San Diego Comic Con 2017 is here.
Unlike the other That’s Normal ladies, this is only my second time at the Con. Okay, technically my third but I didn’t have a badge the first go around and just went so I could see my friends, have a few cocktails and free mini tacos and, y’know, casually interview Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe. Insert humble brag here:
But if my first official go around at SDCC taught me anything, here it is:
- Wear comfortable clothing if you’re not cosplaying, and stop dressing up for panels. Seriously, Jason Momoa and Henry Cavill aren’t going to see you, fall in love and make little Hawaiian/British babies with you.
- Bring deodorant. Not even clinical strength can outlast a crowded room with little air conditioning.
- Plan ahead. Look at schedules, stop thinking you can just walk right into a panel, and be decisive about what you actually want to see. Unfortunately, many panels that I wanted to see happened simultaneously, so I had to pick the child I loved the most and totally Sophie’s Choice the other panel.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
With four days filled with panels, autograph sessions, parties, and legal celebrity stalking, planning your time at SDCC is on par with you attempting to calculate the space-time continuum.
But which panels will be graced with my presence? Who will earn my oh-so coveted live tweet or Instagram post to make everyone who follows me jealous? Here are just some (not all) of the panels and events that are on my SDCC17 wishlist.
Outlander
When: Friday, July 21st at 5 pm
Where: Ballroom 20
Ask and you shall receive.
Catriona, Sam and company return to Comic Con after taking a hiatus from last year’s convention. What should we expect? Since they just wrapped filming on season 3, I’m sure we’re going to see a trailer that’s a wee bit longer than this teaser that made us all miss Dirty JAMMF:
We’re most likely also in store for more moments that make us wish that we had Caitriona Balfe’s number stored in our phone, reminders that Sam Heughan could notably fart and vomit at the same time and women will still scream for him, information on what’s in (turtle soup sex, please) and what could possibly be on the cutting room floor (I would say Mr. Willoughby but we know that isn’t it) and hopefully the absence of any awkward segments such as dressing Sam like an extra in Pirates of the Caribbean or making the whole cast read excerpts from Fifty Shades of Grey.
Warner Bros.
When: TBA
Where: Hall H because that’s why Hall H was created.
One of my favorite panels from last year’s Con had to be Warner Brothers. This wasn’t so much as a panel as an extravaganza filled with actors I fantasized about and giant screens that made me feel that I was in a Taylor Swift concert.
With the kickass success of Wonder Woman, it’s safe to say that Gal Gadot is the main attraction this time around, especially since Justice League will be released this fall. And with Aquaman in production, I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from Jason Momoa but chances are I won’t hear anything but my screams of passion over seeing him in person.
But DC films isn’t all that Warner Bros. likes to boast. Last year Eddie Redmayne gifted the entire Hall H audience with wizard wands to celebrate the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Tom Hiddleston dazzled all of us with his Englishman charm while promoting Kong: Skull Island.
So, what should we look forward to this year in Hall H from Warner Bros.? My fingers are crossed for the return of Harrison Ford with Ryan Gosling to promote Blade Runner 2049 because the last time I saw Harrison on screen, he was getting a lightsaber to the stomach and I can’t have that.
Marvel
When: TBA
Where: Hall H (see previous explanation as to why)
Okay, I didn’t get the chance to attend this panel and apparently, I missed the best Comic Con experience. In my defense, Team That’s Normal was going to a party and I needed to rock this dress. Priorities.
Since this is a wishlist, I’m putting down Marvel’s 2017 SDCC panel in the hopes that it doesn’t turn into my 1985 Christmas list when I wanted a pony. Still waiting by the way, Mom and Dad.
Marvel has already confirmed that they will be presenting anything that stars Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and reminding us that there is still no chance that Black Widow will get her own solo feature. Perhaps the most epic panel of all time will be the Avengers: Infinity War cast, which includes everyone you can think of including your great uncle.
Kevin Smith’s Comic Book Movie Trivia Mayhem Panel
When: Thursday, July 20th at 5:30 pm
Where: Room 6A
Although director Kevin Smith is best known for his films Clerks, Chasing Amy, and Dogma, he’s also known to be an unapologetic comic book and movie nerd and his passion for all things DC and Marvel is contagious.
This year, he and Fat Man on Batman podcast partner Marc Bernardin are challenging others to see who has the greatest useless knowledge of all time. The best part is that answers are judged on creativity and if you’re a fan like I am of Kevin Smith and have listened to his podcasts and seen his theater Q and A’s, you know you’re bound to be entertained and possibly get an embarrassing story about his own personal life or Ben Affleck.
Although this entire interview with Stephen Colbert is brilliant, fast forward to 6:32 hear about a text exchange between Kevin and his daughter. You bet your 401K I will be screaming out, “Dumbledick” when I go to this panel.
#ConanCon
When: July 19-23
Where: Spreckels Theater
Well, it looks like 2017 will not be the year I get tickets to Conan O’Brien’s live shows at Comic Con. However, I’m determined this year to get my name on the coveted stand-by list in the hopes of seeing the talk show host make a complete idiot of himself and/or producer Jordan Schlansky.
This will be Conan’s third year at SDCC and my goal is to see him in his crotch-enhanced superhero costume.
My goals are typically loftier than that but when it comes to San Diego Comic Con, I adapt.
Stranger Things 2
When: Saturday, July 22nd at 3 pm.
Where: Hall H
I plan on fangirling over Millie Bobby Brown to the point of embarrassment.
That’s just a sampling of my schedule during Comic Con. What are you excited to see at SDCC? Are you ready for Game of Thrones final Comic Con appearance or be a part of the throes of women screaming at the Vikings panel? I’m looking at you, Katy.
