More from Comic-Con, abuzz with 'Pan Am,' 'Captain America'

Written by J.C. Vaughn

Monday, 25 July 2011 16:57

Sideshow Collectibles, which offers licensed products from a number of companies, is one of the show’s big exhibitors. Their selection of new and upcoming material this year includes this bust of Spider-Man’s foe, The Green Goblin. Photo by Michael A. Solof.

Following the opening on Preview Night on Wednesday, Comic-Con International: San Diego, which was only open to vendors, professionals and attendees who had purchased a pass for the subsequent four days in advance, it was clear that the convention had lost none of its luster.

As with every year for the past five, there were many pronouncements in the entertainment media that 2011 would be remembered as the year that the movie studios deserted Comic-Con. While there are indeed fewer potential blockbuster films among the exhibitions, the increase in television shows – both new and returning – on display more than puts lie to the dire predictions.

One of them, which in particular might be of interest to aviation memorabilia collectors, is the new ABC series Pan Am, which is set in the 1960s and slated to debut this fall. With a booth staffed by stewardesses in period uniforms, they gave away hundreds if not thousands of modern replica Pan Am flight bags. As a result, the famous and once-ubiquitous Pan Am globe logo found itself being carried into panel discussions for Star Wars, into food and beverage lines at the snack counters, and ended up being stuffed with the day’s purchases by many collectors. It was an inspired bit of advertising for the show, whether all who saw them are yet aware or not.

The demographic shift of Comic-Con, once almost a boys-only club, continues. The trend in recent years has turned it into a family event, with a solid mix of men, women and children, though it’s still a tough grind for most young children and both programming and other opportunities for them are limited.

Tapping into Comic-Con’s enthusiasm for the Friday, July 22, release of Marvel Studios’ Captain America: The First Avenger, Metropolis Collectibles and Comic-Connect.com unveiled what they dubbed “The Super Soldier Collection,” a collection of rare, vintage Captain America Comics and related titles with an estimated value in excess of $1 million.

The collection consists of more than 250 Golden Age (1940s-1950s) comic books in mid to high grades and includes a number of highest graded and second-highest graded copies, including a CGC-certified 7.0 copy of Captain America Comics #1, the character’s first appearance.

ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE

Dark Horse Comics President Mike Richardson, who has expanded his reach into Hollywood with properties such as The Mask, announced a new line of horror-themed comics including one by director Guillermo Del Toro (‘Pan’s Labyrinth’). Photo by Michael A. Solof.

Continuing the cooperation seen in the popular Super Bowl commercial with the little Darth Vader, artist Ken Lashley was in the convention hall’s Star Wars pavilion, working on illustrating the outside of a Volkswagen Passat in ‘Star Wars: Attack of the Clones’ livery. Photo by Michael A. Solof.

At the front of the San Diego Convention Center, the crowd arrived on foot, via shuttle busses from the local hotels, and on local rail. A veritable hive of activity throughout the course of the day, the area was almost impassable at opening and closing. Photo by Michael A. Solof.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 July 2011 13:03