San Diego Comic-Con 2012 – Preview Night: Inside the mindset of taking on three hours of pop culture madness

in Disney, Entertainment, Events, Merchandise, Movies

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).

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
We made it! San Diego Comic-Con! Wait... which part of the show floor are we on? Where's the map?

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Forget the map! There's Mattel! And LEGO! Let's go!

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
We have to beat all these people to the booths to snag exclusive merchandise! But which of thousands of booths do we hit first?

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Wait - where are all these people going? What do they know that I don't? And why can't I move?

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Oh hey. There's a Slave Leia. Let's just stop here for a while.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
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...

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Look over here... What new Star Wars toys do they have?

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Forget toys! There's a Stormtrooper! Is that a Shadow Stormtrooper? I don't know!

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
No, no, forget Star Wars. Here's AMC's The Walking Dead. I love that show!

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
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!

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Ah! It's Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter! Click.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Finally made it to Mattel. By the Power of Greyskull! (Why isn't THAT for sale?)

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Yes! The hoverboard I already preordered from MattyCollector.com a few months ago. Looks awesome in person. I wonder when it'll ship...

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Oh look, they have KITT too. But last year this spot was occupied by a time traveling DeLorean, which was even cooler.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Random colorful Japanese girl photo op! Click.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Batman! Click.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Raiden! Click.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Wow, this Frankenweenie exhibit is amazing!

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
These sets and props are so detailed. Can't wait to see the movie in October!

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Oh, hi there Frankenweenie executive producer Don Hahn. Nice to bump into you here at Comic-Con.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
You too, famed Walt Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter. Hope you're having fun!

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Oh yeah, exclusive merchandise. Gotta get it before it sells out! Ash, Freddy, Ezio - Mine!

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Nice work, NECA. More amazing Terminator figures to add to my collection. Kyle Reese at last! And the frozen T-1000 looks great too.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
My wife will want to see this next wave of Hunger Games figures. Click.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Is that Mr. T? Yep. Awesome.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Ahh! Trolls!

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Ahh! Pies! (ABC's The Neighbors? I'll come back later...)

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Did someone say pie? No, Turtles, baked pie, not pizza pie. (This huge display rocks!)

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Wow that's quite the mural... and quite the hairdo...

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
The new Tomb Raider game is here! Gotta play this... later... must... keep... walking...

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Snakes! Why'd it have to be...

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
...REAL, LIVE snakes?!

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
Last merchandise grab! Hasbro sure has some great exclusives this year. Tough to get.

San Diego Comic-Con 2012 - Preview Night
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!

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