, all the rumors confirmed or quashed, all the spoilers spoilt. So there doesn’t seem much point in capturing every little thing, but I will say this. Sometimes it seems fandom is so divisive. People arguing over favorite stories, RTD’s gay agenda, and just what the title of “Mission to the Unknown” is. Here in this hall there are 4,000 people who love Doctor Who. Love Doctor Who. Old fans, new fans, girl fans, boy fans, everyone is united for this one hour. It’s amazing and I have rarely felt its like before. Must stop before I turn out as inane as the commentator in “Fear Her”…Oh look, there’s my Romana from yesterday!
11:15
A quick meet up with Helen to get my ticket. I stand in line, fairly close to the front. Yea! Someone next to me begins to slag off Sylvester McCoy; it takes all my self restraint not to sock him in the jaw. I merely point out that all of the character building with which the new series is so fond began with Ace and that “Ghost Light” is as good as Doctor Who has ever been. He shut up pretty damn quick. So much for all that love I was talking about.
11:55
RTD, Julie Gardner and Euros Lyn are here five minutes early! I will not be a fanboy, I will not be a fanboy…
12:10
I have them sign my copy of Aliens and Enemies, because I was going to have people draw aliens in my sketchbook. Well, that didn’t happen. I find out how to say Euros’ name, and tell RTD that The Writer’s Tale is the best book on writing I’ve ever read, which is absolutely true. He’s very flattered and tells me that the paperback comes out in January and has an additional 300 pages. Geez, as if you couldn’t bludgeon someone with it before…
12:20
Bizarrely, stupidly some might say, IDW has scheduled their signing for their Doctor Who comics at the same time as the RTD signing. But because I was so far ahead in line, I pop down there with no problems. I have Rick Johnston and Eric J sign Room with a Déjà Vu and Tony Lee and Kelley Yates (good name for a Who artist) sign The Forgotten. As I’ve been taking pictures I tell people to say “Jelly Babies” instead of the standard “Cheese.” Rick and Tony are very amused at the idea that not only does someone want to take their picture, they have to say Jelly Babies. At least they know what they are!
13:00
Running around looking for last minute cheap Who toys. BBCAmerica has Donna and the Ood on sale. Yoink! By the by, how awesome would a band called Donna and the Ood be? Just missed out on a $5 Zygon. Damn. Reoccurring lesson of the con, if you see something you want, buy it. It won’t be there next time.
16:00
Walked out of the most inept panel I’ve ever seen. “Full-time Creative Work on a Part-time Schedule” sounded more interesting than it actually was. Helen and I duck into the Torchwood panel for what turns out to be the last question. And it’s about La Cage Aux Follies. Whee. Oh well. Here endeth the Con!
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