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The 2012 San Diego Comic-Con kicked off tonight with a 3-hour preview night, giving a select group of attendees an advance chance to browse the show floor, buy merchandise, and mingle before the masses descend on the convention tomorrow. The phrase “select group” is used here loosely, as it’s definitely not a small crowd that shows up to preview night. Indeed it feels like any other day at Comic-Con, but with all the hustle, commotion, and sensory overload packed into a mere three hours.
There is no easy way to approach SDCC preview night. Try as attendees may, it is impossible to know in advance exactly what each year’s show will offer and thus all plans will ultimately fail in one way or another. To better relay the madness that is Comic-Con preview night to those of you who have never been there, read through the photo narrative below and witness tonight’s event opening through my eyes (and lens).
We made it! San Diego Comic-Con! Wait... which part of the show floor are we on? Where's the map?
Forget the map! There's Mattel! And LEGO! Let's go!
We have to beat all these people to the booths to snag exclusive merchandise! But which of thousands of booths do we hit first?
Wait - where are all these people going? What do they know that I don't? And why can't I move?
Oh hey. There's a Slave Leia. Let's just stop here for a while.
No wait! Hasbro is giving away Transformers The Ride 3D posters! Hurry! No! They ran out three people ahead of me. Oh well, pressing on...
Look over here... What new Star Wars toys do they have?
Forget toys! There's a Stormtrooper! Is that a Shadow Stormtrooper? I don't know!
No, no, forget Star Wars. Here's AMC's The Walking Dead. I love that show!
Amazing photo op with Michonne, a new character I only know about because countless magazines, blogs, and Twitterers keep telling me who she is even though it was a cliffhanger last season. Oh well, no time for a photo now. I'll come back later. Moving on!
Ah! It's Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter! Click.
Finally made it to Mattel. By the Power of Greyskull! (Why isn't THAT for sale?)
Yes! The hoverboard I already preordered from MattyCollector.com a few months ago. Looks awesome in person. I wonder when it'll ship...
Oh look, they have KITT too. But last year this spot was occupied by a time traveling DeLorean, which was even cooler.
Random colorful Japanese girl photo op! Click.
Batman! Click.
Raiden! Click.
Wow, this Frankenweenie exhibit is amazing!
These sets and props are so detailed. Can't wait to see the movie in October!
Oh, hi there Frankenweenie executive producer Don Hahn. Nice to bump into you here at Comic-Con.
You too, famed Walt Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter. Hope you're having fun!
Oh yeah, exclusive merchandise. Gotta get it before it sells out! Ash, Freddy, Ezio - Mine!
Nice work, NECA. More amazing Terminator figures to add to my collection. Kyle Reese at last! And the frozen T-1000 looks great too.
My wife will want to see this next wave of Hunger Games figures. Click.
Is that Mr. T? Yep. Awesome.
Ahh! Trolls!
Ahh! Pies! (ABC's The Neighbors? I'll come back later...)
Did someone say pie? No, Turtles, baked pie, not pizza pie. (This huge display rocks!)
Wow that's quite the mural... and quite the hairdo...
The new Tomb Raider game is here! Gotta play this... later... must... keep... walking...
Snakes! Why'd it have to be...
...REAL, LIVE snakes?!
Last merchandise grab! Hasbro sure has some great exclusives this year. Tough to get.
No! It can't be over already! 3 hours?! That fast?? Well, there ARE four more days. See you tomorrow, Comic-Con.
Whew, that was exhausting. And that was a typical preview night at the San Diego Comic-Con, offering just an over-before-you-know-it sampling of what’s to come in the following days.
Keep following along here, on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for much more from the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con!
Looks awesome and very crowded, but where are the best things in the world, the comics?????