Thursday Morning Superhero: My SDCC Schedule

If attending San Diego Comic Con for the past 10 or so years is that you never get to do everything you plan for.  There are some obvious scheduling conflicts below and the panels I attend are now greatly influenced by my son, but here are some panels that we may or may not attend.  The only panel that I absolutely cannot miss is the Locke and Key panel on Friday despite that series not being age appropriate for a 12 year old.

Thursday:
10am - Funko Funkast (Room 7AB):
I am worried that I will miss this due to picking up tickets for Conan, but will try to make the live recording of a podcast that focuses on all things Funko, pop culture, and some amazing bad dad jokes.

1:30pm - Marvel Games (Hall H):
My son needs to experience Hall H at least once during his brief SDCC tenure and a panel on video games is right up his alley.  Hoping to check this one out and scope out future games that we can play together.

3:00pm - Entertainment Earth (Room 9):
If you have noticed a theme in a lot of my posts is that I enjoy collecting toys.  I have sadly passed this love of collecting down to my son and this sounds like an informative panel that should be quite entertaining.

4:30pm - Art of Ghibli (Horton Grand Theater):
I need to double-check how to get tickets for the Horton Grand Theater (I have successfully done this in the past!) as my family are huge Studio Ghibli fans.  This sounds like an amazing panel that will be a delight to watch.

Friday:
11:00am - Fun with Funko (Room 7AB):
This is a panel that I wanted to check out, but will likely miss it due to the Locke and Key panel. I hate to miss this as it sounds like it will shed a lot of light on how Funko got the Star Wars licence.  I love learning about the history of various toy companies and this panel is right up my alley.

11:30am - Veronica Mars (Ballroom 20):
Shout out to my older brother who recommended this show to my wife and myself. Similar to the Fun with Funko panel, this one is hitting the cutting room floor due to Locke and Key.  Lucky fans who get to attend will enjoy the first episode of the new season.  This will be a popular panel and I hope I know someone who goes to it.

12:00pm - Locke and Key (32AB):
Season 1 of the Netflix Locke and Key series has wrapped and Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez have teased images that suggest they are returning to the world of Locke and Key for a new comic. They hinted at this in years past and I am super pumped that they are finally revisiting what is one of the best comic book series of all time.

2:00pm - Wizards Unite (6BCF):
My family loves Pokemon Go and have enjoyed partaking in a similar-ish experience via Wizards Unite. Wizards Unite provides a more in-depth experience than Pokemon Go and has reignited our interest in Harry Potter.  Hosted by the delightful Felicia Day, this should be a lot of fun.

3:30pm - Dark Crystal (Hall H):
Not sure how hard this one will be to get into, but I am happy to see Dark Crystal introduced to a new generation of fans. I love the mix of puppets and CGI in the trailers for this series and really want to see more. Not sure how this will impact some off-site plans I have, but this would be great to check out.

Saturday:
11:15am - Lego Animation (Room 6A):
I am sure there are other panels of interest on Saturday, but it is looking like this might be the day that my son and I take it easy.  We both have a vested interest in this panel as the Ninjago series is one of our all-time favorites.  Not sure there will be anything related to Ninjago, but we would love to support this talented group.

Sunday:
10:30am - IDW Comics for Kids (Room 23ABC):
My daughter is joining my son and I on Sunday for her first SDCC.  This panel features James Kochalka who is one of our favorite all-ages creators (Johnny Boo!).  Not everything Kochalka creates is all-ages, but we have really enjoyed his all-ages lineup.

11:15am - Spotlight on Scott Snyder (Room 6DE):
Not sure the kids will enjoy this one, but Snyder's Batman run is up there with the best and it would be great to learn more about his creative process and what future plans he has.  If I can only convince the kids to join me for this.

2:15pm - Batman Family Matters (Room 6BCF):
This panel is simply a screening of a new animated Batman movie and sounds like a nice quiet way to wind down an exhausting weekend of fun.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero: SDCC Exclusives Edition

We are only three weeks away from the 50th San Diego Comic Con! I am fortunate enough to be returning to provide coverage for Nerds of a Feather and will  be bringing my son for the second year in a row. While details on programming are slowly starting to trickle out, the floodgates have been opened on what exclusives fans can hope to pick up at various booths throughout the convention. Here are my top five most wanted SDCC exclusives in no particular order.

Lego Marvel Super Heroes Captain Marvel and the Asis:

Holy flerken!!!  Look at that Lego Goose! Captain Marvel has been my favorite superhero movie I have seen this year and this set is a must have! Featuring minifigs of both Captain Marvel and Monica Rambeau, this set will run you $45 and has 271 pieces. This set will be available to attendees who are fortunate in the lottery which should be opening any day.

Funko Pop! The Black Cauldron: Taran and the Horned King:

There are a wealth of amazing collectibles in Funko's SDCC lineup, but this two pack was the most surprising to me.  The Black Cauldron was one of my favorite childhood movies and I have fond memories of playing the amazing Sierra computer game as I tried to stop the Horned King from raising an army of the dead. When I revisited this movie with my son I was surprised how dark it was, but happy that he liked it and to share this Disney classic that doesn't get as much love as it should.  Could a Gurgi Pop! be down the road?  This two-pack will be a shared exclusive with Amazon and available with the SDCC sticker to those who win lottery access.

Star Wars: The Black Series 6-inch Boba Fett by Hasbro:

This might be the most Comic Con toy in my selection. An exclusive Star Wars figure on a vintage card back of the famed bounty hunter Boba Fett. This is a true beauty and will only set you back $24.99.  Hasbro has some other nice looking exclusives (a razor scooter?), but none as pretty as this beauty. I am not sure if Hasbro is participating in the traditional lottery, but I may try to swing by the booth one afternoon and hope I am lucky enough to add this fella to my Star Wars collection.

Action Vinyls from The Loyal Subjects:

Featuring exclusives from Game of Thrones, Ghostbusters, My Hero Academia and more, The Loyal Subjects have grown by leaps and bounds since I started collecting their action vinyls a few years back and I am stoked for this year's lineup. This is only page one of the heat they are bringing, but I am most excited about the Hot Wheels. Vinyl Hot Wheels seemed like an odd pairing, but I saw some rolling around on Instagram and am excited for this blast of nostalgia. I grew up on Hot Wheels and have enjoyed passing that love onto both of my kids.  Super stoked to finally add some TLS Hot Wheels to my collection. Limited to 200 pieces on the SDCC floor, keep a close eye on the schedule to make sure you don't miss any drops.

Spittin' Contest Tiny Ghost by Bimtoy:

Reis O'Brien and his Bimtoy brand are partnering with Fugitive Toys and bringing a summertime twist to his spooky lineup of collectibles to SDCC. Bimtoy is a labor of love and one that has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. In addition to expanding its vinyl offerings, the Tiny Ghost variants are sure to make your shelf 100% cuter. In addition to this stunning piece, Bimtoy will have some pins, mini ghosts, and other possible surprised located at the Fugitive Toys booth. If they distribute these like last year it will be via lottery at the booth.


POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero: My SDCC Schedule

After another amazing Hop Con at the Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens at Liberty Station, it is time to get down to business for another exciting four days at San Diego Comic Con.  Here is my tentative schedule that is subject to massive amounts of change due to long lines and unforeseen circumstances.  Without further ado!

Thursday, July 20:

10:30am- 24ABC – Crash Bandicoot Then and Now

My family has been enjoying the new Crash Bandicoot collection on the PS4 and any insider information I can get I will happily take. Panelists include employees from Vicarious Visions, Naughty Dog, and Dark Horse.  Should be a fun way to kick-off my trip. 

11:15am- 6A – Unikitty! New Episode Premiere and Q&A

When I heard that Unikitty was getting her own television show on Cartoon Network I was very excited as was my family.  It is interesting as I approach 40 my trips to conventions focus on what I can provide for my family.  In this case it is LEGOs!!!

1pm – 7AB – Mondo Mania

As an Austin resident, I would be remiss if I didn't catch what I think is Mondo's first SDCC panel. I will admit that I am most excited to hear from artist Tom Whalen, as some of his prints are hanging in my house. Mondo gets bigger and bigger every year and I am excited to learn about what is in store for the future.

2:30pm – Ballroom 20 – SYFY: Battlestar Galactica Reunion

This is going to be one of the harder panels to make it into, but it features a good collection of the show's creators and actors.  If I make it to this panel I promise not to ask about the ending of the series and will instead focus on how amazing this series was up to that point.

3:15pm – Hall H – Netflix Films: Bright and Death Note

I will admit that I am not familiar with Bright, but am instead primarily interested in seeing what is in store for the new Death Note movie.  I really enjoyed the manga, but have yet to find an adaptation of the series that does it justice.  Not that the anime or live action movies were that bad, but it is hard to capture the nuance of the graphic novel.  That and L and Ryuk don't transfer well to the screen.

Friday, July 21:

12:00pm – 7AB – Lucasflim Publishing: New Star Wars Stories from a Galaxy Far, Far Away...

There have been some truly amazing novel adaptations set in the Star Wars Universe, and learning that I can get some insight on Cullen Bunn's Darth Maul tale is more than enough to get me to park my rear end in Room 7AB with some fellow nerds.

1:00pm – 23ABC – Drawing the Sword: Gabriel Rodriguez

This is my first must see panel of SDCC.  While I really want to check out many of the others I have listed, the opportunity to hear from Gabriel Rodriguez is an experience I can't recommend enough.  I had the good fortune to hear him and Joe Hill talk Locke and Key in the past, and hope to learn about Gabe's new endeavor.

Offsite:

3pm - Conan

My offsite adventures begin with a taping of Conan (assuming all works well with tickets, etc.) and I am very excited to attend what will be my third Conan show.  While I am truly in it for Andy Richter, Conan's SDCC shows are tailor made for the type of people who would brave crowds to watch trailers early and hear comic book creators speak.

6:45pm - Funko Fundays

The night is going to get pretty crazy as I attend my fourth consecutive Fundays.  It is a night of food, drink, toys, and entertainment in the name of small plastic bobbleheads.  I absolutely love this event and look forward to it every year.

Saturday, July 22:

The bulk of Saturday's programming will depend on my ability to secure a wristband to Hall H. I have many back-ups (and will mention one!) for what is the day that will likely change the most.

11:30am – Hall H – Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation:

While this panel will feature clips from Justice League, Aquaman, and Bladerunner 2049, I am most intrigued at the prospect of seeing Steven Spielberg and a sneak peak of Ready Player One.  I loved the book and am very hopeful for its big screen translation.

3:00pm – Hall H – Netlix's Stranger Things:

I just finished watching this series again with my wife and am even more excited about the possibility of gaining any sort of insight on the upcoming season.

4:30pm – Horton – From Acclaimed Graphic Novel to Daring New Film: My Friend Dahmer:

I am extremely pumped about one of my favorite graphic novels getting adapted to the big screen.  I would not have ever imagined that this story about Jeffrey Dahmer would have ever seen the light beyond the comic book page, but Derf Backder's account of growing up with Dahmer is one of my all-time favorite books.  So happy to hear this story could gain a wider audience.

5:30pm – Hall H - Marvel Studios:

This is pretty self explanatory.  With the Infinity Wars and what not.

Offsite:

7:00pm - The Loyal Subjects Second Annual Fan Jam:

One of my favorite manufactured of vinyl nostalgia, TLS is celebrating with its fans in a friendly dinner filled with delicious food, cold drinks, and action vinyls!!! Was my surprise highlight of 2016.

Sunday, July 23:

10:30am – 6BCF – World Premiere of LEGO Scooby-Doo! Blowout Beach Bash:

This is the start of a very obvious theme involving interlocking bricks that you may notice.  My family and I might have a small bit of an obsession.  I am oddly enough excited that Matthew Lillard will be in attendance and lending his vocal talents to Shaggy.  I always thought he was one of the bright spots in the live action movies.

12:15pm – 6BCF – World Premiere of LEGO DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain;

Not sure I can handle back-to-back world premieres, but I will give it a whirl in order to impress my kids.  So happy to see that the DC Super Hero Girls are getting the LEGO treatment as I have quite enjoyed their adventures to this point.

2:00pm – Room 4 – Introducing Nickelodeon Splat Attack from IDW Games:

You had me at Nickelodeon and board games. 

3:00pm - 23ABC - Comic Con Talk Back:
There is nothing better than closing out a successful SDCC than hearing people voice their concerns about the event.  The moderators of this panel deserve awards for how gracious they are dealing with the feedback they are provided.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero

It is hard to believe that San Diego Comic Con is a mere two weeks away.  New panels are announced multiple times a day and I find myself dizzy trying to keep up with the news.  My convention plans this year include a return to Gen Con so my head is spinning twice as fast!  What is interesting is the news that excites me seems to always relate to how I can impress my kids after returning home from the Con.  This week's big news is that Gravity Falls officially announced its panel for Friday. One of my favorite shows to watch with my kids, I hope to attend the panel and bring my kids the inside scoop!

Pick of the Week:
The Life After #1 - Oni Press is quite the innovative publisher and isn't afraid to push the comics envelope.  Once again the company is pushing forward with an exciting title that examines life in purgatory.  I had to read this comic a second time to truly appreciate some of the nuances in the book. The main character paces through a mundane existence until he challenges his routine.  This leads to a series of events and he ultimately learns that he is in purgatory.  It seems that his role is going to be to help a variety of people find peace and escape purgatory.  Beautiful art breathes life into this moving title and I hope people give it a try.  If you are looking for something different and beautiful, you should check this title out.

The Rest:
Ghosted #11 - Featuring the best cover of the week (although I hear this week's Avengers featured Angel on a motorcycle), Joshua Williams brings us a new Ghosted arc that shines some light on Anderson.  It was highly entertaining to learn about her existence prior to becoming a ghost.  One of the things that I have truly enjoyed about this series is a fresh take on things like heists and weapons running.  The first arc included an attempted heist of a ghost and Anderson's back story features the smuggling of occult weapons.  If you are looking for a fresh series that breaks the mold of conventional comics then I urge you to hop on with this issue.


The Walking Dead #129 - This is the issue I have been waiting for in the current arc.  While I have enjoyed the time jump and the new characters, it was lacking edge.  Sure Negan and Carl were becoming friends, but I wanted some excitement.  This week, Kirkman and company delivered.  Carl finally ships up to the Hilltop and we learn more about the community that Rick has created.  The newcomers find themselves in a similar position that Rick and his crew experienced as with other groups.  Even though the reader knows that they should trust Rick, they have reason to doubt Rick and his intentions.  It is ripe for drama and the big question is when, and it is when, will Negan be set free?  I am curious if there will be a new villain in this arc, but even if there isn't I am once again excited about this series.

Spider-man 2099 #1 - This was recommended by the manager at my LCS and I thought I would check it out.  Miguel O'Hara is the Spider-man of the future and is stuck in 2014 trying to prevent the death of some key family members.  Meanwhile, a T.O.T.E.M (temporal oversight team eliminating mistakes) has traveled back in time to kill Miguel.  This first issue is a good leaping on point to a series that I knew very little about.  It was an enjoyable read and I will have to thank Monti for the suggestion. 

Daredevil #5 - Like my buddy Jeff, I have not been enjoying Daredevil as much since his move to the West Coast.  I will most likely remain loyal to the series as long as Mark Waid is penning it and this issue was a nice one-shot that was quite fun.  We learn how Matt Murdock faked the death of his best friend and former partner, Foggy Nelson.  Waid continues to inject some heart and emotion into Murdock's and Nelson's relationship and sprinkles in some humor for good measure.

POSTED BY MIKE N. -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Top 3's of Comic Con

This past week I went to my fifth San Diego Comic Con.  I am still recovering from participating in events, panels, off-site parties, and more with more than 100,000 of my closest friends.  The event has seen huge growth through the short five years I have been attending and I feel that the best way to capture my experience is through a series of lists.  Also, if you couldn't make it and want some swag you should enter our contest while there is time.  Click here to do so.

Top Trends in SDCC:
1. Off-site growth - This year there were more and bigger off-site events.  The Nerd HQ, in its third year, moved into the concourse of Petco Park, HBO took over the first floor of a building across from the Omni, Geek and Sundry moved into the original home of the Nerd HQ, and too many to actual list here.  With the sheer number of off-site events, SDCC is something you can experience without having a badge or setting foot into the San Diego Convention Center

2. Camping out - Before I ever attended SDCC I was warned about the lines.  Despite this warning I was still shocked at the length of the lines and how early you had to line up for panels.  I do recall getting into all of the panels I intended to and this is not the case anymore.  My plans for attending the WB and Dr. Who panels were halted when I saw people camping out prior to end of the panels the previous day.  If they are willing to show that type of dedication to be in a panel, may hats off to them and I will find something else fun to do.
3. Twitter - It seems that in order to truly stay in the loop and get the most out of Comic Con you need to have your twitter feed rolling with key individuals to follow.  Bloggers, comic publishers, and others will let you know what is currently happening and help you have a good time among the mobs of people.

The image that stole the show

My 3 favorite announcements at SDCC:
1. Batman/Superman Movie - It is amazing the amount of buzz and rumblings a simple graphic can produce.  The excitement was in the air upon the announcement and I am pretty sure that all of the attendees heard the eruption in Hall H.  On my flight home when I saw coverage on the CNN app I knew that this was the winning announcement of the con.
2. Gabriel Rodriguez working on Little Nemo in Slumberland - Readers of the blog will know my love of Gabriel Rodriguez and his work on Locke and Key.  I can think of no better artist to be involved on a relaunch of Little Nemo than Rodriguez.  The series is a complete relaunch with a new dreamland, new Nemo, and will be published by IDW.
3. Phineas and Ferb/Star Wars Crossover - I know this was covered earlier this week from Vance, but I got misty when I heard the announcement and saw some of the early art on this project.  It happens during the events of Episode IV, there is a "Sith-inator", and it is going to be amazing.

Top 3 Off-site Locations:
1. The Godzilla Encounter - Godzilla took over a building in the Gas Lamp district for an encounter that required an RSVP and a SDCC badge (wondering if more will go this route).  This event felt like an experience you might have at Disney World or Universal Studios.  You start by touring a Japanese town when everything goes wrong.  The actors in this experience was great, the sets were gorgeous, and the action was pretty good.  One of the more unique experiences I have had at SDCC in the short time I have been attending.

2. Fox ADHD - Taking over a parking lot in the Gas Lamp, the Fox ADHD headquarters featured mini-golf, a 50-ft. Axe Cop balloon, 3-D printed toys, and free pizza.  On top of that it screened episodes of both Axe Cop and High School USA.  Both were great and air this upcoming Saturday night on Fox!
3. Geek and Sundry - Geek and Sundry took over the second floor of a coffee shop in the Gas Lamp and featured board game tournaments (I played and lost in the Star Trek Catan one!), a board game library, game demos, free AMD processors, Wil Wheaton photo booth, and had appearances from Wheton, Felicia Day, and other nerd celebrities.  What I liked about Geek and Sundry is that it was truly low key, fun, and a nice break from the chaos that was everywhere else.

Most overhead complaints at SDCC:
1. Not enough swag - From preview night through Sunday, the most overheard complaint I heard was that the amount of swag handed out was down from previous years.  From what I saw the swag was moved off-site.  I, for one, welcome the move because I find that it helps with flow on the floor.  Additionally, most of the swag really isn't all its cracked up to be.
2. Line jumpers - The folks at CCI really cracked down on line jumpers this year.  I guess when people camp out to attend a panel they don't take too kindly to people cutting in line.  While it did occur and I witnessed several people line jump, it wasn't nearly as common as in years past.
3. Difficulty in getting into Hall H - My friend, who actually didn't complain about this, waited in line from 6am until 3pm to get into Hall H.  The achievement of making it into the great hall was so difficult that people appeared to stay in the hall from open to close.  Don't think I would enjoy hanging out in Hall H all day, but I had a nice time at the Community panel on Sunday.

Top 3 Panels:
1. Legend of Korra - I rewatched book one in preparation of what Nickelodeon was hyping up to be a stellar panel.  After planning on attending this panel I ended up playing in a Star Trek Catan tournament at Geek and Sundry.  My brother attended, got to see the first episode of Book 2 and said that it was great even though he hadn't watched season 1.  I can't wait for Book 2!

Some Whovians tagged a wall in the Hall H line with some chalk

2. Dr. Who - Even though I am a newly converted Whovian and I didn't brave the campers to attend this panel, it is likely the last featuring Matt Smith and included the debut of the trailer for the 50th Anniversary special.  My favorite thing is that people in England are upset because their taxes support the BBC which airs Dr. Who and they haven't even seen the trailer yet.
3. Community - Most of the cast was on hand and the audience gave a warm welcome to the return of Dan Harmon.  Harmon carried himself well about the drama related to the show, but the shining moment in this panel was when Dino Stamatopoulos hijacked the Q&A to promote a new project he is working on and to sell some ashcans.  Overall this panel got me interested in a show again that I had drifted away from.  I also fell for Dino's ploy and picked up his ashcan.  It was quite good.

Top 3 Off-Site Events:
1. Course of the Force - For the second straight year Chris Hardwick and the good people at Nerdist Industries hosted the Course of the Force.  It is a lightsaber relay race that runs from Skywalker Ranch to San Diego.  The event raises money for the Make a Wish Foundation and allows people to participate in the race or stop by one of the many local events at each stop in the race.

2. Hop Con - Wil Wheaton teamed up with Stone Brewery to release a special beer for Comic Con.  WootStout debuted at the Stone Brewery's new tasting room and your admission to Hop Con got you a collectible glass, eight pours of yummy beer, delicious food, and great entertainment featuring Wheaton and the musical comedy duo Paul and Storm.  I can't think of a better way to kick off Comic Con then through this event and I am extremely grateful I attended.
3. The Walking Dead Escape - The Walking Dead Escape returned to Petco Park with a bigger and better running of the zombie filled obstacle course.  This year the course was more physically challenged, featured more of the undead, and was an absolute blast.  You can win some of the giveaways from the event here.

Top 3 Disappointments:

1. No Mr. Show reunion - Almost the entire cast of Mr. Show made the trip to San Diego.  Bob Odenkirk, Paul F. Thompkins, Scott Aukerman, Dino Stamatopoulos, Brian Posehn, and Tom Kenny.  All we needed was David Cross and my mind would have been blown and I would have been camping out.
2. No Locke and Key panel - Neither Joe Hill or Gabriel Rodriguez were in attendance as this title is wrapping up in a few months.  Really would have been great to send off one of my favorite titles of all time in style.
3. No Fables panel - Bill Willingham announced that he would no longer be attending SDCC, but I was still hopeful that the rest of his creative staff would be on hand for one of the panels I look forward to every year.  Maybe next year.

Top 3 Prizes:

1. Mondo Studio Ghibli record - After a disaster trying to secure a Mattel toy for my daughter, I was wondering the floor trying to meet up with a friend when I walked right past the Mondo booth.  To my pleasant surprise they had just dropped an exclusive Studio Ghibli soundtrack on colored vinyl.  The line was about 10 deep and in a few minutes I had a great prize to take home to the wife!
2. Axe Cop toy - For a chance to win one of your own you can enter our contest here, but I am keeping the one I got.  Axe Cop inspired my first ever cosplay and there is no way I am giving mine away.  Vance is much nicer than I am.  This toy took over 12 hours to print in a 3d printer and 3 hours to be painted by hand.
3. Kid Robot Zoidberg - Through the kindness of a friend I was able to get my hands on the alternate universe Zoidberg from Kid Robot.  This baby looks even better in person and when my daughter Zelda saw is she asked me, "why do you have a Homer crab?"  A better question to ask is why do you not have a Homer crab?  They are great!

As I look over the lists above I realize what an amazing experience SDCC is each year.  I could write until my fingers were bleeding, but will rest now and reflect on the good times I have enjoyed in San Diego the past five years.  Here is to another five more!

SDCC Most Wanted Exclusives

The nerd mecha that is San Diego Comic Con is less than 2 months away and the tension is growing.  The bloggers are busy scooping rumors, studios have begun to make some announcements, and I am prepared to spend four days waiting in line.  I love it! With the Matty Collectory Presale (June 4) around the corner, I thought I would take a look at my top 5 most wanted exclusives.  As a father of two who has established the norm that my kids can each choose one exclusive for me to bring home, I will talk about their selections first and then move to the top 5.

What my kids want:

Catwoman Barbie:

In not too shocking news, my three-year old daughter wants the Catwoman Barbie doll from Mattel.  I try to encourage them to select from Mattel because of the ability to preorder.  With a lack of Polly Pockets this year, it is none too surprising that she was swayed by the Barbie.  I think she made a good choice.

Rokkon and Stonedar:
Keeping with his love of Masters of the Universe, my five-year old son selected the two-pack of Rokkon and Stonedar.  These figures have removable panels for when you want them to either be an action figure or a rock and look great.  I think he also made a wise decision and I hope the presale treats me well.

Top 5:

1. Chew #35 variant - I am a huge fan of Chew from John Layman and Rob Guillory and they have delivered again. While Layman was originally hesitant to go with another homage to Tarantino, I am happy he trusted Guillory to deliver what is sure to be a sell out.  I just hope I can make it to the Image booth before this beauty sells out.

2. Star Wars Black: Boba Fett with Han Solo in carbonite - When you combine the wordsexclusive, Star Wars, Comic Con, and Boba Fett you have something that people will be interested in.  Given the high quality of packaging that Hasbro is known for and the amazing photos of what this toy looks like, it is high on my list.  The only problem facing me is that I don't have the patience to wait in the line to score this before it sells out.





3. Wrath of the Rancor - Hallmark has well established itself as a mainstay at SDCC.  The line for its exclusive ornaments wraps around the side of the floor beginning on preview night and the booth is buzzing throughout the convention.  If I am fortunate enough to make it through the line before this is sold out, then the Wrath of the Rancor will be mine.  I am always a fan of Star Wars ornaments, and if you add in the quality that Hallmark produces with the exclusiveness that nerds love, you have a winner.





4. Jason from the NES "Friday the 13th" game from NECA - I love the retro feel and creativity that NECA took in this figure with very distinct coloring.  A fan of both the movie and the game, this would be a great toy to add to any collection.

5. Hot Wheels® A-Team Custom GMC Panel Van - The fans at Comic Con go crazy for the exclusive Hot Wheels® and this one warrants enough nostalgia to catch my attention.  The notion of playing A-Team with my son is something that I haven't quite wrapped my head around.  I think I will try to pick this one up.