Hellboy on the prowl
Photos & Story by Brent Beltran
The Key to the Highway
Just as expected Thursday, July 18, the first full day of San Diego Comic-Con International, was the nerdgasm I knew it would be. I’ve been to numerous San Diego Comic-Cons dating back to 1985 and I feel at home here amongst my fellow misfits.
I’m comfortable geeking out with the multi-cultured, multi-generational masses that make up the Comic-Con audience, all of whom are here for the sole purpose of enjoying and indulging in their favorite sci-fi/fantasy/horror/comic book/movie characters, stories and assorted items.
The requisite “Christian” pickets
The attendees are here because they love this stuff. They have an ownership stake and buy into whatever it is they’re into. It could be Star Wars, Star Trek, anything zombie, cosplay, superhero stuff, manga and anime, pirates, the card play of Magic the Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, My Little Pony, video gaming or some obscure sci-fi cult hit from the 1960’s or 1970’s. All of those things and more are what brings this nerdly motley crew together in celebration.
Capt. & Ms. America
Yesterday, I went to Comic-Con with my wife Olympia, her mom Glo and my two year old boy, Dino. All of us nerds in our own way. Oly, among many likes, enjoys movies by Japanese anime legend Hayao Miyazaki and the HBO series Game of Thrones. My mother-in-law loves good cinema and the art of Frank Frazetta. Dino digs superhero underwear and Star Wars. I’m the superhero and sci-fi movie/TV watching Magic playing in a Star Wars t-shirt kind of guy (with left wing Chicano politics and my interest in watching mixed martial arts thrown in). We all fit together nicely and add our own bits of motley to the Comic-Con crew.
Silver Samurai
Every year the San Diego Convention Center gets overrun by Stormtroopers, Klingons, Browncoats, numerous Batmans and Wolverines, bloodthirsty zombies and a variety of fanboy and fangirl fantasies made real. And this year is no different.
With that in mind I decided my coverage of Comic-Con would try to capture the essence of the event in photos (and some short videos) and I would share them through social media sites Twitter and Instagram. I’m making an effort to shoot images of as many different aspects of The Con and allow those who have never experienced it the opportunity to see Comic-Con in all its geeky glory.
Indiana Jones & Friend
Some of my photo highlights from Thursday include real life Christian zealots protesting Comic-Con sinners. The Star of India, which was docked behind the Convention Center, taken over by Assassin’s Creed pirates and renamed Jackdaw. A shot of me in front of The Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo. An Adam West era Batman. A badass Silver Samurai statue standing outside in the middle of the free Interactive Zone. Lots of life size Lego character like Batman, Joker, Iron Man, Hobbits and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And so many cool shots of people in costume, massive vendor displays, and all the great nerdy fun stuff that makes Comic-Con what it is.
Promo material
Using my iPhone 5, I’ve posted dozens of images and two short videos so far on Instagram and Twitter. Through Sunday night I will be posting dozens more. To see them all follow San Diego Free Press on Instagram at sdfreepress and on Twitter @sdfreepressorg. For more Comic-Con images and info check out the hashtag #SDCC on the Twittergrams.
Back tomorrow, same Bat-time, same Bat-station
Brent E. Beltrán
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Thanks to Doug Porter for turning this piece around in time for publication. I turned it in around 1am and Doug had it live by the time I woke up this morning. It takes a team effort here at SDFP and I’m glad to be part of this motley crew of misfit lefties.
What fun! Hellboy, however, freaked me out first thing in the morning.
Glad you like, Anna. Hellboy ain’t so bad once you get to know him.
Great stuff Brent – really enjoyed all the photos on my Twitter feed yesterday. Keep it up and have a great time!
Don’t have a Twitter feed, but I’ve been enjoying the images on the SDFP home page. Especially enjoyed the signs in Dothraki. I guess Dothraki is the new Klingon!