Published: Thursday, 23rd July, 2009 1:21am
A whole new world and a working holiday
by Geek Chic
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EmailI don't hide my geek light under a bushel. Never have. I'm used to being the pedant arguing about whether Han shot first, why odd numbered Star Trek films are better than even ones, and why Nu Who owes more to US genre show than the old style show that bears it names. I firmly believe geek is chic, and I'm used to being one of the geekiest people in the room. But this week I am in geek Nirvana. Nerd Mecca. The Holy Land. And I am a little frightened to find I am one of the least geeky people here.
Every summer 140,000 geeks descend on San Diego, California for Comic Con. It is a massive event, where the great and the good of comics (obviously) but also TV, films and merchandise come to pimp their wares to a giddy and keen mass of geeks stepping out into the sunshine. It is mind-blowingly massive.
If, to almost coin a phrase, the geek shall inherit the earth then believe me, when the nerds take over San Diego will be our capital. And from what I've seen so far the people (and businesses) of San Diego are happy for that to be the case.
As well as 'San Diego welcomes Comic Con' posters on ever lamp post in the city, our hotel room keys are emblazoned with Chuck, Supernatural and Smallville promos. People are giving out postcards and badges for new shows as you walk down the street, and when it all gets too much to bear you can head into Cafe Diem - The UK arm of Sci Fi (which has pretentiously renamed itself 'SyFy' because it thinks the sci-fi element of its name might put off viewers) has taken over a cafe and renamed it in honour of the restaurant in Eureka for the duration, serving themed drinks, food and cocktails.
Tonight is 'preview night', which basically means you can scope out the stalls selling any kind of geek tat you might want and get your bearings, before tomorrow the casts and creators of some of the biggest genre shows and films descend on the event.
Among those coming along are people from: Lost, Chuck, Heroes, Dexter, True Blood, Supernatural, Fringe, Smallville, Stargate, Twilight, Iron Man 2, Avatar, Peter Jackson's District 9, Battlestar Galactica/Caprica, Watchmen Directors Cut, Star Trek, Being Human and Torchwood (which bizarrely is a massive thing among geeks here - with Children of Earth airing this week). Meanwhile the shows that want to be the next big thing have hauled in their casts to meet fans, show early episodes (I'm telling you now, Warehouse 13 is something to watch) and generally schmooze, giving out freebies which will either be treasured (for the show that's the next Heroes) or flogged on Ebay (the next Demons).
There is so much to do that you couldn't do it all without cloning yourself. The guidebook for what's happening when runs to 144 pages. I'll be blogging / tweeting (see http://www.twitter.com/thegeektourist) from some of the best - although what that will be yet I'm not entirely sure. I have spreadsheets listing the things I want to see - honestly, wars have been planned with less organisation and precision - but I'm keeping my hopes and expectations low. I want to see The Middleman cast, and I'd like to see the Chuck and Being Human Q&As. Otherwise, it's kind of a geeky lucky dip.
Suffice to say I feel like the country mouse visiting the town mouse right now. If the town mouse lived in Mos Eisley Cantina.
